Neil Hallam
Neil Hallam is a freelance photojournalist based in Nottingham, England. His media career began in the 1980s as a photographer for Mansfield Brewery’s trade magazine.
He is a contributor to magazines as diverse as Police World and Cycling Active. A keen motorcyclist throughout his adult life, Neil contributes to motorcycle magazines in: Australia, USA and Britain. Published work includes: touring articles, road tests and technical features.
Neil's knowledge of the outdoors is built on a lifetime of outdoor pursuits and expeditions to remote areas including the Himalayas and Mongolia.
An experienced Scout Instructor, he advises the county leadership on climbing, walking and mountain biking. He holds National Governing Body awards in all three disciplines.
Published outdoor features include: cycling, mountaineering, trekking, and shooting in locations throughout the world.
Neil is the Police Technical advisor to the scriptwriters of ITV's Coronation Street.
Neil's career began in the law, as a Chartered Legal Executive, moving to the Police, for a 23 year career. His journalism experience includes five years seconded to the Home Office as Communications Officer at the Police National CBRN Centre.
He has an MSc in Disaster Management and is a full member of the Emergency Planning Society. Neil is a member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists (MCIJ), the world's oldest organisation for journalists.
Advance Orders Being Taken:-
New Book Launch - The Robin Hood 500 Route
Publication Date - 31st March 2023
Robin Hood. Maid Marian. Little John. Friar Tuck. Alan a Dale. Will Scarlet. All names which have become immortalised not just in English folklore, but hailed in world legend. What is the historical truth behind these enigmatic figures—and what became of them after their celebrated adventures?
In this book, Robin Hood enthusiast Neil Hallam invites you to join him on the trip of a lifetime as he travels around some of the most scenic locations in England searching for the facts behind this famous yet inscrutable outlaw. His travels take him far beyond busy Nottingham and Sherwood Forest to the village of Robin Hood, the bucolic hamlet of Loxley, charming Whitby and the beautiful Robin Hood's Bay, via a plethora of caves, coves, churches, crags and castles just waiting to be discovered along the way.
Drawing on historical research, national folklore and local legend, Neil pieces together a fascinating and entertaining tapestry of swashbuckling adventures, intriguing mysteries and ancient curiosities which will make you want to visit each and every amazing location for yourself.
Download the Robin Hood 500 Route - Press Release and lots more information about the author.
Publication date - 31st March 2023
Contact - mail@neilhallam.com for more information and Press Reviews etc ...
My Other Books
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My Books
Loxley: a dish served cold
A modern day Robin Hood tale
Major Robin Loxley returns from the Middle East to attend his father’s funeral and take on his duties as Duke of Loxley. Estranged from the old Duke for many years, this is Robin’s first return to Sherwood since the death of his mother. Robin learns the old duke has mortgaged Loxley Hall to fund a lifestyle of drink, gambling and women. With the death of the Duke, the holder of his debt calls in the mortgage. This pits Robin and his Special Forces team against Nottingham’s shadowy drug lord known as the Tax Collector. Vowing never to use guns on the streets of their city, Robin’s Outlaws use historic weapons to tear down the Tax Collector’s empire.
Loxley: Swim Bike Die
This modern day Robin Hood adventure is set in the world of triathlon.
The modern day Duke of Loxley is enjoying a well-earned rest from military duties. His Special Forces Unit, known as The Outlaws, are staying at Loxley Hall, with Robin and his wife Marion.
The super fit group have immersed themselves in the Swim, Bike, Run sport of triathlon. But the peace of Nottinghamshire is shattered when they learn that a shadowy criminal known as the Tax Collector has plans to hold England to ransom.
The Tax Collector and his crooked medics are planning a deadly Bio Terrorism plot, which looks set to destroy Nottinghamshire’s biggest triathlon, and take much of England’s population with it.
Only Robin, Marion and the Outlaws can see what is happening and stop The Tax Collector.
Blackrake: The stories and the people of Derbyshire’s Iron Stone Blackrake
The villages around Ripley in Derbyshire have always punched above their weight, due to the valley’s mineral wealth. William the Conqueror placed an important castle at Codnor, to protect these resources.
This epic historical novel follows one local family from the Norman Invasion, through their villagers’ heroics at Agincourt and the War of the Roses, to the growth of the coal and iron industries.
Between Stone & a Hard Place
Taking a terrorist's life cost Nev Stone his police career. Saving an outlaw biker's life in prison opened a new life as a paparazzi on the Algarve. Accidentally killing a child trafficker threatens to cost Stone his new life in the surfer's paradise. Fearing another prison sentence, Stone goes on the run, using contacts from his old and new lives. He must find an abducted girl, the only witness who can clear him of the killing.
The search takes Stone and the bikers to Morocco and back, fighting the remnants of Portuguese and Bulgarian secret services.
Stone Paper Bomb
Nev Stone’s second adventure takes him and the Watchers to the Americas, where a fanatical sect plans to detonate an improvised nuclear device in the United States, blaming Islamic terrorists.
The action moves between England, Portugal, Cuba and New Orleans as the bikers track the players and the nuclear components. Time is against them as they race to prevent a bigger catastrophe than 9/11.
Breath Becomes Stone
Nev Stone & the Watchers third adventure takes them to New Zealand.
Disgraced ex-cop, Nev Stone now works with the Watchers MC and their global security business.
Contracting for MI6, they are sent undercover to New Zealand, where smuggling of rare animals has caught the attention of Britain’s Royal Family.
The action moves through Hong Kong, China and New Zealand, as the Watchers fight environmental disaster.
Rocking the Streets
The Rockers first had Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rockabilly, moving later towards Heavy Rock. The Mods began with Modern Jazz, moving through Ska to eventually become Skinheads. The 1980’s saw some very weird and wonderful fashions in both dress and music. The Hillbilly looking Hipsters of the early 21st century are said to have drawn their inspiration from the early Beatnik culture, which in turn was part of the American music scene. The current street gang and drug dealing culture has its own accompaniment of Rap.
The Tricycle Spy
A biographical novel, based on my father's fight against communism. Gordon Hallam worked with Special Branch as a soldier in the Malayan Emergency. On leaving the Army, he joined the police, again working with Special Branch in England. A crippling stroke ended Gordon's police career, but did not end his involvement with Special Branch. Now disabled and riding a tricycle, His former colleagues put him to work as an undercover agent. This time Gordon was spying on left wing subversives, trying to bring communism to Britain.
Mofos: a history of English biker culture.
There are lots of books on American Motorcycle Cubs, usually sensationalised with the label biker gangs. But the biker subculture in England had very different origins, as the Teddy Boys evolved into Rockers, before eventually adopting the three part patch used by the American clubs.
I missed the early days of the 1950s and early 60s, but I have lived though most of the developments in the English biker scene.
With a mix of first hand accounts and academic research, this book is my take on a subculture in which I have spent many happy years.
Currently not on Amazon or my website.
Copies are available to Police / IPA members.