Please help me remember this book - I can't have imagined it!

[Hiphopopotamus]

So I'm remembering a book that I read when I was fairly young. I'm pretty sure it belonged to my grandma so I have no idea what era it was written in. However I'm pretty sure Bobby or Jack Charlton were made reference to if that helps to pin it down to a time.

It was, as far as I can recall, a selection of short stories all about the same boy during his childhood. The one that really sticks in my brain is a story about a strange lady giving the boy and his friends some jam sandwiches. They decided not to eat them, and instead went fishing for carp using the sandwiches as bait. The next day all the fish were found floating dead in the water, and it turned out that the sandwiches had been poisoned with arsenic!

This is the only story I remember. There may have also been one about a red scarf.

It's driving me a little crazy trying to track down this book - Google is not helpful - please tell me someone here can help!

[TheEnchantedForest]

Is it George Layton's the Fib and Other Stories?

www.amazon.co.uk/Fib-PB-George-Layton/dp/0330397958?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[IHeartKingThistle]

That's what I was thinking TheEnchantedForest!

[Hiphopopotamus]

Yes! That's the one.

You people are amazing

[TheEnchantedForest]

Yay-happy to help.
I have read 'The Balaclava Story' to every class I have taught and it always has a good response. It is one that really stays with you.

kingThistle-I love the wise old elf!

[Hiphopopotamus]

I've just downloaded the book onto my kindle. I think my childhood brain turned the balaclava into a scarf. Apart from that it's exactly as I remember!