Peter Sissons, famous BBC and ITN newsman, and local novelist Sandra Howard, are among those hoping to take part in the 2010 Folkestone & Sandgate H G Wells Festival centred on The Grand on The Leas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 17-19 September.
It’s mainly aimed at enjoying and preserving our literary heritage while encouraging and nurturing new talent, taking its place alongside well-established art and pop festivals, but will be well supported by talks, readings, a theatrical event and a classic film show.
Last year’s Festival dwelt on The Sea Lady, HG’s delightful novel providing Sandgate with an Aphrodite rising out of the sea. This year it has been decided to concentrate on two more books written while he lived here 100 years ago – Kipps and The History of Mr Polly. These two stories give us a vivid picture of what life was like a century ago for ambitious but ill-educated, underfed and underpaid young people trying to achieve a fulfilling and enjoyable existence.
Professor Dominic Wells and his wife Kim, also a scientist, have promised to return for the second Festival. Until recently they were both scientists at Imperial College, London, where HG himself started his scientific career when the College was just beginning to make an impact on the world. Dominic will once again present the winner of the Short Story Competition with the cheque for £1000 as the culminating event on Sunday, 19 September.
This time stories should give readers in 2110 an idea of what life is like for ordinary people, working or retired, in the second decade of the 21st century – its complications and perplexities, and above all its humorous aspects.
For more information and entry forms visit www.WellsFestival.com
