Wellington’s tenth annual literary festival will be the biggest and best yet, organisers say.Broadcaster Ned Sherrin and politician David Blunkett are the big-name headliners for the event organised by Wellington Town Council which runs throughout the month of October.
Evenings with local authors, music, poetry readings, drama, a reading group discussion and book launches are also part of the programme package. Admission for almost all events is free, although some are by ticket only.
Festival action kicks off on October 2 with a civic reception and launch by broadcaster and author Ned Sherrin in the Hayward Arts Centre, New College, Wellington. It is followed by An Evening With Ned Sherrin to launch the second edition of his book “I Wish I’d Said That.”
October 5, sees “Poems & Pints” at the Old Orleton on Holyhead Road, in which poets are invited along to read their own poems or favourites by others, or simply to listen.
Bringing the first week to an end is journalist Gillian Reynolds, radio critic of the Daily Telegraph since 1975, who will be talking about “The Power of the Radio” at the Upper Library, New College, next day.
Bestselling crime author Anne Perry is in conversation with Jon King at New College on October 9, and October 11 has Geoff Hales Travelling Theatre at the college in “These You Have Learned”.
Dr Rodney Edrich talks about his book “Bayley’s Children” on October 13 in the Centenary Theatre at Wrekin College.
Allan Frost launches his new book “Wellington Methodist Youth Club” at Wellington Methodist Church’s regular Saturday coffee morning on October 14, and on October 16 Shropshire Star nostalgia writer Toby Neal will be talking about his book “Shropshire Airfields” in the committee room at Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre.
The first children’s novel written by Telford’s Bruce Shepherd came out this summer, and Bruce will be talking about the book - “Commander Grumble and the Crew of 43 Acacia Avenue” - at the civic centre committee room on October 17.
Anna Dreda of Wenlock Books is inviting people to join in a reading group discussion of Ian McEwan’s “Saturday” at the Old Orleton on October 18, and later that day there is an evening of Irish music, ballads, jigs and reels by the Irish Music Club of Jackfield, interspersed with readings and dramatisation from New College performing arts students. This event is listed in the programme as being at the Charlton Arms Hotel, but the venue has had to be switched to the White House Hotel in Watling Street.
Also on this busy day, storyteller Jim Hatfield will be dropping in to Dothill infants school and Dothill junior school. Children’s author Susan Summers visits St Patrick’s RC School on October 19. On October 20 sports journalist Gary Imlach talks to BBC Radio Shropshire sports presenter James Bond about his first book, “My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes” at the Hayward Arts Centre, New College. Nicholas McInery is leading a Wrekin Writers scriptwriting workshop on October 21. His television work includes The Bill and Always & Everyone.
This event at the civic centre is the only festival event where there is a ticket price - £10.
On October 21 the Belfrey Theatre presents the farce “Don’t Get Your Vicars in a Twist” while “From Furnace To Paradise… & Back” on October 23 brings together the photography of the late William Finnigan with the writing of Broseley author John Bevis. Musical accompaniment will come from cellist Sarah Pickwell, a sixth former at William Brookes School, Much Wenlock. The event is in the Centenary Theatre at Wrekin College.
Allan Frost is having another book launch on October 24 at the town’s library. “Wellington Shreds (and Patches)” is a collection of stories about Wellington’s past.
David Blunkett - part of whose education was in Shropshire - talks about his new book “The Blunkett Tapes” on October 26, in the Main Hall at New College.
Bringing the festival to a conclusion will be a third book launch - “Wrekin Wraiths, Rebels and Romans” - by Mr Frost in Wellington Library on October 28.
There is a follow-up signing at Halfway House on The Wrekin between 10 am and noon the following morning.
Full details about festival events are available from Wellington Town Council on (01952) 222935.
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