Photo Credit: Ben Phillips
Marlborough LitFest celebrated its 15th year last weekend with a packed programme of more than 40 bookish events for all ages and tastes, including big names, first-time authors and a host of free activities for children and families. Audiences came from far beyond the town and the county to enjoy sessions with bestselling novelists such as Kate Mosse, Robet Harris, Celia Imrie and Felix Francis, royal writer Robert Hardman, biographers Sonia Purnell and Adam Sisman and historians William Dalrymple and Jonathan Dimbleby. The festival opened with 60 children from Marlborough St Mary’s singing on the steps of the Town Hall and ended with LitFest patron and Marlborough inhabitant Sir Simon Russell Beale talking about his acclaimed Shakespearean roles at Marlborough College’s Memorial Hall.
In between there was a rich mix of talks from debut novelists, crime writers and non-fiction authors on topics ranging from the potential of AI by entrepreneur Nigel Toon, an African history of Africa by journalist Zeinab Badawi and the context to Putin’s aggression by broadcaster Martin Sixsmith. On Thursday sixth-formers from St John’s Marlborough debated the responsibilities of being a novelist and younger pupils from Pewsey, Hungerford as well as Marlborough enjoyed a Big School Read with author Candy Gourlay hosted by St John’s. Friday saw novelist Barney Norris lead a creative writing workshop in Savernake Forest, natural navigator Tristan Gooley encourage his audience to look at trees with fresh eyes and Golding speaker best-selling writer Linda Grant talk about her latest novel The Story of the Forest.
Saturday’s varied menu included the ever-popular Collectable Books Roadshow with Chris Gange at the Katharine House Gallery, a ‘plotting a story’ workshop with crime writer Simon Mason and Poetry in the Pub at The Green Dragon. Sunday morning began with an audience of 50-somethings listening to former Sunday Times journalist Eleanor Mills talking about her campaign to empower women in midlife. It was followed by an important debate with sports journalist Sam Peters and former Welsh international rugby player Alix Popham about the ‘uncomfortable truth’ of the awful toll that rugby and other sports can take on players’ health.
Free author events in Calne, Pewsey and Marlborough for local primary schools reached around 1200 children this year and Wiltshire Libraries hosted Lizzie Lewis from Tall Tales Theatre, youth director at The Watermill Theatre, who entranced her young audience with a performances of Hansel & Gretel in Pewsey and Marlborough in the lead-up to the festival and then of Pan at St Peter’s Church on Sunday. Over the festival weekend children were entertained by the colourful duo of author Philip Reeve and illustrator Sarah McIntyre talking about their series Adventure Mice. They were inspired by former St John’s students Emily Randall-Jones and Matthew Fox explaining how they became successful children’s writers.
LitFest has worked alongside more local partners than ever this year with events at St Peter’s Church, storytelling for adults in the panelled room at The Merchant’s House and a Big Book Quiz and free storytelling for children at The Parade Cinema. The second year of Once Upon a Trail saw clues for children’s books hidden in more than 20 businesses along the High Street which had been created by members of the Aldbourne Children’s Book Group. And writer Julia Hollander, together with her lurcher Albi, got elderly clients at the Jubilee Centre singing along to old favourites.
The White Horse Bookshop is crucial to the success of the festival with the addition of a pop-up bookshop in the Town Hall and at all venues with purchasers able to chat to authors and get their books signed.
Genevieve Clarke, Chair of LitFest, said: ‘We’ve had a fabulous response to the range of writers we’ve brought to Marlborough this year with lots of sell-out sessions and people saying they were spoilt for choice. But we couldn’t do it without fantastic support from our generous sponsors and Friends of LitFest, our ever-expanding troop of local volunteers and, of course, a loyal and enthusiastic audience.’
After six years in the role of chair, Genevieve is handing over to journalist and local farmer Mary-Vere Parr, who interviewed several participants this year: local tulip specialist Polly Nicholson, travel and food writer Caroline Eden and first-time author Chloe Dalton about her enchanting book Raising Hare. Genevieve said: ‘I’ve loved being at the heart of LitFest but it’s now time for a new pair of hands at the helm. Mary-Vere has all the right skills, energy and expertise to take LitFest into an even brighter future.’
The LitFest committee, all volunteers themselves, would like to thank its supporters for 2024: main event sponsor Hiscox, founder sponsor Robert Hiscox and event sponsors AG Builders, AM Digital, Brearley & Rich estate agents, Fermoie, Haine & Smith Opticians, Hamilton Trust, Indigo Antiques, Marlborough College, marlborough.news, McFarlane Property, St Francis School, The Arts Society Kennet & Swindon, Wansbroughs and William Golding Ltd.
Anyone wanting to get involved as a volunteer or Friend of LitFest is encouraged to visit the website here or contact general@marlboroughlitfest.org
Sir Simon Russell Beale at Marlborough LitFest 2024
