Tower and Town, October 2019

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A Bit Of History

Marlborough Litfest is ten years old. Back in 2009, the town had a jazz festival and a rich, well-established musical life, but little on offer to celebrate the legacy of writers like Siegfried Sassoon, John Betjeman, William Golding and others. At the same time, literary festivals were springing up all over the country in towns large and small. Why was Marlborough without one?

The idea was initiated by Nick Fogg and Mavis Cheek. A small committee started planning as early as February 2009 and the first Litfest took place in September 2010. We wanted to be different from other festivals. The aim was to be first and foremost about good writing. Authors rather than celebrities would be at the heart. We were keen to hear young, new voices as well as established authors, and clear that we should always pay them a fee, no matter how well-known or unknown.

We had help financially from ALCS (Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society) who gave us a grant; Brewin Dolphin and Hiscox agreed to sponsor us, and Marlborough College offered to arrange our poetry event. These generous sponsors have continued their support and, with new sponsors, have helped the festival grow to its present size and reputation.

The first Litfest was 15 events spread mainly between the Town Hall and The Merchant’s House. Margaret Drabble opened it, poet Don Paterson and children’s author Cressida Cowell were among those who took part. The following year, it expanded to 23 events including the first debut authors with Evie Wyld and Ed Hogan. We began to add things – a tour of Libanus Press, Poetry in the Pub, Creative Writing. In 2012 William Golding’s Estate sponsored Howard Jacobson, the first Golding Speaker. Each year since then a Golding speaker has opened Litfest; this year, it’s Ben Okri. In 2013 Jackie Kaye launched The Big Town Read, an event for local book groups. 2012 saw the first free event for local primary school children. Since then, work with schools and educational outreach has grown each year.

In this its tenth year, Marlborough Litfest has around 40 diverse and inspiring events. It remains a charity run by a small committee of unpaid volunteers; over the festival weekend, another 100 local people volunteer to steward events and run the cafe . Litfest is lucky: it has as its home a town with a strong literary heritage and a great independent bookshop.

Jan Williamson