An enthusiastic mix of U6 and L6 gathered for the first meeting of the year to hear an erudite and informal introduction to F. Scott Fitzgerald from Robbie Vile (U6). The life of Fitzgerald as a member of the 'lost generation' and how alcohol, cinema and his own creation of 'the jazz age' affected his work formed the core of a fascinating disquisition - which, in turn, created some very positive discussion of the history of the period, where sixth form historians contributed, and to the merits of the author's prose style and innovative qualities.

Mr Matthew Whitman, who has joined the department to teach to all levels this term gave a reading of 'Sunlight in the Garden' by Louis MacNeice which was well received and again elicited high quality analysis of the style and meaning of the poem.

Ben Draper read Craig Raine's 'A Martian sends a Postcard Home' and Mr Jon Dagley supplied a 'beginnings' quiz and a reading of Bleak House page 1 - a London and Kentish evoking of 'fog' in the autumn season!

JPD