The Revd Canon Christopher Smith

A Tribute

Christopher Smith, who died on 11 January 2025, was the driving force behind the creation of Berwick’s Literary Festival.

Christopher, who moved to Berwick after his retirement, had served as a priest in tough, disadvantaged parishes on both sides of the Pennines. With a thirst for social justice, he passionately believed in the people of Berwick, and that culture was not just a hobby for the middle classes.

Concerned, with others, to enrich the town’s autumn season of festivals for the benefit of residents and visitors alike and noting the number of locally based writers and illustrators, in May 2014 he drew together a small team to see if his idea of adding a literary festival to the mix could work. A ‘big’ man, with a large vision and a great heart, he persuaded the Town Council and Martins the Printers to provide most of the initial funding required and over 100 of his many friends in the area to give £25 each to top that up. (At the first ‘Patrons’ evening, he insisted that only “posh nibbles” be served!) Within 6 months, and from a standing start, the first Berwick Literary Festival began.

The first Festival focused on children’s literature, although not exclusively. It is striking that so many of the features of later festivals were embodied in that first one: the active schools programme; the celebration of local as well as more nationally acknowledged talent; the emphasis on ’words’ in all their forms and guises, not just on books; and, of course, the Patrons scheme.

The success of the first Festival encouraged Christopher to direct two more before handing over the reins to Michael Wright, but he continued to chair the charitable trust which oversees the Festival for several more years. Since 2014, his initiative has flourished, even during the pandemic. In 2024, the Festival hosted 39 events and attracted over 2,000 paying attendees.

Recognising some of its not yet fully realised potential, Christopher would describe Berwick as “a party waiting to happen”. Determined to help make it happen, his has been a lasting legacy to the town, and not only through the Festival. So party on, Berwick and its Literary Festival.

Party on!