Wigtown Book Festival Underway

Pam Ayres, William Dalrymple and Martin Sixsmith Launch Wigtown Book Festival

28 September 2024

• Rapturous welcome for performance poet Pam Ayres
• Coastal Fringe celebrates the Solway and its salt marshes

Wigtown Book Festival got underway yesterday with appearances from Pam Ayres – the much-loved comedian and poet – plus other famous names.

Pam, who was greeted with rapturous applause by a sell-out audience of more than 400, spoke about her long career, describing its highs – and some poignant lows.

Her appearance came ahead of the publication on 3 October of her latest book Doggedly Onward.

Broadcaster and author Martin Sixsmith was in Scotland’s National Book Town to talk about My Sins Go With Me, the story of World War II resistance hero Anna-Maria van der VaartIn the darkest days of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, she sheltered Allied pilots, gave refuge to persecuted Jews and participated in audacious acts of sabotage.

Sixsmith is also the author of Philomena, which inspired the acclaimed movie of the same name starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.

Historian William Dalrymple’s event The Golden Road, explored how India was the intellectual and technological superpower of ancient Asia.

This year’s festival features some 250 events and activities for adults, young people and children.

The 10-day festival, which runs until 6 October, also features The Coastal Fringe, four events enabling people to explore the Solway coastline in expert company. Visitors will be able to go out with rangers, fisheries and other experts to discover more about the Solway coast, from the creatures that live in the mud and the water of the saltmarshes to the importance of the surrounding woodlands.

Cathy Agnew, chair of Wigtown Festival Company, said:

“The festival brings in more than 8,000 visitors and £4 million a year to the area’s economy – in a region that faces so many challenges, this is vital for jobs and businesses.“More than that, it plays an essential part in the cultural life of Scotland and its people – and in encouraging a new generation of readers and writers through its work with children and young adults.”

Guests include famous names, fascinating authors, leading thinkers, writers, politicians, poets and international journalists.The second weekend will feature a festival-within-a-festival dedicated to food – with demonstrations plus talks by authors – all hosted by the Hebridean Baker Coinneach MacLeod.

About the Coastal Fringe

The Coastal Fringe is organised in partnership with SCAMP (Solway Coast and Marine Partnership – which is supported by NatureScot in collaboration with the Scottish Government and in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund).Coastal Fringe events include:

• Woodlands: Making the Most of our Coast: The chance to join McNabb Laurie, Manager of Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands to find out more about the role of woodlands along our coast. What species of trees are native to the area and what did the woodlands look like in the past?
• Up the Creek: Jamie Ribbens, Senior Fisheries Biologist at the Galloway Fisheries Trust, and biologist Emilie Wardhaugh are leading an adventure to find out more about the salt marsh as a habitat for young fish. It is well recognised that inter-tidal marshes provide important nursery and rich feeding areas. Jamie shows why.
• Mysterious Mud Creatures: Mud is good, it forms the stunning salt marsh of Wigtown Bay and helps create the rich habitat we can see there. Freelance ranger Elizabeth Tindal heads an expedition to find some of the many creatures who live in it.
• Oysters Unshelled: Oysters are a delicacy today. But they were once an important everyday food source on this part of the coast, landing in quantity at Garlieston and the Isle of Whithorn. Fisheries ecologist Nick Chisholm conducts an interactive investigation into why they vanished and whether there might be positive signs of a return to this coastal habitat.

This year’s principal Wigtown Book Festival funders are Dumfries and Galloway Council, The Holywood Trust, EventScotland and Creative Scotland.

-Ends-

Notes

• This year’s Wigtown Book Festival has more than 250 events and takes place from 27 September to 6 October. See
• Donations to support the work of WFC are welcome.
• For more about Wigtown Book Festival see www.wigtownbookfestival.com

About EventScotland

EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events by securing and supporting an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events. It provides funding opportunities and access to resources and information to develop the industry.EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation, alongside Business Events and Development teams. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.eventscotland.org or follow Twitter @EventScotNews and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Creative Scotland

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. It enables people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. Creative Scotland distributes funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland.

For media information: Matthew Shelley at Matthew@ScottishfestivalsPR.org or 07786 704299.