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Farewell, RWG!

It’s over twenty years since I joined Ripon Writers’ Group. With a thriving membership of men and women who between them covered just about every genre, there was a wealth of knowledge and experience to tap into. One man had even studied under Tolkien! During those years, I did stints on the committee as Secretary and Chairman/woman/person (!) and made it a point of honour to enter every competition, even those – or perhaps especially those – that were out of my comfort zone. 

However, time and circumstances took their toll. There were health issues and bereavements. Changes of venue, not always of our choosing, didn’t help. The major disruption of the Covid years of 2020/21 made things even worse and the last straw may have been changing our fortnightly meetings from Tuesdays to Wednesdays. It didn’t suit everyone but was done to oblige a new Chair who, although excellent in the role, was forced by family circumstances to move away from Ripon not long afterwards. We were unable to change back to Tuesdays because by then another group had taken over the venue. Would it have made a difference? I suppose we shall never know.

The final meeting on 15th October was a sad one, with those of us left as active members of the Group having to face the inevitable. It was time to call it quits and move on, but Ripon is a small place and I’m sure that we shall all keep in touch.

PS Ripon Writers’ Group website, which goes back as far as 2011 and holds a wealth of memories and photographs, will remain live for the time being.  

   

20 October, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story

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