Sturminster Newton Literary Festival Mid March 2023
More speakers confirmed for the 2023 festival.
We’ve been busy in the last few weeks and have confirmed more speakers for the 2023 Sturminster Newton Literary Festival. It’s all getting very exciting. Here’s an advance preview with links for booking.
Tennis, Cider, Dorset, Walks, Fiction- it’s all here
Rupert Brooke wrote some of his most famous poems in Dorset and was stationed at Blandford Camp in 1914 before leaving for Gallipoli from Shillingstone Station. Dorset poet David Caddy will lead a walk, talk, and readings about Rupert Brooke's poetry in the carriage at Shillingstone Station on 3rd June. Tickets are limited and available here.
Writer and journalist Felice Hardy will be talking about her grandmother who was the Austrian tennis champion in the 1930’s and escaped the Nazis. Felice’s book The Tennis Champion who Escaped the Nazis is published this summer. You can meet Felice on 5 June in the 1855 Building and book here.
Like cider? Liz Copas and Nick Poole will be talking about their searches for the lost orchards and apple trees of Dorset on 7 June in the 1855 Building. Tickets on sale here.
Our programme is definitely varied this year. Chris Taylor is a test pilot for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters and will be talking about his career. Come and find out what it takes to be an experimental test pilot on 10 June.
Matthew Harffy sets his novels in the Dark Ages, including Wolf of Wessex, set near Sturminster Newton. He’ll be talking about his writing on 10 June.
Finally, our popular walk in Marnhull, visiting the setting of Tess of the D’Urbervilles, is back on 25 May. Tickets are limited and available here.
Special Offer
We have limited supplies of day tickets for Saturday, 10 June. You can attend all three talks in Sturminster Newton Library for £18. And in between talks, grab a coffee or snack at one of the many places to eat in town. Day tickets are here.
All our events on sale to date are here.
Sponsorship and Advertising
If you are a local business, we have a few opportunities to sponsor events and advertise in our printed brochure (which is in its final stages of development). Printed brochures are being distributed across Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire this year. For more details, contact us at sturlitfest1@gmail.com.