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Cranbrook Literature Festival 2018 to feature Davina McCall, Jeremy Vine and Harry Potter illustrator Jonny Duddle

It’s bursting with tradition and culture, from its historic Union Windmill to its annual apple fayre, art show, theatre and music festival - now it’s time to celebrate the written word in Cranbrook, with the Cranbrook Literature Festival.

Its second edition will be held this weekend, after the first in 2016 kicked off with Julian Clary, from Aldington, talking about his stories about a family of hyenas living in disguise, and wordsmith Gyles Brandreth.

Events on Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29 will be for all ages and feature some big names, when writers, authors, poets and illustrators bring a weekend words and wisdom.

Davina McCall will be at the Cranbrook Literature Festival : PA Photo/Andrew Hayes Watkins
Davina McCall will be at the Cranbrook Literature Festival : PA Photo/Andrew Hayes Watkins

TV presenter Davina McCall, who lives in Wadhurst, will be talking about her new book, Davina’s Kitchen Favourites, at Dulwich Prep School.

Davina, who has presented Channel 4’s Big Brother and the Million Pound Drop, as well as Long Lost Family, has written five cookery books. Her latest is a collection of recipes from the heart with the message: no refined sugar and less processed foods.

You can spend an evening listening to BBC presenter, journalist and writer Jeremy Vine when he will be talking about his books, It’s All News to Me and What I Learnt: What My Listeners Say - and Why We Should Take Notice on Friday, September 28 at the Queen’s Hall Theatre. Tickets at £15 are still available.

Jeremy Vine will be in Cranbrook Picture: PA Photo/BBC
Jeremy Vine will be in Cranbrook Picture: PA Photo/BBC

Jonny Duddle, the artist and illustrator of the Pirate Books and Harry Potter will be talking and drawing at Dulwich Prep School on the Friday and on Saturday will be drawing and illustrating at Cranbrook Town Library at 10am. Tickets cost £3.

Jonny Duddle the artist and illustrator of the Pirate Books and Harry Potter will be at Cranbrook Literature Festival
Jonny Duddle the artist and illustrator of the Pirate Books and Harry Potter will be at Cranbrook Literature Festival

Performance poet and author Luke Wright ​will bring his sell-out Edinburgh Festival verse play, Frankie Vah to the Vestry Hall, Cranbrook, on Friday, September 28. Tickets at £8, for over 16s only, are available via the festival website.

Performance poet Luke Wright (4401863)
Performance poet Luke Wright (4401863)

On the Friday, novelist and historian Alison Weir, will give a talk at the Queen’s Hall about her book, The Marriage Game - The History Behind the Novel Elizabeth I.

​On the Saturday, poetry busker Kornel Kossuth will be producing poems on demand on the streets of Cranbrook - challenge him with a topic to perform.

The festival was created by Christine Newman and her committee following the success of the new Cranbrook Creative Writers’ group, which found a big appetite for more literary events.

Author Alison Weir will be at Cranbrook
Author Alison Weir will be at Cranbrook

FOR THE KIDS

There are a number of events specially designed to appeal to young readers and writers.

Natasha Farrant will be discussing her books for children and young adults, including her latest book, The Children of Castle Rock at St Ronan’s on the Friday, while Kevin Brooks - author of 13 young adult books and stories for young readers - will be talking to students at the High Weald Academy.

On Saturday, Cranbrook Museum will be curating a local writers’ exhibition hosting Rudyard Kipling and the Just So Stories with Geoff Hutchinson for children, between 10.30am and11.30am. Free tickets are available by emailing education@cranbrookmuseum.org.

Also on the Saturday, John Rice will be presenting poetry for children in the Union Windmill at ​11am. Tickets are just £3.

There will also be competitions galore: a 100 word short story, design a bookmark, extreme reading and guess the name of the book in the shop window.

For more detailsand to book tickets visit cranbrookliteraturefestival.com

Poet John Rice with children in Cranbrook's Union Windmill at the last event
Poet John Rice with children in Cranbrook's Union Windmill at the last event
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