Wymondham Words, a literary festival that started in 2010 was given a £500 ward grant from South Norfolk Councillor, Carmina McConnell.
The festival which was re-launched last year following an interruption by Covid, ran from 21 to 24 November with a theme centred on poetry, crime and music.
Councillor McConnell said: “Books are so important, and the love of reading opens so many doors and options, especially for young people. Reading really does broaden the mind and allows people of all ages to free their imagination, taking them to different lands and exciting places.
“I would like to congratulate and thank the organisers of Wymondham Words, especially George Szirtes and Elizabeth Lewis Williams for their hard work and dedication to putting on a festival that has been enjoyed by so many people. I would also like to thank Wymondham High School headteacher Chris Smith, for his terrific support.”
The festival opened with an evening of reading and discussion with crime writers Henry Sutton and Bridget Walsh at Wymondham High School. Henry Sutton is the author of 15 crime novels and Bridget Walsh has written a series of novels set in a Victorian music hall in London.
The historic Green Dragon pub hosted poet Matt Howard who read from his new collection of poetry, Broadlands. Matt’s first collection, Gall, was winner of the East Anglian Book Award for poetry.
Events were also held at Kett’s Books, Becketts Chapel and Wymodham Library featuring Martin Figura, Helen Ivory, Tiffany Atkinson and Andrea Holland with music by French-chanson performers, Bonjour Tristesse; novelist Polly Crosby and poet and children’s writer Kathryn Simmonds. There was also a chance to take part in a crime writing workshop with Elspeth Latimer and Martin Ungless.
Norfolk boasts the very first university creative writing course, with many well-known and prize-winning authors graduating from either the UEA or the School of Art. Former English teacher and current university lecturer Dr Ashley Hickson-Lovance, who gained his PhD in creative writing at the University of East Anglia led an interactive reading for year 9 students at Wymondham High School, followed by a creative workshop. Ashley is a successful youth author who was nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2025 for his book, Wild East.
If you would like to be involved in next year’s Wymondham Words festival, please visit: www.wymwords.wordpress.com
