Welcome
Set in the historic border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Berwick Literary Festival brings together writers, thinkers and audiences to celebrate the power of words. Founded in 2014, the Festival has grown steadily in ambition, reach and reputation, now welcoming established and emerging voices from across the UK and beyond. Each October, we create a space where stories are shared, ideas are tested, and new perspectives begin to take shape.
But the Festival is more than a single week. Through our year-round programme - from workshops and open mic nights to schools activity and community projects - we nurture creativity, conversation and connection across the town and beyond. Whether you come to listen, to learn, or simply to be part of the room, you’ll find a warm welcome here.
If you have a question that you can’t find the answer to on our website, you can get in touch with us at [email protected]
Our team
At its heart, the Festival is a volunteer-led endeavour, shaped by a dedicated team and supported by a wide community of partners, Patrons and local organisations. Together, we continue to build something that feels both rooted in place and outward-looking in spirit.
Stephen Platten
Chair of Trustees
Stephen has served as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Foreign Secretary, been Dean of Norwich cathedral and Bishop of Wakefield. He has chaired the Church of England’s Liturgical Commission and was chair of the publisher Hymns Ancient and Modern. He has taught theology throughout as well as publishing a variety of books.
Freeland Barbour
Trustee
Freeland is a musician, composer, producer, and author. He is a former BBC Radio music producer, founder of ceilidh bands, and former owner/manager of the recording studio, Castlesound. He is an author and founding tutor on the BA degree in Scottish traditional music at The Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow, and a tutor with the Folkworks organisation in NE England.
Lucy Baxendale
Trustee
Lucy is a hand papermaker and teaching artist based at Tidekettle Paper in Berwick. She is a papermaking tutor at West Dean College and former tutor at Morley College in London. Lucy has worked as a financial journalist, jewellery designer/maker, translator and a teacher of French, German and art in the UK and the USA. She is the Author of Papermaking (2022).
Valerie Bistram
Trustee
Following a short time in the Civil Service, and after having a family, Valerie retrained as a teacher. She worked in a variety of Primary Schools and always felt privileged to be able help children increase their grasp and enjoyment of literacy. Since retiring, she has had much pleasure from participating in book groups and assisting with the Festival.
Lindsay Dalgleish
Trustee
Lindsay is an accountant working in Berwick and has been a trustee of the Festival since the charity was registered in 2016.
Nolan Dalrymple
Trustee
Nolan is Director of Learning and Teaching/English at Longridge Towers School, Berwick. As well as being a Trustee Nolan is involved with interviewing at events.
Helen Wright
Trustee
A Trustee since 2022, Helen has been an enthusiastic Festival follower for 10 years. She enjoys reading, especially ‘new’ writers.
Joan Montgomery
Festival Director
"My aim is simple," Joan says. "To help shape a space where stories really matter. Words written, spoken or performed are a force for connection and imagination.'
Jennifer Heald
Festival Manager
Jennifer has worked with the Festival since 2017. She particularly loves watching the schools' events and supporting debut authors.
Executive Commitee
Peter Bistram (IT); Valerie Bistram (Social Media); Kevin Butler, (Sound Engineer); Andrea Butler (Volunteer Co-ordinator) Clare English (Marketing) Helen Sutherland (Chair).
Schools' and Young People's Programme Group
Judy Crow (Convenor); Joyce Miller; Joan Montgomery; Madeleine Ravetta; Patricia Tucker; Katy Wedderburn.
A tribute to our founder, The Revd Canon Christopher Smith
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!
