John Allison will never forget her generous praise, and Pam Connellan recalls her contributions to Jackie magazine
I was sad to learn of the death of Lynne Reid Banks (Obituaries, 5 April). Although I loved The L-Shaped Room and the subsequent film – in spite of her misgivings – her novel Dark Quartet led me to an obsession with the Brontë sisters after a visit to Haworth.
But my abiding memory of Lynne was when she was the joint tutor, with the late Chaim Bermant, at an Arvon Foundation writer’s workshop at Totleigh Barton, in the 80s. After making some radical suggestions to change one of my pieces, she singled out the improved version to be read aloud to my fellow budding writers. Alas, I did not fulfil that initial promise, but I will never forget her generous praise of my efforts at that workshop.
John Allison
Warwick
