Frankie Walton proudly calls himself the Champion of Unremitting Non-Excellence, a title he wears with self-mocking pride.Born in the Cheviot Hills of Northumberland in 1952,...

Frankie Walton proudly calls himself the Champion of Unremitting Non-Excellence, a title he wears with self-mocking pride.

Born in the Cheviot Hills of Northumberland in 1952, he grew up among sheep, tractors, and a steady stream of eccentric local legends who taught him everything he needed to know about life, though not necessarily in the right order.

Be a Better Boy is his first book, an affectionate, irreverent memoir of a life lived somewhere between mischief and meaning.

Set against the rolling hills of Northumberland and stretching all the way to the Himalayas, the book follows a journey filled with farming, horses, humour, and a knack for mild trouble.

With warmth, wit, and self-mocking charm, the story captures the highs, lows, and eccentricities of growing up among sheep, tractors, and local legends, learning the lessons of life in the most unexpected order. Part storytelling, part reflection, this book is a celebration of ordinary adventures, imperfect choices, and the joy of embracing life on one’s own terms.