8:20pm Thursday 18th March 2010
By Dave King
THREE days before the date of what many predict will be the day of the next general election, Cherie Blair will headline the 17th Swindon Festival of Literature.
At yesterday’s event launch, at Swindon’s Central Library, organiser Matt Holland confirmed that the wife of the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will be appearing at the Wyvern Theatre to discuss her life and autobiography Speaking For Myself.
“Someone asked me about Cherie Blair and said ‘why have you invited her? She started the war’,” said Mr Holland.
“Yet we have a woman coming to Swindon who has lived in the shadow of a great man whose book shows what an interesting person she is to have here.
“Cherie, I am sure, will speak for herself and answer the questions people want to ask.
“I say to people with this festival, don't just go to see the people who you like, also go to the events with people who irritate you because you will find out so much more.”
The festival begins on Monday, May 3, with the dawn chorus event at Lawn Woods in Old Town featuring singers, storytellers, jugglers, poets and musicians.
Mr Holland added: “One of the things which marks Swindon apart from the other literary festivals is that we are the most punctual, according to John Major, and the only one which carries no mistakes in its festival programme, according to Will Self.
“Jon Snow said he received the best questions of any audience when he was at the Arts Centre.
“Other literary festivals tend to stick to one venue, but we will be moving around using seven different cultural venues. The festival programme has something for everyone. In fact, it is all about exploring ideas and opening minds, as well as having a chat about things.”
Among the highlights of the festival, which runs until May 15, will be the appearance of Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy at the Steam’s Great Western Hall. She is on a tour of the US but, according to Mr Holland, agreed to come to Swindon because of the time she spent here in the late 1980s as a writer in residence.
England World Cup rugby player Brian Moore, Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray, the writer and actress, Maureen Lipman, the former Conservative Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo and controversial Peter Tatchell will all appear.
For more schedule details visit www.swindonfestivalof literature.co.uk.
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