IT MAY have been a gloomy day but young visitors to Lower Shaw Farm did not let it cast a shadow over their fun.

Children of all ages listened to stories around the campfire, played in the barn and talked to the animals in an event celebrating the eighth day of the 17th Swindon Festival Of Literature.

Young adventurers were then given tips on how to recognise and hunt down monsters at a monster workshop with author Alvin Nicholas.

Alvin, the author of Monster Hunting, taught the youngsters how to become a beast ranger, spot man-eaters, learn life saving skills and to enjoy nature and wildlife.

Festival director Matt Holland, who joined in with the fun on Sunday, said: “I apologised to the festival audiences in the evening for looking so scruffy but the children at Lower Shaw Farm really roughed me up.

“It was a splendid day and wonderful to see so many families and children enjoying themselves.

“It is certainly a highlight of the festival and one that is always very popular.”

The event continued throughout the day with children meeting author Liz Martinez, who spoke to them about what they would do if they found out someone they knew was a witch.

Alison Brumfitt and her silver mobile poetry pod were also on hand to take submissions for the world’s first never ending poem, a feat launched at last year’s Dawn Chorus in Lawn Woods.

Anyone for tennis?

MATT Harvey is celebrating but he does not want to share with the audience the cause for all his glee.

“It’s big,” said the Radio 4 Saturday Live presenter.

“Okay, so I have built it up too much now, but it is great news. No, I’ll leave it. Okay, so I am official Wimbledon poet this year.”

Needless to say he was not expecting the rapturous applause that ensued but a quick glimpse over the jammed seats in the Arts Centre demonstrated the popularity of the poet known for his recycling-inspired Ode To A Potato.

Booming laughter, enthusiastic applause and excitable whoops filled the 60 minutes he spent on the stage.

Touting his latest book of verse The Whole in the Sum of My Parts, Matt has come a long way since first taking to the Festival Of Literature stage in a Swindon Slam some years back.

“He has been part of the whole genesis of the festival,” said director Matt Holland.

“He’s been at the very start with the Swindon Slammers and now returns to us as a well-known name and increasingly popular poet.

“No wonder he is excited about writing for Wimbledon.”

– HAYLEY COURT

Food for thought

FILM maker Jonathan Stedall left his audience with much to think about after his 80-minute segment at Old Town Arts Centre.

In his presentation regarding his book Where On Earth Is Heaven, John gave the audience glimpses of his work throughout the years, including the life of a school for mentally disabled children, Tolstoy’s life and the reflections of a woman abandoned by her mother to be brought up by nuns.

Named after a question his seven-year-old son posed some 20 years ago, the book is his response, and the motivation behind his long career as a distinguished documentary film director.

Mr Stedall’s book and film look at the big question and the answers which may be found in the works of the world’s great writers and creatives.

Tolstoy, Gandhi, Jung and Rudolph Steiner all featured in the piece as well as friend John Betjeman, who says, when asked whether he knows or hopes there is something after death, “Hope. Because hope is my chief virtue.”

– HAYLEY COURT

Putting behaviour under microscope

THE ORIGINS of human behaviour were put under the microscope by an expert on Darwinian theory.

Steve Jones, a professor of genetics, was at the literature festival to talk about his latest book Darwin’s Island.

He weighed into the argument between whether we evolve or whether we are designed.

He said that evolution was “a factory of almost impossible things” created through a long process of reproduction and natural selection.

He defended Darwin’s theory of evolution from the attacks of creationists, those who believe God created the universe.

He said: “Darwin wasn’t a philosopher, he did not come up with a philosophy of life, he invented a new science called biology.”

Mr Jones explored the influence of genetics on human characteristics and behaviour – whether genes can determine aggressive behaviour or even fidelity using examples of experiments with voles.

Ultimately, he argued that how we behave is not just controlled by genes but by society.

With something this complex, there is always a danger of throwing too much information at the listener.

However, Mr Jones’ delivery was pitched perfectly with a mixture of impressive theory mixed with a joking style and examples that your average novice, like me, could relate to.

Emma Streatfield

Looking at a global and a local issue

Cleo Paskal’s book Global Warring takes a look at the importance of understanding the role that geo-politics and geo-economics are beginning to play in today’s global society.

It is not just another overview that warns of the multitude of climate change issues. Rather, it delves deeper into a variety of second and third order impacts.

Physical factors, service infrastructures, and legal requirements are three areas that we all depend upon in our every day lives. These all need extensive long-term planning, research, and design. These sectors are being heavily compromised as their vulnerability emerges.

For example, there was the recent flooding in England in 2007. Building in areas such as flood plains is essentially engineering a disaster. In this respect, Cleo’s look at the London Olympics site was particularly alarming.

The title Global Warring illustrates the potential for these issues to divide us if alliances and compromises cannot be made by both developed and developing countries. New shipping lanes opening up as a result of melted ice in the Arctic is an example highlighted as one of geo-political importance as it will affect the economies in many countries.

Cleo reminded us that although it is vital for progress to be made at an international level, focusing our efforts in local communities is equally important. It was refreshing to hear success stories from members of the audience. They spoke of communities in Swindon getting involved with their local council to become more self-sustainable.

As Cleo’s parting line suggests, “This is a time for you!”

– CAROLINE IRVINE