Writers paint pen-portraits
In May HandD writers’ group produced pen-portraits. It was surprisingly difficult. To begin with, should we choose or should it be someone imaginary. Paula said, very sensibly, as someone who writes for different publications, ‘It all depends what it’s for.’ Was it to introduce someone, to spread gossip, to praise them in a eulogy or obituary? Philippa commented that any portrait apart from an obit was just a cross section of a life; and only authors knew everything about their characters, because they created them.
Notwithstanding this proviso, Paula painted a colourful portrait of the leader of her West Gallery quire (the name dates from the 18th century, before English spelling was dragooned into dictionaries). She led with the flaming red hair. She outlined the musical biography, and added some vivid snapshots of the leader in action with fellow musicians. Tessa’s portrait was of the unique and astonishing Sister Celestine, whose childlike enthusiasm for her faith made her sing and skip and jump along the corridors of the Priory. Philippa’s picture was of a long-term friend, once a lapsed catholic, but returning to the comfort of the church in response to the slings and arrows of old age. John, who was flying himself that afternoon, mailed in a sketch of Frank, an old Spitfire pilot, unreconstructed ‘old boy’ and a great raconteur. Tim, as we are coming to expect, took the road less traveled by. He related waking one winter night and catching a glimpse between the banisters of an avuncular, white-bearded figure, then finding the present he so desperately wanted next morning under the Christmas tree. Finally Gill, with great diffidence and concern not to be critical, told of a teacher, who despite being popular with his pupils, never managed to get on with his colleagues and who shut out their attempts to help him.
The discussion turned to teachers and others who had influenced us in life, and for the next assignment we decided to write about a person, a place, a book, an experience – something that had been a driving force in our lives. The usual day for the group to meet follows hard on the HandD AGM this year, so we plan to meet on the fourth Wednesday – June 26 – this month: uual time 14.00, chez Philippa.