OCCASIONALLY, one comes across families whose livings and lifestyles are dominated over the generations by adherence to a certain profession, business or trade.

Here in Devon and Cornwall, farming and fishing are often ways of life, that in some families, stretch back over decades.

Felicity Luckman, in her riveting biography, 'Immortal Love — The Life and Times of Robert Westall' — her father — tells the evocative story of generation s of her own family, one whose lives have been dedicated to service to the Anglican Church.

As the title suggests, the life and career of Robert is what dominates, but it is of significance that he was the son of a clergyman and father of a bishop.

Felicity's brother, Michael, was Anglican bishop of South West Africa until he retired a few years ago.

He, like the author and so many of her family, now lives in Devon.

However, for anyone assuming this is a family whose history and way of life is, and has been, totally conventional, major surprises await.

On the first page, the author shares a revelation, in the slightly understated way which characterises much of her style and adds to its potency — her grandfather, Arthur Westall, in 1898, disillusioned with the modernist trends of the Church of England, joined the Roman Catholics.

In modern times such a move would make waves — then, they would have been tsunami-like.

Robert and his elder brother Wilfrid, who became Bishop of Crediton, enjoyed an idyllic childhood in Exbourne, West Devon.

However, ecclesiastical life is similar to service in the armed forces in one respect — moves are frequent, either at the behest of the authorities, or to further one's career.

Robert Westall experienced many such moves, firstly due to his father's career requirements, then his own.

The author spent a large portion of her childhood in West Devon, until moving away with her parents. However, when Robert returned as rector of Dodbrooke, near Kingsbridge, she had left home.

Despite this, Felicity's coverage of her father's varied and dedicated career, in all its aspects and locations, seems even more vividly described when he and his wife, Beryl, are residing in 'Drake's County'.

Throughout though, this good, kind gentleman, the member of the family which at one time apparently occupied half a page of Crockford's Ecclesiastical Directory, has his life described by his daughter with affection, perception and clear honesty, ever with an eye to the relevance of his disciplined, dedication to the folk and world around him.

An interesting story if produced by a jobbing writer, in the hands of an author of the quality of Felicity Luckman, with her economic use of words, yet mastery of those she does employ, it becomes a book which will hold the attention and concentrate the mind from start to finish.

This significant gentleman, who possibly accurately described himself as 'deeply conventional but a stranger to fashion', comes alive in this immaculately produced book — which contains a number of family photographs — in a way which makes it a most satisfying, fulfilling and pleasurable read.

'Immortal Love — The Life and Times of Robert Westall' by Felicity Luckman, is published by Active Sprite Press and is available from the author at £5 (a suggested donation) plus £1.50 postage and packing via email at [email protected]">[email protected]

Ted SherrelL