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Sparkling
week for Swanwick’s diamond anniversary
Over 300 members, plus a glittering line-up
of guest speakers, packed the Writers’ Summer School,
Swanwick, to celebrate the School’s Diamond Anniversary
week this August.
Hosted by the Hayes Conference Centre – the venue
for the School from the very beginning – the week
opened with a welcome from Chairman, Katy Clarke, who read
out greetings from celebrated well-wishers including a message
from Her Majesty the Queen.
Special guests during the week included Jan Davison, Lauren
Roberts and Hilary Bowman of Writers’ News and Writing
Magazine, who presented a surprise gift of a diamond pendant
to Sharon Mail, the winner of this year’s one-off
Jill Dick Memorial Award for non-fiction.
Derbyshire County Council, who generously sponsored three
free places at the School, were also represented.
Traditional subjects including novels, drama, crime fiction,
poetry, articles, short stories, literary fiction, humour,
writing for children and historical fiction were among the
numerous courses, workshops, talks and discussion groups
during the week.
By popular request, the programme also featured a range
of more specialised topics such as right brain creativity,
body/mind techniques, professional development and technology
for writers.
Guest speakers included novelists Katie Fforde and Carole
Matthews, biographer Penny Junor, Scottish poet Liz Niven,
humorist Simon Brett and literary agent John Jarrold.
The diamond celebrations also featured some fascinating
pictures and documents spanning the past sixty years.
The Hayes Conference Centre presented the School with two
beautifully decorated cakes to celebrate their happy and
enduring Swanwick connection.
There was also a packed programme of evening entertainment
including a salsa evening, a Ceilidh, a 60s/70s disco and
a special Diamond Dance Night, plus a host of other events
ranging from ghost stories to Room 101 (the School’s
own version of the popular BBC TV show).
Said Katie Fforde, the opening night speaker: ‘Swanwick
was my most enjoyable speaking engagement this year, possibly
ever. You learn so much here. Every chance encounter connects
you with someone who teaches you something.
‘There could be no better place for the not-yet-published
to take giant strides towards their goal.’
Details: for more information about the Writers’ Summer
School, see the website: www.wss.org.uk |
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