David’s life in the fast lane
their wellbeing and fails to protect them from their father.
Lucy is recalling the details of her life while in hospital recovering from appendicitis and complications.
She loves those who try to protect and encourage her. Her teacher Mr Halley and her caring Jewish hospital doctor mean so much to her.
Sarah Payne, a writer who holds literary workshops, encourages her to write her own story. Her mother, who stays at the hospital for five days, talks about her children, what has happened to their childhood friends, those that have failed in life and marriage.
Lucy realises her own marriage is crumbling. She is desperate for her mother to tell her that she is loved but this does not happen.
She manages to escape the poverty of her childhood by education and succeeds as a writer. She remarries and appears happy at the end of the book, but possibly still haunted by memories.
There is so much that is left unsaid that readers can bring their own ideas to fill in the gaps, which happened during our group discussion.
Elizabeth Strout was delighted that her work was recently performed in London, and admitted that this was no easy option as so much is not said in the novel, but she is delighted that Lucy is positive and proud at the end, and able to stand up and say My Name is Lucy Barton. Other books mentioned: Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout (2009 Pulitzer Prize of fiction); Anything is Possible – a follow-up novel to Lucy Barton.
The next meeting at the Gallery Café is on January 7 at 10am.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath will be introduced by Tina.
Enquiries to Louise Sykes at louise.sykes5065@gmail.com
Ashbourne Probus Club
CLARKE Lomas, president, welcomed members with a musical and poetic rendition. Good wishes were sent to members who were indisposed. Details of future events were confirmed.
David Holt, honorary secretary, reported on excellent membership numbers and outlined the need for the club to develop services for members by making better use of IT.
Press officer Arthur Williams indicated that the excursions sub-committee was considering trips involving overnight stays, warmly supported.
Our speaker, David Yorke, is a noted motorsport enthusiast and expert.
He is an architect and keen motorsport photographer.
His talk was superbly illustrated with many of his action shots, featuring iconic cars in magnificent landscapes. His family had a railway background, which encouraged his interest in all things mechanical from an early age.
Many people and events stimulated his interest, but his membership of the Matlock Motor Club was pivotal.
David’s passion for the sport in all its forms was evident throughout his talk as was his great admiration for BMWS.
We were given guidance on how to become involved in the sport and where and when to access meetings.
Safety issues were stressed, especially when public roads were used.
David proceeded to give a masterful summary of most forms of motorsport that were in the programme of events.
The range and characteristics of the various forms of the sport are many and complex, but well understood by the aficionados.
Formula One clearly attracts massive public interest, but David’s preference was for areas where greater participation could be enjoyed.
Touring car races, featuring vintage and classic cars, have a great atmosphere and rallying on gravel roads brings plenty of excitement and the opportunity to enjoy superb countryside.
Spectators are often called on to help rescue stranded competitors and their motors.
Great skills and expense are involved in both the preparation and driving of these high performance vehicles.
Rallying on tarmac surfaces, often at night, calls for firstrate navigational skills. In some events average speed targets must be met.
Off-road events can present drivers with special challenges, especially avoiding ending up in a water course.
Reliability trials test both driver and machine to the full.
Sporting trials also require specialised skills and Rallycross, involving very powerful cars, is not for the faint-hearted.
Many other forms of motor sport were briefly described; speed events, hill climbing, scenic touring and competitive touring.
Club members were given an insight of a world which was new to many of us, the variety of motorsports appears to be infinite and is always evolving as technology develops and safety considerations and standards are applied.
Barry Evans, a member with a track record as a Jaguar fanatic, was best qualified among us to give a wellsupported vote of thanks.
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