Shute Festival of Literature and Landscape, which takes place later this month, has secured sponsorship from some of the biggest names in East Devon and West Dorset, who are supporting the event in a variety of ways.
The Pig at Combe is sponsoring Hugo Bugg’s talk, while Perrott Hill School is supporting Sir Anthony Seldon’s appearance.
The Deer Park Hotel has chosen to sponsor Sophie Hannah’s talk and provide her transport in the form of a 1930s Chevrolet Universal Phaeton from their vintage car collection that was used in ITV’s Poirot - apt given that Sophie now writes Poirot novels with the blessing of the Agatha Christie estate.
Kilmington Gardening Club is sponsoring a talk by Anna Pavord, the Independent’s gardening columnist and author of the acclaimed book, The Tulip, while crowdfunding publisher Unbound is supporting a community outreach creative writing workshop led by children’s writer Kate Smith.
Symonds and Sampson has generously provided signage for the festival, while Lyme Bay Winery and The Coffee Factory are kindly supplying wine and coffee respectively.
Festival directors Samantha Knights and Paddy Magrane are delighted with the way the wider community has got involved.
They said: “We want Shute Festival to be a truly inspirational event with some of the most engaging authors and broadcasters attending, so it’s wonderful and heartening that so many local organisations have got behind us in such a variety of ways.
“They are also helping to ensure a healthy profit which will go towards the grounds project of Shute Primary School, and to the building fabric costs of St Michael’s Church, Shute.”
The Shute Festival of Literature and Landscape runs from September 22 to 24. Tickets for the festival are still available online at www.shutefest.org.uk or on the door. They can also be purchased at Archway Bookshop, Axminster, and Hurford’s Store, Kilmington.
The festival, now in its second year after a hugely successful inaugural event in 2016, will see another excellent and diverse offering in terms of talks, walks and activities
The full programme, all details as well as online tickets, are on the festival website, www.shutefest.org.uk.
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