Books by Norman Hicks

Tom Hicks' story begins when he joins the LMS straight from school and follows his early life on the railways in the 1930s, through enlistment, training as a paratrooper, wartime service, imprisonment and his return to the LMS as an engine driver. **Tom volunteered for war service in 1939 and was initially placed in the military railway of the Royal Engineers. In search of adventure, he successfully applied to join the newly formed 1st Parachute Squadron of the Royal Engineers. The intensity and rigours of parachute training are described in detail, as are the comradeship and humour that came to the fore as this small 150-man unit fought throughout the Second World War as part of the 1st Parachute Brigade. The excitement of the first parachute jumps are relived together with the parachute operations in North Africa, Sicily and the Battle of Arnhem. It was here after nine days' fighting with his mates falling around him that Tom was wounded and taken prisoner. Following the battle, Tom was transported in a cattle truck to Germany where he was used as forced labour in a lead mine until being liberated by the Americans in 1945.**With insightful commentary from Tom's son Norman, this is the story of an ordinary soldier, who was motivated by pride in his unit. It was this that would not let him leave the army when he was twice given the opportunity to return home to support the struggling railway system. Tom has recounted his experiences with a keen eye and the sense of humour that has always enabled him to triumph in the face of adversity.**As featured in The Star (Sheffield), Express & Star (Wolverhampton) and The Barnsley Chronicle

Often we lose sight of the enormity of everything around us: the stars, the galaxies, nebulae, and the vastness of space in general. We need to appreciate the sobering beauty and magnificence that we have been afforded, as well as the experience of existing. Though we may not consider how all of these came about, we need to look beyond ourselves. Surely, something or someone is majestic enough to have brought this about. Many humans believe in a supreme force or being called God. We also attempt to honor Him through various religions. This book's focus is on Christianity. Christian virtues cover a lot of positive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors considered morally and spiritually correct for enhancing one's development. It may be debatable as to whether faith, hope, and love are virtues. Yet they are very significant in the lives of the followers of Jesus Christ. These three attributes remain just as important in the lives of people today as they were to people of past generations, and to the existence of people in subsequent generations. They complement human existence. It is hard to imagine their exclusion in the daily activities of human life. The poems in Faith, Hope, and Love Remain attempt to emphasize the importance of faith, hope, and love in coping with life as it relates to interacting with other people and with the fluctuating experiences of daily living, and the spiritual enhancement of the human-God relationship. I have included my own good and bad life experiences as testimony and my personal understanding of those experiences in a spiritual context. I pray that these poems bring you enjoyment, as well as peace and a degree of discernment. I hope they will motivate the desire to read The Holy Bible more and meditate on those scriptures.