The creative writing group is lead by the attending members. The group has a maximum of 10 due to the size of the various locations where they meet.

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The prologue from Iris Lloyd's novel Hunterswick Green:

The lights of the car on full beam were approaching the forecourt of the garage. 

 George looked around the one-stop shop where he was on night duty. 

“There are no hiding places here,” he said helplessly.

“But they’ll kill me if they find me!”

He studied Alison’s face as if trying to discern whether she was drunk or delusional or was really telling the truth. What he saw there snapped him to a decision.

 “That freezer’s broken down and it’s been emptied and turned off. You could hide in there. I’ll jam the lid open slightly. Sorry. It’s the best I can do.”

Alison nodded and with his help clambered into the freezer then panicked as the lid closed and she couldn’t breathe. A moment later, however, it opened slightly and something was jammed between freezer and lid. There followed the clatter of boxes being piled on top, then silence.

Her fears were justified when the shop door banged open and a voice she knew well demanded, “You there! You seen a young woman around?” 

Alison waited, breathing shallowly, praying she wouldn’t be betrayed and her hiding place discovered. 

Thankfully, George lied. “Sorry, sir, no. Several vehicles have filled up since I came on duty but no young ladies.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“There’s nowhere here she could hide.” That was the voice of police inspector Cunningham.

“Check the photo booth!”

Alison heard the swish of the curtain as it was pulled aside.

“Hey!” shouted George. “If you don’t mind –”

“How about the car wash? You stand at one end and I’ll go in the other!”

The shop door slammed shut.

“Stay quite still,” George whispered. “I’ll tell you when they’ve left.”

Alison waited. How was it possible, she thought, that she was crouched in this broken-down freezer, fearful for her life, when only three months ago she had been living safely at home with Peter?

It had all started long before that, when Rusty died...

Copies of the novel are available from Iris (tel. 07826602836) at discounted price of £8 if you mention the U3A website, or from Hungerford and other libraries.