ILMINSTER LITERARY FESTIVAL

I have always been an avid reader and need no encouragement to get my nose stuck into a good book. On average, I probably plough my way through a book a week; I even rate my holidays by the number of books I get to read. Hence my shock to discover recently that research undertaken in 2017 has revealed that in the UK less than 1 in 4 people have read a book in the last 12 months. A sad reflection of our modern-day society. Thankfully, the increasing popularity of local literary festivals, along with World Book Day, is helping to turn the tide.

As Ilminster gears up for its 3rd annual literary festival it has given me pause for reflection, particularly in relation to the enormous amount of work that goes into pulling it all together. One of the joys, and the challenges, lies in the planning of the programme.

Whilst the attendance of well-established heavy hitting literary figures certainly gains interest and helps to draw in the crowds, the Lit Fest also provides the opportunity for up and coming authors to showcase their latest literary masterpiece.

When it comes to gaining the attention of a local audience across the full spectrum of ages and interests, the BBC’s own mission statement to ‘Inform, Educate and Entertain’, enriching the lives of others, seems most pertinent. That, combined with a little audience participation thrown into the mix, and a bevvy and a bite, is surely the perfect recipe for a successful event. The large number of comments and positive feedback from the last two Lit Fests bears this out. It is a process of engagement with the audience and authors alike, responding to their observations; the selection of appropriate venues to set the scene can play a key part in the final outcome. 

When attending an event or activity myself I always feel that if in exchange for giving up my time, and money, I can come away with having enjoyed myself whilst learning something new then it has been time well spent.  We are all inclined to repeat something if we have gained pleasure from the experience.

The first Ilminster Literary Festival, in 2016, the brain child of Brenda Lake, proved to be a great success. Now in its third year, with a little tweaking as we go along, it is heartening to see that authors are now chomping at the bit to find a place on the programme. 

For 2018, by popular demand, prolific author and playwright Fay Weldon is speaking about her latest novel ‘Death of a She Devil’; and hot on her heels is Martin Bell. A former, soldier, war reporter and Independent MP, Martin’s book ‘War and the Death of News’ reflects on the emergence of ‘fake news’. His own quote, written at the time of the Bosnian war, ‘Everyone’s lying but it doesn’t matter, because no one’s listening’ should be enough to make even hardened sceptics want to sit up and listen.  

This year, along with the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, award winning films ‘Dunkirk’ and ‘Darkest Hour’, have peaked our interest in this aspect of our country’s history. No doubt David Andrews’ reflections on ‘Letters from a WW1 Soldier’, and also Keith Marsh’s talk on his book ‘The Lucky Shilling’, the story of one soldier who did not get rescued at Dunkirk’, will be well-attended events.

On a more light-hearted note, comic poet Rob Barratt, is back by popular demand. His unique combination of word play, song, satire and parody, combined with a wine tasting conducted by local wine expert Ian Gibson, is sure to be a sell-out.
As a professional hotel and restaurant inspector, I am of course looking forward to hearing Alastair Sawday’s account of ‘Travelling Light’. His guides to quirky places to stay provide the perfect antidote to bland, soulless, predictable, chain hotels; the independent travellers’ bible.

For sports enthusiasts, freelance broadcaster and journalist Grahame Lloyd’s talk is appropriately held at Ilminster Cricket Club. Entitled ‘The Six Sixes Revisited’, Grahame celebrates Garry Sobers historic 36 runs off one over in 1968. 

With Spring on the horizon, flower aficionados will want to see what locally grown blooms Georgie Newbery has on offer from Common Farm Flowers. There should be plenty to choose from as she and her team grow up to 250 different varieties of flowers and foliage. Also on offer, is a talk by renowned broadcaster, travel and nature writer Stephen Moss, President of the Somerset Wildlife Trust. In addition to his TV stints on Springwatch, his travels have taken him to all seven continents, so wildlife and nature fans will certainly enjoy this event.

For budding authors, Rachel Godfrey is running a fun and relaxed workshop on the theme ‘Telling Our Stories’, and in addition to all of these exciting events, there is Daisy Waugh talking about how she uses Tarot cards to aid creative thinking, and Dr. John Powell on ‘Why We Love Music’, and its power to alleviate depression, pain and insomnia. 

Ilminster is well known for its love of local theatre, so Brian Freeland’s homage to George Bernard Shaw, ‘Playing the Clown’, along with his humorous, nostalgic look at ‘The View From the Wings’, a behind the scenes look at the unpredictability of live performances, should guarantee a full house at Ilminster’s very own theatre, The Warehouse. Murder and mayhem are also on the cards here when Laurie Graham introduces us to Whitechapel music hall doyenne Miss Dot Allbones who will tell a story of murders most horrible; patrons are requested to abstain from cursing, spitting or giving the bird.
Theatre goers will also enjoy watching Deidre Kinahan’s one-act play, Melody, over a spot of supper at Whielackington Hall. 
Described as ‘utterly hypnotic’, Robert Lloyd Parry takes over Nyanza Lodge for an evening of nocturnal horror on the Suffolk coast in his ‘Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’, and not content with that, it is complemented by ‘The Ash Tree’, a story of witchcraft and vengeance.

Bringing us right back down to earth is Paul Goodwin, author of ‘Forewarned: A Sceptic’s Guide to Prediction’; the perfect subject matter for those wanting some insight into the question he poses in the wake of the Brexit vote and Trump’s surprise election, ‘Is the world becoming more.

Ilminster is also rightly proud of its history and its architecture, so Philip Wilkinson’s look at some of the buildings around the world that never made it past the architect’s drawing board will arouse interest in his latest book, ‘Phantom Architecture’. 

Budding performers can take a turn to read aloud their favourite poems at Ilminster Memory Café, one of several free events, on offer, and children get a look in too, courtesy of Greenfylde School, which is hosting this year’s final of the Poetry Recital Competition; always an exciting and entertaining performance. 

The 2018 Ilminster Literary Festival……. there really is something for everyone…

You can view the full 2018 Ilminster Literary Festival Programme here :
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uWU76Mf9bhzNJMirjs2pujrQ_YqgfmTv