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The Dales Series #2
Over Hill and Dale
Over Hill and Dale is the second volume in Gervase Phinn's bestselling Dales series. "Miss, who's that funny man at the back of the classroom?" So begins school-inspector Gervase Phinn's second year among the frankly spoken pupils and teachers of North Yorkshire—the sight of Gervase with his notebook and pen provokes unexpected reactions from the children and adults alike. But Gervase is far from daunted—he is ready to brave the steely glare of the officious Mrs. Savage, and even feels up to helping Dr. Gore organize a gathering of the Feofees—just as soon as someone tells him what they are! He is still in pursuit of the lovely head teacher Christine Bentley, but will she feel the same? This is a delectable second helping of hilarious tales from the man who has been dubbed "the James Herriot of schools." In Over Hill and Dale , Gervase Phinn will have you laughing out loud.
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 20, 1999
55 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Gervase Phinn
100 books172 followersGervase Phinn (born 27 December 1946, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England) is an English author and educator. After a career as a teacher he became a schools inspector.
He is now a freelance lecturer, broadcaster and writer, a consultant for the Open University, Honorary Fellow of St. John's College, York, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of the University of Leicester, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of The University of Hull and the Fellow and Visiting Professor of Education at The University of Teesside.
In 2005 the highest academic award of Sheffield Hallam University, Doctor of the University (D.Univ.) was conferred upon him by the Chancellor, Professor Lord Robert Winston. In 2006 he became President of The School Library Association.
He has published five volumes of memoir, collections of poetry and a number of books about education. He has a particular interest in children's literature and literacy.
He is married with four grown-up children.
He is now a freelance lecturer, broadcaster and writer, a consultant for the Open University, Honorary Fellow of St. John's College, York, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of the University of Leicester, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of The University of Hull and the Fellow and Visiting Professor of Education at The University of Teesside.
In 2005 the highest academic award of Sheffield Hallam University, Doctor of the University (D.Univ.) was conferred upon him by the Chancellor, Professor Lord Robert Winston. In 2006 he became President of The School Library Association.
He has published five volumes of memoir, collections of poetry and a number of books about education. He has a particular interest in children's literature and literacy.
He is married with four grown-up children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 21, 2021
These books just get better and better. Hilarious & beautiful. This one ends in the way I had been hoping. Can’t wait for the next book. Read with my friend Elizabeth Laumas.
July 16, 2010
This is more of the same from Gervase Phinn - the second year of his job as a school inspector in the Yorkshire Dales. Once again, we meet a cast of wonderful characters, including the three other inspectors - Harold, David and Sidney; Connie, the rather draconian caretaker of the Staff Development Centre; and, of course, Miss Christine Bentley, the beautiful young headmistress that Phinn is gradually falling in love with.
The writing is eloquent and at times beautiful, as Phinn describes the awesome sights of the Yorkshire Dales that he encountours in the course of his school inspections. There is also a wonderful sense of his deep and abiding respect for the institution of teaching, and the part that teachers have to pay in the formative years of children.
The children here are the stars of the show - blunt, yet innocent Yorkshire children who are more accustomed to seeing rabbits being shot as pests than as the main characters in stories by Beatrix Potter! There are little anecdotes about each school visit, including some lovely tales of nativity plays.
The other side of the Yorkshire Dales is also explored here - the inner city schools and in some places the dire lack of basic education for children who are not expected to amount to more than factory workers and labourers.
Altogether, a delightful book.
The writing is eloquent and at times beautiful, as Phinn describes the awesome sights of the Yorkshire Dales that he encountours in the course of his school inspections. There is also a wonderful sense of his deep and abiding respect for the institution of teaching, and the part that teachers have to pay in the formative years of children.
The children here are the stars of the show - blunt, yet innocent Yorkshire children who are more accustomed to seeing rabbits being shot as pests than as the main characters in stories by Beatrix Potter! There are little anecdotes about each school visit, including some lovely tales of nativity plays.
The other side of the Yorkshire Dales is also explored here - the inner city schools and in some places the dire lack of basic education for children who are not expected to amount to more than factory workers and labourers.
