AN annual literary festival is returning after two years of cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Wantage Literary Festival, which will take place at The Beacon off Portway, is due to return for two weeks from Monday, October 24 to Saturday, November 5.
The festival will be featuring some new faces and welcoming back some old friends. Festival director Vicki Luker said she is “delighted” that the event is back.
READ MORE: Repairs of medieval castle could begin THIS month
She said: “This year’s Festival packs an almighty punch. Less events, but more headliners to keep Wantage buzzing.
“Look out for unique listings including the legacy of Sir Frank Williams. And the ever-convivial Larry Lamb with Nicola Cornick.”
The festival opens with forensic scientist Dr Angela Gallop CBE giving a masterclass on how to solve a crime followed by Countess Carnarvon returning to Wantage with more insider tales from Highclere House.
Alison Weir will be detailing the amazing life of Elizabeth of York, the last Yorkist claimant to the throne of England who married Henry Tudor to become the mother of a new dynasty.
To round off the day, friend of the festival, Sir Max Hastings, returns to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a particularly relevant lesson from history.
The events continues on Friday, October 28 when Graeme Hall, Channel 5’s “Dog Father” discusses all things canine with fellow dog-lover, Lord Ed Vaizey.
READ MORE: Dad completes EPIC running challenge
Saturday (29) offers a packed programme starting with Lord David Owen discusses UK-Russian relations over the last 200 years with Wantage’s own Major Jim Sibbald.
Continuing the theme, Helen Fry will be talking to Festival stalwart Prof. Gary Sheffield about Thomas Kendrick and her book Spymaster: The Man Who Saved MI6.
Archers afficionados will doubtless be thrilled to hear Sunny Ormonde, who plays the much-loved Lillian Bellamy in The Archers, talk about her life, her career and more besides.
The festival closes on Saturday, November 5 with Claire Williams talking to John Smythe about the life and work of her father Sir Frank, founder of the eponymous Formula 1 team, and local author Nicola Cornick chatting to actor and author Larry Lamb as well as launching her own latest work of historical fiction, The Winter Garden.
READ MORE: New Agatha Christie murder mystery event in Wallingford
For those whose literary interests extend beyond the printed word, the Cob and Pen will be hosting an evening on Wednesday, October 26 exploring the “fascinating world of famous literary cocktails”; with appropriate chances to sample such delights as Fleming's Vesper and Hunter S Thompson's Singapore Sling.
Booking for the festival is open now. For more information, or to book, visit: wantageliteraryfestival.co.uk
-
Read more from this author
This story was written by Gee Harland, she joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.
Gee covers Wallingford and Didcot.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland
A message from our Editor
Thank you for reading this story and supporting the Oxford Mail.
If you like what we do please consider getting a subscription for the Oxford Mail and in return we’ll give you unrestricted access with less adverts across our website from the latest news, investigations, features, and sport.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok for more.
You can also join the conversation in our Facebook groups: stay ahead of traffic alerts here, keep up to date with the latest from court here, share your favourite memories of Oxford here, get your daily dose of celebrity news here and take some time out with news that will make you smile.
If you’ve got a story for our reporters, send us your news here. You can also list an event for free here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here