Glossop Bookfest becomes huge success for book lovers

Saturday 19th October saw Glossop BookFest hold its second festival at Central Methodist Church on Chapel Street, Glossop. Authors, illustrators, presenters and visitors agreed it was a wonderful community event.

This year, the BookFest organisers recruited Dominic Berry, a Manchester-based performance poet, to deliver two shows: one for children, one for adults. Dominic is renowned across four continents for his eloquent yet uncompromising stage shows and his desire to confront inequality. He has been Glastonbury’s poet in residence, and his poems have been performed on BBC and Channel 4 productions.    

High Peak Mayor Councillor Stewart Gardner and Mayoress Melissa were amazed by Dominic’s show for children and parents. Dominic recited his work for forty minutes without pause, and had the children engaging and interacting throughout. 

The mayor and mayoress then went to chat with all the exhibitors and stall-holders. 

The scale of work on show demonstrated the range and sheer quantity of local talent. Authors' novels ranged across science fiction, crime, historical intrigue, satire and social commentary. Non-fiction included biographies across different historical eras, touching on the slave trade and the monarchy, books on martial arts, and nature books and folktale collections. 

Tess Gee held a one-hour illustrators’ workshop, and Margaret Jones delivered a one-hour workshop on how to write biographies and memoirs. Both were well attended and much enjoyed and appreciated.  

The BookFest organisers would like to express their sincere thanks to Central Methodist Church for hosting the event once again and providing refreshments, and to the hard-working volunteers.