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                                 Mary Wesley's books are a treat for all
Dear Editor, What a delight to see in the July Book Review the appearance of Mary Wesley. For those who have never read her and can find her books, there is indeed a treat in store.
Wesley's publishing career took o  at the ripe age of seventy, in the 1980s, when most of us retirees are content to potter about the garden. Her hilarious o erings speak of feisty characters and colourful clever women, with names that might in other circumstances be considered pretentious but in her case delightfully apt, and situations that make you cry with laughter and at times reflect with sadness.
Having read all her novels, my favourite has to be The Camomile Lawn, an engaging read about three connected families and lives in London and Cornwall during the Second World War. Some years ago, it was made into a TV drama but, for me, its portrayal lacked the suave class confidence reminiscent in the ancestral certainty of Wesley's characters. The pleasure of this book is closely followed by another preference - the amusing delights of The Vacillations of Poppy Carew.
Her books and characters reflect life stripped bare in unconventional privileged families and are surprisingly revealing about a supposedly repressed generation. The latter aspect of her characters can perhaps come as a surprise from the appearance of such a demure looking stylish author. However, I suspect her books are quietly reflective of much of her own background. Do lookout for her and, if you can take her honesty, you will not be disappointed.
Yours sincerely, Valerie Tranfield
Putting pen to paper
Motorcycle parking under scrutiny
H i there, I recently posted a picture of m y motorcycle parked i n the Fountain Court motorcycle bay, including this cheeky 4x4 happily sat in there with it. I was soon told that you received a crabby letter from someone complaining that they received a fine for parking there. I haven't read the article myself, but I thought you might like this photo, to show that it is in use, just in case somebody tries to complain again!
I've decided to leave his/her number plate on display in m y Facebook post, just in case somebody really cares to pass it on to whoever manages the car park. Alan Aldred
    Phonebox Magazine 11