Children's 'huge enjoyment' as more schools welcome Book Festival visitors
A second, bigger and better Retford Book Festival running from June 6 to 14 has already seen a widely-varied programme with sell-out events, and increased visits to schools.
Organised by a dedicated team of volunteers, the event has played host to and is still welcoming best-selling authors from different genres, along with poets, artists, editors and tutors.
This year's line-up has included Alastair Campbell, Stephen Booth, Mark Steel, Sam Marshall, Roger McGough, David Hepworth and Henry Normal among many others attracting appreciative audiences at venues across Retford.
The first of 15, so far highly successful school events - almost triple the number delivered last year, kicked off in Hallcroft Infants and Nursery School.
Headteacher Jo Cook said after the event, in which they were visited by children's author Paul Cookson and illustrator Liz Million: "We were thrilled to help launch the Book Festival along with the Civic Mayor of Retford, Malachi Carroll, and organisers of the event.
"It was lovely to celebrate the publication of his latest book, Back of the Net, with Paul, and we had lots and lots of laughs and giggles as words like pants and bum came up in poems. There was huge enjoyment for the children.
"They watched with awe and wonder as Liz speedily produced amazing sketches, using eyebrows alone to express emotions.
"It was a wonderful event."
Chair of the Book Festival, Julia Kitchen, said: "There really is something for everyone this year, and we have had three events a day in schools that have been a rip-roaring success. These are most important to me as we aim to reach kids who may not get to see live entertainment otherwise.
"The event has seen huge growth already, and we hope this will continue so that it can eventually become a Bassetlaw Book Festival with venues across both Retford and Worksop. We would like to attract Worksop people to the committee as we move forward."
From its small beginnings and much trepidation over the financing of the festival, organisers have covered costs for the second year, this time with welcome support in the form of £600 from Bassetlaw Council and £400 from the Rotary Club.