An informal Cambridge writing group can beat the record of Yarm Writers' Group (WN, May) for the furthest commute to attend, according to member Julia Anderson.

‘One of our members, Richard Errington, begins his journey from Utica, New York, near the Canadian border,’ says Julia. ‘He says goodbye to his girlfriend and drives 400 miles to his parents’ home in Connecticut. (No doubt to pick up his clean washing!)

His mother then drives him on the two-hour, 100-mile, journey to JFK airport where Richard boards a plane and flies for between five to seven hours to Heathrow. He is met at Heathrow by fellow member, Louise Dobson, and driven 90 miles to her home in Cambridge.

‘Once he has gotten over his jet lag, we hold our writing club, which Richard enjoys attending. He then picks up his car, which is garaged over here, and drives up to Leeds, 210 miles, where he is a second year student undertaking a creative writing degree.’

Despite successfully navigating all those miles, Richard manages to get lost walking back from meetings at Julia’s to his lodgings at Louise’s, in the next street.