Marlborough’s latest literary festival was launched last night (Friday) with a reception at the town hall attended by Marlborough’s own celebrities – and a message from its chairman, the novelist Mavis Cheek.
“Welcome to our third year,” she told Marlborough’s mayor, Edwina Fogg, and the guests. “The important thing about this festival is that it proves that you don’t have very large breasts or be a footballer to be a success as a literary festival.”
“We only invite people who write books beautifully. We only have real literature at our festival and it works every time. We are living proof that literature soars.”
She revealed that the festival was born out of a meeting in a wine bar with former mayor Nick Fogg, creator of Marlborough’s international jazz festival. She then went cap in hand to the Author’s Licensing and Collecting Society for support.
“And they immediately wrote me a cheque to start this festival,” said Mavis. “So I must continue to thank them because without them we would never have dared sail into the dark.”
She then went on to thank too the festival’s lead sponsors, Brewin Dolphin, and other sponsors Robert Hiscock, whose international company insures the festival, and the family of Marlborough’s own literary Nobel laureate William Golding, who have created a festival lecture in his name.
Sir John Sykes, a member of the Litfest committee, invited all the guests to toast the festival “and all who sail in her.”
Sir John went on to pay tribute to the leadership of Mavis, who chairs its committee. “Thank you Mavis for being inspirational in getting the third festival under way,” he declared.
