Children’s author Rob Biddulph brings star-studded Chiswick Book Festival to a rousing finale.
Outstanding 12 days of culture in the boroughs of Hounslow and Ealing.
Children’s author Rob Biddulph, whose ‘Draw With Rob’ lockdown sessions were an internet sensation, brought the Chiswick Book Festival to a rousing conclusion on Saturday afternoon. Dozens of children sang along with him and drew pictures, as the illustrator read from his books in St Michael & All Angels Church. He then signed copies for well over an hour, in the opening event of his autumn tour.
It was the final session in an outstanding 12 days of cultural activity in the boroughs of Hounslow and Ealing. Festival venues included Chiswick House, St Michael & All Angels Church, Chiswick Cinema, the George IV, Theatre at the Tabard, the University of West London, ActOne Cinema, ArtsEd and other schools.
The events began on Tuesday September 6th with the unveiling by Rt Revd Rowan Williams of the WB Yeats Bedford Park sculpture and The Poetry Hour performance in the church with Jeremy Irons, Sinead Cusack and Ciaran Hinds.
The sculpture by Conrad Shawcross RA was erected next to St Michael and All Angels Church in Bedford Park, Chiswick West London as a tribute to Irish poet, statesman and Nobel laureate William Butler ‘WB’ Yeats (1865-1939). The words are from Yeats’ poem He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven.
Pictured at the unveiling on Tuesday 6 September are (l-r) Rt. Hon & Rt. Rev Dr Rowan Williams; Martin Fraser, Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain; Cahal Dallat Founder of the WB Yeats Bedford Park Project; Mayor of Hounslow Cllr Raghwinder Siddhu; Ven Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera, Head Priest of the London Buddhist Vihara; Fr Kevin Morris, vicar of St Michael and All Angels; Ms Rosi Prescott, Deputy Lieutenant for Hounslow; Conrad Shawcross RA, sculptor; Hartley Shawcross.
That was followed by the Waterstones Local Authors Party in a packed Boston Room at the George IV, where 20 writers had just two minutes to ‘sell’ their books; the 12th Young People’s Poetry Competition prizegiving in St Michael & All Angels Church; and outstanding events with Dame Eileen Atkins, Chris Patten, Ronnie Archer-Morgan, Cressida Cowell, Rev Richard Coles, Pam Ayres, Dame Sheila Hancock, Jeremy Bowen, Justin Webb and many more, sponsored by local schools, arts groups, media and businesses.
The Festival has published a ‘highlights’ album of almost 100 photos by Roger Green, culminating in the ‘Celebrating Michael Flanders (& Swann)’ evening on Wednesday evening. https://www.flickr.com/photos/49573920@N00/sets/72177720301917178/
At the ActOne Cinema, the entertainer’s daughters Laura and Stephanie Flanders talked about their father’s life and career with comedy historian Graham McCann, who regards Flanders & Swann as the most influential British comedy duo.
Torin Douglas, the director of the Chiswick Book Festival, said: “It’s been a remarkable 12 days, in which we dedicated the Festival to the memory of HM Queen Elizabeth, in thanksgiving for her life – bringing people together in reflection and discussion, in aid of reading charities and the church.
“We held a minute’s silence at Chiswick House before the wonderful evening with Dame Eileen Atkins. The following night, we relayed the King’s first address to the nation in a packed St Michael & All Angels Church, where ticketholders gathered early for the talk by Chris Patten.
“Our authors and audiences have left us in no doubt that we made the right decision in carrying on with the Festival and we are very grateful to them, our venue partners, sponsors and dozens of wonderful volunteers. We and the team at Chiswick Waterstones are bowled over by the comments we’ve had from people saying how much they have enjoyed this week’s events.”
One session which was cancelled, at the behest of Hounslow Council, has now been rescheduled. On Monday September 26th at Hogarth’s House, Dr David Jacques will talk about his book ‘Chiswick House and Gardens; 300 Years of Creation & Recreation’. Tickets are now on sale here.
The Festival is a non-profit-making community event, in aid of three reading charities and St Michael & All Angels Church, which runs the Festival.
Until Sunday September 25th, people can enter the Charities Books Quiz, created by Gary Wigglesworth, who runs The Book Lover’s Quiz Book website. There is no charge to take part but entrants are encouraged to donate to one of the charities. First prize is an elegant edition of a book by a Chiswick author, kindly donated by Stephen Foster of Fosters Bookshop. The questions can be downloaded here: https://www.chiswickbookfestival.net/charities-quiz/.