When you grow up in a household where your mother sleeps with the coalman to secure an extra bag or two, and when you're sent out shoplifting whenever food stocks dwindle, you don't put too high a price on honesty. It is no wonder that Harold Perkins describes himself as 'a liar and a thief' when looking back on his childhood in Bradford. But spells in approved school and borstal changed his outlook. Starting up his own scaffolding business, he came to reap the rewards of hard work - though his professional attitude never got in the way of a good laugh with his mates. Once he had earned the nickname 'Maverick', he never gave anyone reason to change it! Packed with anecdotes both hilarious and hair-raising, and pulling no punches when it comes to expressing opinions of others, this is as lively and challenging a memoir as you are ever likely to read.