Not Waving But Drowning: The Troubled Life and Times of a Fontline Ruc Officer [Hardcover]

Edmund Gregory (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2004

Not Waving But Drowning tells the harrowing true story of one man's childhood struggle against poverty and his subsequent drive to become a policeman in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Upon succeeding, he is faced with a number of traumatic incidents that lead him to the depths of despair. From his earliest days, Edmund Gregory possessed an incisiveness beyond his years. Through his parents' turbulent and doomed marriage he soaked up the horror of seeing his mother and father tearing each other apart. He spent his boyhood lonely and starved of affection, and experienced long periods of living in sordid welfare homes and dingy bedsits. However, Gregory later found solace in the true love of Agnes and they married as teenagers. In a concerted effort at dragging themselves out of poverty, he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary to provide a secure future for his family. After five years serving in Belfast's riot squads, Gregory transferred into the somewhat elitist VIP protection branch of the RUC where, on a daily basis, he was involved in providing bodyguard protection to many high threat members of Northern Ireland's society. Within that unit he was involved also in teams providing protection to members of the Royal family and then US President, Bill Clinton. During his last four years, Gregory was in charge of providing protection for the Rev. Ian Paisley's deputy, Peter Robinson MP, an outspoken personality who was always under a serious threat of assassination. It was no wonder, then, that after 21 years of service Gregory was diagnosed as suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder and was forced to retire from the force. Not Waving But Drowning is a sometimes tearful journey through Gregory's childhood and the dark underbelly of his later life as a policeman in Northern Ireland; a job that was, according to Interpol, the most dangerous policing role in the world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Edmund Gregory retired from the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 2001 and lives in Northern Ireland with his wife. This is his first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 254 pages
• Publisher: Mainstream Publishing (November 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1840189177
• ISBN-13: 978-1840189179
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,032,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding book, January 8, 2005

By 

S. E. Smith (Mystic, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Not Waving But Drowning: The Troubled Life and Times of a Fontline Ruc Officer (Hardcover)

I think everyone should read this book. It gives a good picture of life as a policeman, during the worst times Northern Ireland has seen. It's an incredible story of a man who had to survive unbelievable poverty, as a child, and became a policeman because he wanted to help, but, instead, was thrown into the turmoil of "The Troubles", a time to try anyone's sanity. This true story is well told and makes you understand what it was like. You will take away an understanding of Northern Ireland that you didn't have before. A book to make you think and feel some strong emotions.