This year’s Guernsey Literary Festival, the 13th , which had a programme of more than 70 events spread over 10 jam-packed days, was a great success, with a record 8,000 tickets sold.
In addition, over 3,000 students attended education events, with 14 visiting authors going into local schools, and the festival also hosted five free community and outreach events. In total, the festival reached an audience of 11,500.
Festival Chairman, Rob Shepherd said that he was thrilled that so many people had attended and enjoyed the events: “This shows that the Festival continues to be embedded in the island’s cultural life. We knew we had a good programme to offer and that has been borne out by our wonderful audiences.
“Sadly, our honorary chairman, Sir Terry Waite, who has been such a great supporter over the years, was taken ill and wasn’t able to be with us, and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
Rob was not the only one delighted with the festival. Broadcaster and journalist Jon Sopel, who was interviewed on stage by fellow political broadcaster Sarah Montague at a sell-out event at St James, said: “What a wonderfully organised and well supported festival. The audiences were engaged and smart, the whole event seemed to run like clockwork – and can you beat it as a location? Thank you, Guernsey.”
Another sell-out author, Julian Fisher, said: “I had a wonderful time. I think it is the warmest and most welcoming lit fest I have been to.”
And Toby Lichtig, from the Festival’s new media partner the Times Literary Supplement, was also full of praise: “I’ve been so struck by how engaged the audiences are and how regularly the events are selling out. There’s a fantastic range: children’s authors, fiction, non-fiction, food, politics. You really pack a great deal in.”
Apart from the 52 public events and 15 events in school, there were five outreach events, including at Le Platon Nursing Home, Rosaire Care Home, Les Ormes Care Home, Guernsey Alzheimer’s Group and even a writing workshop with Jenny O’Brien at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
The Festival organises two major competitions, the Guernsey International Poetry competition and the Write Stuff writing competition for Bailiwick schools, which this year attracted a record entry. Presentations for both competitions were held during the Festival, with winners having the chance to meet the judges.
“We’re so proud of our festival,” said Festival Director Claire Allen. “Our speakers cover so many subjects that we feel we have something to interest everyone, whether you’re here for a gripping novel, a thought-provoking discussion, or a Mr Men story.”
This year’s Festival speakers included chef Tom Kerridge, Patrick Grant of the Great British Sewing Bee, writer and presenter Dawn O’Porter, human rights campaigner Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, journalists and broadcasters Jon Sopel and John Sweeney, novelist Kit de Waal, musician Roxanne de Bastion, garden designer Adam Frost, children’s authors Robin Stevens and Louie Stowell as well as poets Imtiaz Dharker, Hollie McNish and Michael Pederson.
This year it also launched a special joint school event with children’s author Nadia Shireen. This took place at Beau Sejour and was attending by 650 students from 14 local primary schools who all received a complimentary signed copy of her book, thanks to education programme sponsor Rothschild & Co.
“We were also delighted to shine a spotlight on local talent, with talks led by Guernsey authors and writing workshops designed to support aspiring writers in our community,” said Claire Allen.
“I’d like to thank all our writers and speakers for coming to our Festival and our audiences, local and from the UK, for turning up in such numbers and contributing enthusiastically to the success of the events. We’re also incredibly grateful to our festival sponsors and partners for helping to ensure we can deliver a high-quality festival experience.
“And finally—a heartfelt thank you to our brilliant Festival organising team who work throughout the year to plan and organise the festival and to all the volunteers for chaperoning authors and assisting at events. We simply couldn’t do it without you.”
Main picture: Jon Sopel in conversation with Sarah Montague (Picture: Paul Chambers)
