THE Swindon Festival of Literature returned for its 2017 programme of writers, thinkers and storytellers with a rousing launch in Lawn Woods this morning – and those who braved the 5.30am start were even treated to a May Day sunrise.

 

Jake The Juggler sounded the watering can to signal the start of the dawn chorus, before festival organiser Matt Holland led an enthusiastic welcome to this year’s festival.

 

As ever, those who had braved the darkness were treated to a morning event packed full of performers, musicians and storytellers to provide a flavour of some of the events yet to come in the festival programme. The Swindon Community Choir and the Sun Arise Singers harmonised to encourage the sun out from behind the clouds, while storyteller Chris Park reflected on the sacred history of this country and May Day.

 

Jake The Juggler displayed how he earned his name, while the jet-lagged Cat’s Pyjamas wowed the crowd with their snoozing acrobatics having just flown back in from the USA. Irish dancing, Shakespeare recitals from tin-whistle-playing Andrea Walton and a May Day short poem from community poet Tony Hiller completed the line-up before the traditional dancing around the May pole.

 

But stealing the show was Giuseppe the silky cockerel, left abandoned at Lower Shaw Farm, and well on his way to becoming the literature festival’s very own mascot. He even displayed his own circus skills by walking the tightrope, ably assisted by Jake and the Cat’s Pyjamas, as the morning finale, to rapturous applause.

 

“He arrived at Lower Shaw Farm unbidden, unwanted, and unloved,” Matt told the gathered crowd. “You feel extra affection for something that has been orphaned. It is amazing because he would rather be with us than with the other poultry.

 

“This morning we have musicians, we have minstrels and we have storytellers. In the early morning darkness a woman came through the trees and came up to me and said, ‘this is wonderful, this is the place to be, there’s only one other place I would rather be – bed.’

 

“Somebody else asked me what was going on here – they were out walking their dog, and they didn’t know about the festival. It’s not often we meet people who don’t know about this, but new business is very exciting.”

 

The festival continues throughout the day, moving from Lawn Woods to Lydiard Park, with a freedom run and health walk, complete with a reflective chat, from 2pm before former head of heritage Sarah Finch-Crisp delivers an illustrated talk on the story of Lydiard House and Park from 3pm.

 

There are also fun activities being staged at The Richard Jefferies Museum from 1pm, with train rides, stories, writing and music.

 

This evening, travel writer Christopher Somerville will round off the first day with a talk on walks in the countryside at Lower Shaw Farm from 7pm.