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The Dustman

One of two books written by Carr in the series What Do They Do? A story about the work of a dustman with sections on the lorry, special clothes, the council tip and a reference section on refuse, containers and totting: selling items of value (of which, Carr wrote, some councils do not approve). A note at the end of the book acknowledges information and help kindly supplied by Tollemache Composting Systems Ltd. Grace Tollemache was a teacher in The Harpole Report.

Carr wrote inside a copy of the book that he sent to his nieces, daughters of Kathie, his sister:

There are no books on dustmen so I had to go round surreptitiously watching them. I made a great discovery unknown to the general public – there are as many people taking things away from tips as there are people taking things to dump there. In fact I came away with 3 perfectly sound spring mattresses but Sally made me return them.

Tell yr ma that I added a page to The Dustman on how Mr Thornton cleaned up ‘night soil’ but they cut it out as too unsavoury.


(Last updated on 30/11/2020)



●  First edition


Author: J.L. Carr

Year: December 1972

Editor: John Blackie

Artist:: Michael Shoebridge

Publisher: Macmillan Education Ltd

ISBN: none stated on book (0333122763)

Size: 184 x 144 mm

Pages: 32 pp

Binding: printed card covers

Price: none stated

Printed by: W.S. Cowell Ltd, Ipswich

Notes: There are copies in the National Libraries of Wales and Scotland and at Trinity College, Dublin. There is no copy in the British Library. There is a copy in the National Library of Malaysia and it is listed in the Danish National Bibliography.

Photo of book

Front cover