Dulwich author Susan Gillie read an article in Southwark News about some of the Copleston Community Centre staff and volunteers walking thirteen of the River Thames Bridges to raise funds to keep their activities for the elder generation running. As a long-time worker in non-profit organisations the writer felt moved to meet some of the walkers and people who benefit from all that Copleston has to offer, so made plans to go along, writes Michael Holland.
After chats with various people over Copleston’s Wednesday Community Lunch, Susan gave a talk to the Life Writing class about bringing up a family in Canada and Switzerland, where her husband was posted, and about their post-work life that seems to have been spent exploring some of the planet’s most obscure and exotic countries.
Her tale of how she came to be a writer was of great interest to the aspiring authors in the group, and her method of writing a novel – ‘Let the characters write it themselves’ – came as a surprise to some.
Starting with a backstory that began when she was born in Kent, where her mother had been evacuated from the family’s Shooters Hill home (‘There were anti-aircraft guns at the top of our road!’) and an education in Plumstead Primary School before Eltham Hill Grammar School, Susan’s journey spread far and wide from those humble SE London beginnings.
Unfortunately, Susan had not been accepted for the Girls Public Day School Trust in Blackheath: ‘These schools were considered a serious step up from state grammars,’ she lets me know, and it was something the Eltham Hill Headmistress was ‘mystified’ about, but ‘my acceptance at Cambridge was a vindication of her view!’ she says with a wry smile.
Cambridge? I was impressed.
While at school, studying hard and reading a lot of books, Susan decided she wanted to become a nuclear physicist so set about becoming one! But when at Girton College, the first women’s college at Cambridge, it soon became clear that her maths were not quite up for it, so after taking the degree exams she did a one year Economics course.
Susan graduated and then joined the world of work where she met her husband in ‘an office romance’. That was the start of many happy years travelling to various continents for work and pleasure.
After leaving us all goggle-eyed at her adventures, Susan read excerpts from her many short stories, answered questions and then set the class a choice of topics that would evoke memories to write about.
The 90 minutes went far too quickly and as she said her farewells she left us all wanting more.
Susan’s book A Chance Encounter is published by The Conrad Press and available through major book retailers, both online and in stores. ISBN-13: 978-1917673426
The Copleston Activities Programme: https://www.coplestoncentre.org.uk/copleston-weekly-programme-2025
Donations page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/coplestoncentre?utm_medium=CR&utm_source=CL
