Boswell Book Festival a big hit with local school pupils
Almost 200 pupils from nine East Ayrshire schools have recently taken part in the ninth Boswell Book Festival, held at Dumfries House in Cumnock.
The festival was opened by broadcaster Kirsty Wark and it honours the work of James Boswell, pioneering diarist and inventor of the modern biography.
This year’s highlights included a community cookbook produced by Faiza Hayani Bellili and Leila Hedjem and women who lost family and friends in the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Scottish historian Neil Oliver also made a popular guest appearance and the event featured a range of talks and discussions with Doddie Weir, Susan Calman, Tom Devine, Dame Sue Black and dozens of internationally acclaimed writers, authors, music and historians.
Once again, schools from East Ayrshire played their part in the event's success, learning more about writing and literature in the ever-popular Schools Day, sponsored by East Ayrshire Council.
A series of readings and recitals set the theme for their day, before their imaginations were sparked in hugely entertaining workshops run by historian and educationalist Christopher Lloyd - the best-selling author of ‘What on Earth Happened: The Complete Story of the Planet’.
Councillor Fiona Campbell, East Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Skills and Learning said: “The Boswell Book Festival goes from strength to strength and it’s brilliant to see it growing in scope and importance.
“It offers a superb range of learning and listening opportunities and an unrivalled platform for readers and history buffs of all ages to meet their literary heroes, sporting icons, international celebrities and iconic musicians – all within the spectacular setting of Dumfries House.
“I was especially pleased our pupils enjoyed the Schools Day so much and I know their time with Christopher Lloyd has fired their imaginations and fuelled their own creative ambitions.
“Who knows, maybe the next best-selling author or globally-acclaimed historian could be a local pupil inspired by this fantastic festival!”
Notes to editors
East Ayrshire schools taking part were: Secondary: Cumnock, Doon and Stewarton. Primary: Auchinleck, Barshare, Catrine, Greenmill, Ochiltree and Sorn. A number of home-educated pupils also attended.
The Boswell Book Festival is staged by The Boswell Trust and began in 2011. It is named after the Ayrshire writer James Boswell, best known for his biography of literary figure Samuel Johnson, his friend and contemporary, said to be the greatest biography written in the English language.
Originally hosted at Auchinleck House, the Boswell family seat, 2013 moved to the larger Dumfries House in 2013.