Friday 14 November was a day of gales, floods and Storm Claudia, but The Swan Hotel Lavenham was buzzing with visitors from all over East Anglia who had come to enjoy our new venture A Literary Feast and the annual Festival Dinner.  Alison Steadman OBE, one of our best-loved actors, was the celebrity dinner guest and her arrival at the hotel in mid-afternoon caused a flurry of excitement. But the fun had already started during the morning with a creative writing workshop for eighteen aspiring writers led by author Miranda Doyle and screenwriter Nicola Gooch.

 

Bruce Boucher, former director of the Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, in his talk led us round the amazing collection of art and antiquities displayed in this eminent architect’s home.

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Henry, Lord Montgomery of Alamein, grandson of the war hero ‘Monty’ told us of his work with veterans in the Spirit of Normandy Trust, and the need for future generations to remember those who fought for our freedom. 

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The day’s talks ended with a bravura performance by Ashley Hickson-Lovence of his very personal poems and novels about being an outsider and memories of his grandfather.  Ashley is already booked to return to Lavenham for the 2026 Literary Festival, so be sure to watch out for him!

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In The Swan’s historic beamed dining room Alison Steadman was the guest speaker at the Festival Dinner. She entertained us all before the meal in conversation with Caroline Eves, her friend of 60 years from the days when they were both students at the E15 Drama School. We heard about Alison’s many stage husbands (over twenty – including John Cleese twice) and her iconic roles from 'Candace-Marie' in 'Nuts in May' to 'Pam' from 'Gavin and Stacey'. She revealed that her first role was reclining naked on a sofa in 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' and her theatre and television career has never looked back. 

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Our lovely headline sponsors Birketts very generously gave a copy of Alison’s memoir Out of Character to every dinner guest so she was kept busy signing copies at the end of the evening.

 

This Literary Feast was a new venture to keep in touch with you, our loyal supporters, in the year between our long-established biennial Lavenham Literary Festivals. We’re thrilled that it has been a sell-out success. 

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2026 will be our biennial three-day Literary Festival so PLEASE PUT THE DATES IN YOUR DIARY NOW and tell your friends.