‘Why don’t we get together for a weekend where we can write and write and nobody’ll disturb us?’ asked Alice. The other writers loved the idea and so did the college, so on Saturday and Sunday 24 & 25 June, we gathered in midsummer heat to enjoy being writers together for a whole weekend.

It was tremendous fun. Instead of having to rush home after our usual three hours or so of chatting about writing and hearing each other’s words, the writers could get to know each other better and just be together and have a laugh. Which is what this group, established under the auspices of the Churchill College Association (our alumni group) has always been about.

We had a longer session than usual on the Saturday and two great sessions of hearing each other read our words on the Saturday and Sunday. Numbers varied between 16 and around 20, from all over the world, with lots of time spent eyes down, writing and writing. By close of play on Sunday, the writers were asking how soon we could do it again!

Thank you very much to the college staff who welcomed us so beautifully (especially Kathryn, Katie and Sue) and to the writers for being their wonderful selves.