In recently two months, the Last Thursday Reading Group has discussed ‘Reach for the sky’, a book written by Paul Brickhill. It’s about Douglas Bader, who was a skilled pilot. However he lost one leg to aerobatics. Then, he lost another one. He used his metal legs and trained himself back to RAF when WWII started. Bader was an excellent leader, fighter, and innovator. After colliding with a German Me-109, he sat out the remaining three years as a prisoner of war at Colditz Castle, near Leipzig, Germany, repeatedly testing the reputation of the fortress as an escapeproof prison. The same title movie was on screen in 1956. Bader’s story is a story of courage, determination and possibility of reach higher, no matter what.

The reading group members were inspired by the story. It’s chairperson, David, who had a similar disability, spoke at length about similar experiences as Bader and had expereince of meeting him many years ago. The group has watched the same title movie later on while reading another book ‘Sylvia’ by Bryce Courtenay.

This group members are from different multicultural backgrounds. Also some members have physical disabilities – some are on wheelchairs, someone is vision impaired and someone has to read a book at home dur to the limitation of mobility. However nothing has deterred those members in enjoying each other’s company. Of course they enjoy readings as well.