For nearly 18 months, Veterans Outreach Support’ (VOS)‘The Page Turners’ VOS Book Club has brought together a close-knit group of book lovers who meet regularly to chat, share their thoughts on the book of the month and enjoy great conversation about everything in between!
It’s a fantastic way to connect with like-minded people in the local veteran community, spark lively discussions and build new friendships along the way.
Mandy Vaughan, an Army Veteran and VOS member, is one of our regular attendees.
She served for over 26 years in Army Aviation (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – REME) as an Avionics Technician. Her career took her all over the world – wherever the helicopters went, she went. Later, she expanded her expertise to include work on both large and small Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs). In the latter part of her service, she transitioned into Air Safety, focussing on Human Factors. Her long and varied career provided her with a wealth of experience across many different areas of life.
With a love of reading, here she shares her favourite authors – what she loves most about the VOS Book Club group and why she keeps coming back to this warm and engaging community, time after time.
Tell us a about why you joined the VOS Book Club?
“The VOS book Club gets me out of the house. It helps me meet people who I wouldn’t otherwise meet. I sometimes struggle to get there but once I am there I enjoy chatting to the other Page Turner’s. Even if I didn’t enjoy that month’s book I enjoy hearing what others thought of it and the discussions we have.”
What is your favourite genre and any special authors you enjoy reading:
“Ooh, this is a hard one! I love Science Fiction/Fantasy, but I also love historical fiction. Terry Pratchett is at the top for the first and probably Edward Rutherfurd or Ken Follett, a close second. I also rather like a crime novel, especially if it’s set somewhere I know (Portsmouth – Graham Hurley or The Isles of Scilly – Kate Rhodes).
“On the other hand, I also like reading factual books. I have read many books about what makes humans ‘tick’. Or how things work. I guess that’s the aviation engineer in me. I always have several books on the go at one time so that I can read whatever I am in the mood for. I am currently also reading the Bible and the Koran for the second time… even though I am not religious… and I find them a hard read.”
What’s on your latest reading list?
“In the past few months, I have enjoyed reading:
- Murder Mindfully by Kirsten Dusse
- The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey
- The Fox Wife by Yangtze Choo – this was a totally new concept for me but I enjoyed the story.”
What do you like most about the VOS Book Club?
“A friendly welcome, in a library – what’s better than that? I enjoy joining this group of like-minded people from all walks of life. As part of this group, we have spouses as well as Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans. Although we have similar backgrounds, we are all different in our book tastes.”
“We talk about the last month’s book, often trying not to give away the plot to those that haven’t finished it. There isn’t any pressure to finish a book – if you don’t like it, you can just drop it. We have a fantastic member, Alison, who is in touch with publishers to get free copies of books. I prefer electronic copies, but most people seem to be happy with the hard copies.”
‘The Page Turners’ VOS Book Club are currently reading ‘Dark Frontier’ by Matthew Harffy – a gripping tale of courage, conflict and survival that’s sure to spark some brilliant discussion.
The friendly and welcoming group generally meet on the third Tuesday of each month, with the next meeting taking place as follows:
Tuesday, 17th March from 1800hrs to 1900hrs, at the Royal Maritime Hotel.
Check out our VOS Eventbrite page and our VOS website for the latest activities and VOS Book Club dates. We hope to see you there!
Image above: Mandy Vaughan, VOS member and veteran, holding a copy of one of VOS’ ‘The Page Turners’ Book Club’s books. C
If you’re a veteran from the UK Armed Forces or a qualifying former member of the *Merchant Navy* (from any time of service) or a partner / carer to one, we are here to offer our support: call us on 02392 731 767, visit a drop-in, or email wellbeing@vosuk.org
