Page 21 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • January 2003 21

10th Festival to put Swindon literally on the literary map
Following last May's splendid and successful ninth festival, plans are now well underway for the tenth
Swindon Festival of Literature, 1 -17 May. This will be the longest Festival of Literature yet, and to quote the
star of last year Mo Mowlem, its the UK's best-organised.
The programme is the most impres- range of literarytalks, performances,
A family run business offering
sive yet with a string of nationally- discussions and readings at thea- great service and very low
known authors and speakers already tres, arts venues, libraries, schools, prices. If you can find it
booked to appear. pubs, parks. and even woodlands in cheaper, we will beat that
They include the BBC's chief news and around Swindon. price on the spot.
PART EXCHANGE WELCOME.
correspondent Kate Adie with her Festival director Matt Holland
first book Kindness of Strangers, says. "the festival's profile grows COMPACT CAMERAS
veteran television quizmaster each year as it plays host to bigger Examples:
Minolta Vectis 300 (with case) ....£149.95
Magnus Magnusson. political dia- names and attracts a larger follow- Olympus Mju Zoom 80 Watch Kit..£129.95
rist, radio presenter, and sometime ing. At every level, it has become a
SINGLE LENS REFLEX
femme fatale Edwina Currie. chil- fantastic celebration for Swindon of Canon EOS 300 with 28/90 ....... £229.95
dren's author and broadcaster things well written and well said; Minolta Dynax 4 + 28/80G ........ £209.95
Michael Rosen, Poet Laureate something between a cultural com-
Andrew Motion, satirist and editor of munion and a literary frolic. People
The Oldie magazine Richard have agreattime. gettogether, meet
Ingrains, controversial and popular authors, join in good talk, and make
philosophers C Grayling and John Next month's Link exclusive: These- discoveries. It is very exciting."
Gray. sartorially-snappy Royal cor- cret life of an ex-cabinet minister and The 2003 festival has been made
a festival director. Matt Holland with
respondent Jenny Bond, prize-win- Edwina Currie on her visit to Swin- possible by financial support from
ning novelist Michelle Roberts. from Dominic Winter Book Auctions; DIGITAL CAMERAS
don in 1999
motormouth standup Mark Thomas, Thring Townsend Solicitors: the Yashica Finecam S3X with case £299.95
Si-Fix Style-cam ........................£39.95
columnist broadcaster Melanie to hear him talk about Thursday University of Bath in Swindon: South- Fu i32
j
Phillips. and Archers' agricultural Next, his pretty private detective ern Arts: Lower Shaw Farm; and MEMORY CARDS
adviser and environmental writer whose stamping grounds are none support in kind from Swindon Coun- MB SD Card ..................£29.95
Fuji 128 MB C/F Card ...............£49.95
Graham Harvey. otherthan the mean streets of Swin- cil and many other local and national
DEVELOP AND PRINT 24 hour service
Of local interest popular West don. organisations and individuals.
Any35mm film 6x4 ................... £2.99
Country author Robert Goddard will And in the true festival tradition. The Link will again be providing Any35mm film 5x7 ................... £4.99
be appearing at the Link library. number ten will start with frolics in glossy, full colour publicity in the run
By way of celebrating its tenth Lawn Woods at 5.30am on 1 May up to the festival.
anniversary, festival organisers have with the ever-popular Dawn Chorus The full programme will be pub-
also booked a number of surprise - a spring carnival of poetry, song, lished in March. To go on the mailing
acts. For example, the internation- storytelling, and dance, plus a good li st, call 771080 or mail:
ally-renowned word-juggling Chipo- deal of mayday morning mischief, [email protected]
latas will bring their unique all-action which includes giants and a pranc-
cabaret to town; with their family- ing horse.
friendly little big top and sawdust The subsequent 17 days of the
ring, Giffords Circus will bring terrific festival includes the fifth Clive Brain Studley Grange Craft Village
traditions and superb skills to literary Memorial Lecture, the now nation-
proceedings: and internationally- ally-famous Swindon Performance %e C4cd ce a#i %a t4 d z-1&P
selling local novelist Jasper Fforde Poetry Slam competition, a children's
• Portraits 8 party pictures
will bring fans from all over the world and a local authors' day, and a wide _ t(^
• Dried £t silk flowers
• Models & figurines
Win art work by internationally • Fine art
renowed cartoonists • Jewellery, sewing, dolls houses
• Painted Ft embroidered cushions
Last month the work of transatlantic mug. T-shirt and mouse mat • Hand painted furniture
cartoonists Simon Grennan from designed on the Swindon project
Brighton and New Yorker theme sponsored by Asda Walmart.
Christopher Sperendio was All you have to do is visit the
unveiled. During 2003 it can be seen superstore in North Swindon and tell
touring Swindon on the side of a us the name of the billboard on
double decker bus and also on display.
.
billboards in the town and in the Send your answers by 10 January
kti-
North Swindon Asda Walmart. to the address on page 4.
Now you can
win a collect- 4:
able art piece by
• Pewter work
the two artists
• Greeting cards £t stationery
whose work has
• 3D decoupage
been seen in the • Silk paintings
New York Mus- • Textile design
eum of Modern • Cake decorating
Art. • Picture framing Ft rubber stamps
We have • Bunkers soft play area
three sets of a
See craftspeople at work.
The artists with Have a go at making and decorating your own craft work.
Swindon bee-
keeper Ron Visit us through the rear of Blooms Garden Centre,
Hoskins in front Hay Lane, close to Junction 16 on the M4
of his portrait