Altogether, a delightful book.
August 9, 2007
This book is about a School Inspector.
It is hilarious all the way through and some of the comments that are made are just a delight to read! I find myself chuckling out loud!
The way the children interpret what the Inspector is saying is too good to read once and I find myself going back to enjoy them all over again. When asked to write about woodland animals, this young girl spelt out E G O G....which when asked to explain, meant "hedgehog"...of course!
There is the usual banter in the School Inspector Offices which are reminiscent of all offices where colleagues set each other up to carry out unpopular tasks...........or they duck and dive when the diabolical secretary summons them to her office for a "chat".........
The book is heart warming in a most wonderful way and the beauty of the countryside can also be experienced just by turning the pages........
Well recommended
It is hilarious all the way through and some of the comments that are made are just a delight to read! I find myself chuckling out loud!
The way the children interpret what the Inspector is saying is too good to read once and I find myself going back to enjoy them all over again. When asked to write about woodland animals, this young girl spelt out E G O G....which when asked to explain, meant "hedgehog"...of course!
There is the usual banter in the School Inspector Offices which are reminiscent of all offices where colleagues set each other up to carry out unpopular tasks...........or they duck and dive when the diabolical secretary summons them to her office for a "chat".........
The book is heart warming in a most wonderful way and the beauty of the countryside can also be experienced just by turning the pages........
Well recommended
January 9, 2016
This book did not set out to be a comedy but many of the scenes and conversations made me laughed out loud so often that I kept startling my husband. The depiction of rural schools in the wonderful Yorkshire was so delicious. It made me want go there. The characters of the inspectors and the many amazing wonderful kids he met in his work were deligthful and funny.
This book is great but may be a tad confusing for those whose first language is not English or not known British quirkiness. I found some of the conversations hard to understand until I tried to read them with yorkshire accent first loudly then in my head.
This book is great but may be a tad confusing for those whose first language is not English or not known British quirkiness. I found some of the conversations hard to understand until I tried to read them with yorkshire accent first loudly then in my head.
April 1, 2010
An old-fashioned memoir, much like James Herriot's stories, also about Yorkshire. Except Phinn is an "inspector of schools" - so he has lots of anecdotes about stuff kids say during classes (especially in the "Infant Class", which I gather is K or so), the evil administrative assistant who tries to rule their lives, his attempts to woo a teacher, his attempts to get kids to write poetry, act in plays, and how he tries to make bad teachers better (or retire), etc. It's a nice, gentle read if you need something that reminds me of James Herriot mixed with Jan Karon.
May 5, 2023
I just love these books so much! I've been struggling to get into any sort of reading pattern recently, but after powering through this book for weeks, I've read about half of it in the last two days! Such a light read, filled with funny anecdotes and stories. It's really made me want to talk to a school inspector now, to see if they're as personable as I now think they are 😂
Moving on to the third one today!
Moving on to the third one today!
March 27, 2025
This second volume was as entertaining as the first. I look forward to re-joining Gervase Phinn and his characters for the rest of the series.
October 12, 2011
This is a unique and a very funny book written by a fantastic comedian. Gervase Phinn is a School Inspector who travels around the Yorkshire Dales, inspecting different kinds of schools. I've actually met Gervase Phinn and he is a very funny guy and writes very passionately; there's a little bit of romance near the end of it. Very unique, funny, and quite moving. It touches your heart and makes you laugh a lot.
February 9, 2012
Gervaise Phinn's writing is relaxed, amusing and joyful.
He describes Yorkshire life so vividly, you wish you were there; his interactions with the pupils are often hilarious and always unexpected.
This is a great book as although it is ostensibly about being a school inspector (and there is plenty of that), it is also about his private life, the characters in his office and often a reflection on the value of children and a quiet, rural life.
He describes Yorkshire life so vividly, you wish you were there; his interactions with the pupils are often hilarious and always unexpected.
This is a great book as although it is ostensibly about being a school inspector (and there is plenty of that), it is also about his private life, the characters in his office and often a reflection on the value of children and a quiet, rural life.
