Page 20 - link magazine

20
Swfr kr Wide
0 Lit Fest attracts celebrity
NAWAB BLAYLOCKS
SWINDON'S FAMILY
FABRIC SHOE SHOP following for 05
FASHIONS 4 Est. 1920 It seems the word is out. Authors are saying: I'm a celebrity! Get me into
Swindon's STOCKISTS OF ALL the Swindon Festival of Literature writes festival director Matt Holland.
BEST LEADING BRANDS Following last May's exception- dren and Families Day, plus a wide
fabric shop ally successful eleventh festival, range of literary talks. discussions,
We also s:.; Asian suits, NEW SPRING RANGES plans are now well advanced for and readings at theatres, arts ven-
the twelfth, from 1 to 15 May ues. libraries, schools, pubs, parks.
designer & casual,
NOW ARRIVING
saris and jewellery Authors and speakers already and, new this year, the old railway
booked to appear include estab- museum.
Tailoring service and BLAYLOCKS Festival frolics begin in Lawn
curtain making lished names from the world of
Bath Road Corner literature and also from politics, Woods, overlooking Queen's Drive,
Mon. to Sat. 1 Oam to 4pm
Old Town entertainment, and television. at 5.30am on Sunday 1 May, with
25 Tennyson Street. Swindon Among those coming to town in the ever-popular Dawn Chorus,
Tel: (01793) 611869 Tel: 534271 May, with new books and celebrity where early birds gather for a spring
looks, will be Swindon boy made carnival of poetry, song, storytell-
good, Julian Clary. with his autobi- ing, dance, and hot breakfasts, plus
ography A Young Man sPassage: a good deal of May Day morning
trigger-happy television trickster mischief.
Dom Joly, with his mischievously-
titled book LookatNleLookatMe:
outspoken politician Clare Short;
BBC news correspondent Fergal
Keene: a QC who dares see what's
right and wrong with the law Helena
Kennedy: columnist Max Hastings:
BBC garden history expert Jane
Owen: bright-tied newscaster and
author Jon Snow: very popular
novelist Katie Fforde: TV impres-
sionist and raconteur Alistair
McGowan; brain expert Professor
Steven Rose: and man of moral
mazes and televisual 999 calls
Jane Owen, to/king about garden
Michael Buerk.
design at L ydiard House on 2 May
Also appearing will be a good
number of literary thoroughbreds. The festival's profile and reputa-
These include, all the way from tion continues to grow. Each year it
Canada, Orange Prizewinner Anne attracts bigger names and a larger
Michaels; revered veteran artist, following. At every level, it has
writer, and thinker John Berger; become a fantastic celebration for
prizewinning novelist and televi- Swindon of things well written and
sion personality David Baddiel; things well said. People of all ages
sports and birds-writing man of let- and backgrounds have avery good
ters Simon Barnes: bookish pro- ti me. They get together, meet au-
fessor Lisa Jardine; Guardian life- thors. join in lively talk, explore
guide Guy Browning; and column- new ideas, and even have a laugh.
ist and sometime philosopher It is all very exciting.
Michael Bywater. The 2005 Swindon Festival of
Negotiations are still underway Literature has been made possible
with ex-Mirror media man Piers by funding from the Arts Council of
Morgan, astronomer royal Sir Mar- England South West, whose sup-
tin Rees, film maker John Pilger; port represents recognition of what
sometime politician, novelist, and has been achieved in literature de-
celebrity Anne Widdicombe: col- velopment in Swindon.
umnistand man abouttown Simon Financial support is also pro-
Hoggart; and, by way of somebody vided by Dominic Winter Book
completely different, Michael Eavis. Auctions. Swindon Borough Coun-
founder of the Glastonbury Festi- cil. the University of Bath in Swin-
val with a book on its history. don. Swindon Learning Partner-
Of course, in true Swindon Fes- ship and Lower Shaw Farm. Sup-
tival of Literature tradition, it will port in kind is received from nu-
not just be famous names that merous other local and national
make this a highspot on the town's organisations and individuals. in-
cultural calendar. During the 15 cluding The Link.
days of the festival, described by It is heartening that all these
Mo Mowlam as the best-organ- people see the value of a festival of
ised festival in the country,' there literature in Swindon.
will also be the seventh Clive Brain The festival programme is pub-
Memorial Lecture, the eighth Po- lished in March. To go on the fes-
ems & Pints, the now nationally- tival mailing list, call 771080 or
famous Swindon Performance mail: swindonlitfest@lowershaw
Poetry Slam competition, a Chil- farm.co.uk