Set in the 1960s this novel tells the story of Ronnie Spinks, a young plumber. Ronnie is apprenticed to his father and uncle who trade as Spinks Bros Plumbers. Walter Spinks is the senior partner and he owns the house where they live in Fulham, close to Stamford Bridge football ground in London. All three are regular supporters of Chelsea Football Club. All goes well until one day Walter's sixteen year-old step-daughter Arabella is found to be pregnant and Ronnie admits to being responsible. Arabella's mother is furious and orders him to leave the house. Having little option Ronnie leaves early the next morning, confident that his father Norman Spinks would soon negotiate his safe return. Unfortunately for Ronnie one of their neighbours was robbed and murdered overnight. Ronnie's hurried departure from the house is seen as suspicious and he is named by the police as their prime suspect. He takes off for Liverpool but after some disastrous misadventures ends up in a remote area of north Devon. Here he is seduced by a rich widow who owns and runs a coal-yard business. Ronnie has to work hard to keep the amorous widow satisfied but no longer wanted by the police he is at last able to return home. Where much has changed during his five years on the run, including the birth of his young son, Ashley Spinks.