May 16, 2009
This is a non-fiction written by a school inspector in England. It is full of stories that teachers, parents, and others that enjoy kids-say-the-darnedest-things or you just need a laugh.
Pick this up or his other book to keep on hand for when you need a laugh. It is written in a chronographical short-story fashion and is perfect for a pick-me-up.
Pick this up or his other book to keep on hand for when you need a laugh. It is written in a chronographical short-story fashion and is perfect for a pick-me-up.
October 20, 2018
I really enjoyed the second book of Gervase's time as a school inspector, it was like the first story a very nice relaxing read. I've already bought the next book in the series and am looking forward to reading it.
I can thoroughly recommend this Series about his time as a School Inspector, buy them you won't be disappointed.
I can thoroughly recommend this Series about his time as a School Inspector, buy them you won't be disappointed.
September 16, 2007
These books are definitely cheesy, but I love them anyway! They're the memoirs of a school inspector in northern England, and the pages are full of anecdotes about his encounters with school children of all ages. They always make me laugh and feel better about my job.
January 25, 2008
I enjoyed this more than the first in the series. Gervase is now well-established as a school inspector, the anecdotes flow well, and there's a good sense of getting to know the main characters well. Pleasant light reading.
January 6, 2012
Phinn has been compared to James Herriot, and these books are his stories of being appointed as a Schools Inspector in the Yorkshire Dales. Many chuckles about the funny things the children say or do, and likewise about life in the slower-paced world of Yorkshire.
June 14, 2013
I love this series, it is always a fun read. I love reading about the beautiful landscape of Yorkshire and the antics of the schoolchildren Gervase encounters. The stories with his co-workers is also quite entertaining and is a good mix of characters.
January 22, 2014
I love the descriptions of Yorkshire, the schools and the various character that Gervaise met during his career as a school inspector. He makes everything feel so real - and still raises some issues about the hardships of life for the communities he worked with.
September 6, 2014
A humorous book, along the lines of James Herriot, only focusing on education in the Dales rather than vets. Several books in the series and worth a read if you like a light heart and sometimes funny recollection
December 4, 2014
More of the some adventures of a school inspector in Yorkshire, if you liked the 1st 1 then you will like this. Easy to read and often quite funny in parts. Still very different from my normal choice of books, not 1 I would pick myself!
March 15, 2015
Even though I'm not following the series I really enjoy reading about these Yorkshire tales! The stories about the children in all the schools Gervase Phinn visits are hilarious. Will be looking out for more of these novels.
August 18, 2015
Really like gervasse phinn he writes so well, descriptive and full of character.very sharp humour. He loves children and life how very observant of northern life he is and records it well.
I laugh, and cry reading his books.Absolutely great.
I laugh, and cry reading his books.Absolutely great.
January 19, 2016
These books are like James Herriot books. Feel good happy books where nothing too bad ever happens. Funny laugh out loud descriptions of real kids and the unexpected things they say. I also died laughing reading his descriptions of some of the 'difficult' people in his office.
August 30, 2007
This is written by a Schools Inspector living and working in Yorkshire and is a hoot. For those of you who have taught small kids you will get a kick out of it!
October 25, 2007
This one was a bit disappointing after reading the first book. Too repetitive and a bit unbelievable that all that happened in one year.
Read the first one though, its worth it.
Read the first one though, its worth it.
August 8, 2016
wonderful
April 30, 2009
This book was a hilarious tale of his time as a school inspector. Kept me laughing at the things that little kids said and did around him!
October 5, 2009
Also had all these books on tape-loaned them to a friend who never gave them back-wish I could remember who that friend was.
December 28, 2010
humorous and relaxing stories of education in Yorkshire
March 4, 2011
As a teacher I know kids say the darndest things. Phinn wrote them down during his career as school inspector in Yorkshire, so this also adds to my love of England!
June 5, 2012
Second book in the series is just as good as the first, if not better.
September 22, 2012
If you like reading the Herriot books---you'll love reading this series. The anecdotes of the local school inspector in the Dales are funny and touching. A good read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews