In the second of a series of articles about authors appearing at Marlborough LitFest who have a strong local connection Marlborough.news has been speaking to the priest, screenwriter and author Colin Heber-Percy
Colin Heber-Percy has lived in our area for thirty years. He is currently part of the Savernake Ministry Team looking after the parishes of Burbage, Shalbourne, Ham and Buttermere. Prior to being ordained he was a successful screenwriter and he continues to work as a writer for screen and for publication. He describes his 2022 book Tales of a Country Parish as a very personal love song to this place – the downs, the forests, and the villages – and to the wonderful people who live and work here. It is based on the daily emails he sent to his parishioners during lockdown which were, he says, intended to console, comfort and challenge. However, it is his latest book Lost in the Forest which is the focus of a special event at Marlborough LitFest.
Colin is leading two walks in the Savernake Forest which will explore the ideas in Lost in the Forest. The walk will visit two of the ancient oaks, Old Paunchy and Cathedral where Colin will read extracts from his book and talk about their significance.
In Lost in the Forest the Savernake Forest is both a metaphor and a physical reality and is, Colin stresses, a very personal book. It explores the value of getting lost. We value belonging, everyone wants to run with the pack, fit in. But I believe there is a huge spiritual value in not belonging, not fitting in, not finding your tribe. It is quite scary to live in that vulnerable state but the book is a book of hope – you will be more than ok. Not having any rules can be very liberating.
The book is structured around the names of the ancient oaks in the Savernake Forest. Exploring the forest, Colin says, the oaks have become like friends, markers along a journey, each triggering different thoughts. Important parts of my life that have made me who I am such as school, my grandmother, reading.
Colin recognises that these ancient oaks are very special to a lot of people and he hopes that the book will also honour the trees and bring them into a story of a life. He includes many references to literature and acknowledges that forests have often been used in literature. In many of Shakespeare’s plays characters go to the forest to find themselves and resolve problems. The forest is also there in folk tales such as Hansel and Gretel and more recently the Blair Witch Project.
Lost in the Forest is a hymn to the forest as well as a call to less belonging and box ticking, a call to get lost. Colin Heber Percy hopes you will join him for a LItFest walk and he promises to lead you safely back to the car park. To book tickets click here.
Marlborough LitFest authors with a local connection – Kate Webb
