Stalwart promoter of arts and culture Matt Holland has confirmed that the 30th Swindon Festival of Literature was his last as organiser.
He announced his decision in a speech during the Finale of this year's festival, which was by turns poignant and light-hearted.
Mr Holland has organised the festival since it began, and in the early days some commentators doubted that such an event could ever be successful in the town.
However, the doubters were proved wrong, with the festival becoming a major date on the national literature festival calendar and drawing audiences and authors from all over the world.
Announcing his decision, the veteran festival organiser said: "What I am about to say next might commonly be called a resignation speech.
"As things stand, next year the Swindon Festival of Literature as we have known it, all the way from Dawn Chorus to a Festival Finale, will not be organised by me.
"It is, I think, time for me to hang up my organiser's hat."
He added: "Notwithstanding the fact that it's been a brilliant festival this year, for which I thank you all for your help and support, and even though running and organising a festival is not the hardest job in the world, nothing like, say, being a King, or harder still, being a mother, I have occasionally felt ever-widening cracks appearing in my ageing and formerly impenetrable armour.
"It's the same with other activities in my life, all of which I will not mention, but Parkrun times are getting slower, and more topspin backhands down the line going out than in.
"The eye, the hand, the muscle and the mind are no longer quite up to what I expect of them. They are telling me to slow down, space out, take my foot off the pedal of life, or maybe redirect my attention to other challenges and joys."
Mr Holland now plans to spend more time with his growing grand-family, put his massive collection of books in order - and perhaps make some of his own writing ready for publication.
A major focus will be on working to help up-and-coming Swindon authors at the acclaimed Lower Shaw Farm arts venue.
He said: "There is, in short, plenty else for me to do other than search for funding and spend the dark winter months scouring the country for writers, speakers and performers to bring to you, much as I love them and much as I love you!
"I might still be tempted to organise occasional one-off author/performer events, say over a weekend or a week or two, but alas, no more Dawn Chorus to Festival Finale, 30-event week-long festivals from me."
Mr Holland has organised the festival since it began, and in the early days some commentators doubted that such an event could ever be successful in the town.
However, the doubters were proved wrong, with the festival becoming a major date on the national literature festival calendar and drawing audiences and authors from all over the world.
Announcing his decision, the veteran festival organiser said: "What I am about to say next might commonly be called a resignation speech.
"As things stand, next year the Swindon Festival of Literature as we have known it, all the way from Dawn Chorus to a Festival Finale, will not be organised by me.
"It is, I think, time for me to hang up my organiser's hat."
He added: "Notwithstanding the fact that it's been a brilliant festival this year, for which I thank you all for your help and support, and even though running and organising a festival is not the hardest job in the world, nothing like, say, being a King, or harder still, being a mother, I have occasionally felt ever-widening cracks appearing in my ageing and formerly impenetrable armour.
"It's the same with other activities in my life, all of which I will not mention, but Parkrun times are getting slower, and more topspin backhands down the line going out than in.
"The eye, the hand, the muscle and the mind are no longer quite up to what I expect of them. They are telling me to slow down, space out, take my foot off the pedal of life, or maybe redirect my attention to other challenges and joys."
Mr Holland now plans to spend more time with his growing grand-family, put his massive collection of books in order - and perhaps make some of his own writing ready for publication.
A major focus will be on working to help up-and-coming Swindon authors at the acclaimed Lower Shaw Farm arts venue.
He said: "There is, in short, plenty else for me to do other than search for funding and spend the dark winter months scouring the country for writers, speakers and performers to bring to you, much as I love them and much as I love you!
"I might still be tempted to organise occasional one-off author/performer events, say over a weekend or a week or two, but alas, no more Dawn Chorus to Festival Finale, 30-event week-long festivals from me."
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