Page 21 - link magazine

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NEW TO SWINDON
The Old Bank, Old Town
Speed dating
for 35 to 45 year olds
6th February
7.30pm - 11pm
Speed dating
for 45s Plus
19th February,
7.30pm to 11pm
Festival 15 on its way in May

Following last May’s fabulous fourteenth festival, plans are now well underway for another spectacular Swindon
Festival of Literature, from 5 to 18 May.
Once again, festival frol- a fantastic celebration for
ics will begin high on the Swindon of things well NAWAB’S
ridge in Lawn Woods, over- written and things well
looking Swindon, at 5.30am said. It offers experiences • Fabrics
on Spring Bank Holiday that help make life memo- • Indian suits and saris
Monday 5 May, with the rable. People of all ages
ever-popular Dawn Chorus, and backgrounds have a • Jewellery
where earlybirds gather for very good time. They get • Haberdashery
a spring carnival of poetry, together, meet authors, • Tailoring and curtain
song, storytelling, dance, join in lively talk, explore making service
and hot breakfasts. new ideas, and even have
During the subsequent 13 a laugh.” www.nawabs.co.uk
days, authors and speakers The full programme will
appearing at venues in the be published in March. Mon to Sat 10am to 4pm
town are likely to include 15th festival outing for Matt Holland For details or to join the 25 Tennyson Street
established names not only festival mailing list, call SWINDON
from the world of literature but also with the authors of the hot potato 771080 or mail: swindonlitfest@
from environment and ecology, of Spring publishing, The Self- lowershawfarm.co.uk Tel: (01793) 611869
acting and art, science and sport, Suffi cientish Bible, a presentation
philosophy, poetry, and pop music. from the director of the Fairtrade
What a collection of talent. Al- organisation, information on cli-
ready signed up are Booker Prize mate change issues, eco-friendly
winner Ben Okri, Radio 4 presenter activities for children, and talks on
James Naughtie, football-playing eco housing in Swindon.
maths professor and genius Mar- Of course, in true SFL tradition,
cus du Sautoy, ex-pro footballer it will not just be famous names or
Graeme LeSaux and legendary hot issues that make this a highspot
sports commentator Barry Davies. on the town’s cultural calendar.
There’s also philosopher A C During the 13 days of the fes-
Grayling, founder of the Eden Proj- tival, described by Joan Bakewell
ect Tim Smit, actor and director as truly delightful, by Jon Snow
Steven Berkoff, historian Richard as a real surprise, and by Shaun
Holmes, editor at the Oxford Eng- B as comparable to sex, there will
lish Dictionary Charlotte Brewer, also be the now nationally-famous
controversial documentary maker Swindon Performance Poetry
John Pilger, and with his new book Slam, an exciting Youth Slam, an
on the State versus Mandela, de- all-action Children & Families
fence lawyer legend and good Day, plus a wide range of literary
Swindon import Lord Joel Joffe. talks, discussions, and readings
Radio 2’s Johnnie Walker, once at theatres, arts venues, libraries,
a pirate and nearly the last from schools, pubs, parks and even in
the 60s birth of pop music, will be an ex-cowshed.
sponsored by The Link. Director Matt Holland said,
By way of helping Swindon in its “Swindon’s profi le and reputation
ambition to become the most Eco- continue to grow; it has become
Friendly and Sustainable City of a veritable festival of ideas. Each
Europe by 2016, festival organis- year the festival attracts a broader
ers have included an Eco Ideas range of terrifi c writers and speak-
and Practices Day on 11 May. ers and a larger following.
There will be talks and workshops At every level, it has become 9th & 10th March
The 2008 Swindon Festival of Literature has been made possible by funding from
Dominic Winter Book Auctions, Swindon Borough Council’s Arts Services & Artswords, Ticket Offi ce: 01793 524481
the University of Bath in Swindon, Swindon’s Neighbourhood Learning project, and
Lower Shaw Farm, as well as valuable support and assistance from First Great West-
ern, Swindon Link Magazine, the National Union of Teachers, the Swindon Advertiser,
Holland Handling, Borders and Waterstone’s Bookshops, Friends of the Festival, plus
a host of other local organisations and individuals. It is heartening that all these people www.wyverntheatre.org.uk
see the value of a festival of literature in Swindon.

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