Lavenham Literary Festival, with speakers including Sheila Hancock and Louis de Bernières, brings buzz to Suffolk village

The eighth Lavenham Literary Festival has been hailed ‘a bigger success than ever’ by organisers – and they are already planning the next one.

The picturesque medieval village of Lavenham, between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury, was ‘buzzing’ over the weekend when it held the festival, with a programme of starry authors and talented newcomers.

Renowned critic and satirist Craig Brown launched the festival as guest speaker at the sell-out literary dinner at The Swan Hotel.

There were full houses for stars including actor Sheila Hancock who as usual captivated the audience with her feisty views on old age and the world in general, organisers said.

Former health secretary turned author Alan Johnson, always a popular speaker at Lavenham, discussed his views on Harold Wilson, while Tracy Borman, who is patron of the Lavenham Library, revealed the secrets of the royal palaces.

Among the rising talents, Ashley Hickson-Lovence gave a ‘bravura’ performance of a reading from his young adult verse story Wild East, while Jyoti Patel, award-winning debut author, gave a vivid account of the ups and downs of getting your first novel published.

The festival ended with an innovative partnership with Abbeygate Cinema, in Bury St Edmunds, holding a screening of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin which was introduced in person by Louis de Bernières, the novel’s author, who had arrived hotfoot from his festival talk.

“We’re thrilled that the Lavenham Literary Festival this weekend was a bigger success than ever,” said publicity manager Widget Finn.

“Its reputation is spreading way beyond East Anglia and we welcomed visitors from London, Sussex and even the Midlands. We’re already planning the next Literary Festival in 2026.”