A third edition of 'Words by the Sea'







It's festival time in East Devon. On the approach road to Budleigh Salterton, signs advertising Sidmouth Folk Week are jostling for attention with Budleigh's Music Festival.

And now the organisers of the third Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival have announced that tickets are on sale and that it's going to be the best festival yet.

There are so many 'highlights' in this year's event that it's difficult to know which one to pick out. But having just welcomed Australian author Meredith Hooper to Fairlynch Museum my eye was drawn to the item entitled 'The King's Speech: How One Man Saved The British Monarchy' scheduled for Saturday 17 September.

It was Mrs Hooper's son Tom who directed the academy award-winning film which along with the Royal Wedding earlier this year has focused attention on the House of Windsor. And with Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee being celebrated in 2012 there will no doubt be much interest in anything with royal connections.

So the making of the book The King's Speech and a presentation by its authors is certain to be popular. Mark Logue, who co-wrote the book with journalist Peter Conradi, is the grandson of the Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue who succeeded in coaching the future King George VI in public speaking at a time when it was vital for an English leader to match the powers of oratory being shown by Adolf Hitler in 1930s Germany.

There are truly masses of distinguished and interesting writers who will be talking about their craft at the weekend event from 16-18 September. Click on http://www.budlitfest.org.uk/ to find out more and how to book tickets.

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