Summer festival of events

There is a full festival programme of events in the run-up to summer for Lowdham. It started on Friday, May 4, with a talk from author and historian Alan Dance.

Taking place in the Methodist Church at 2pm, Alan, who was born in Chilwell, spoke about his two novels, Narrow Marsh and Leen Times.

Both books are set in early 19th Century Nottingham among the city’s framework knitters in an era of bitter social unrest.

Alan’s working life was spent in the rail industry and he talked about how he came to write and publish his locally-based historical novels, what influenced him to write them, where he got the ideas from, and how real historical events of the time, both national and local, were used and woven into the plots, forming a background for the stories.

He talked a little about what was actually involved in publishing, promoting and selling the books.

The next event takes place in the Methodist Chapel on June 1 at 2pm with Sheelagh Gallagher from Nottinghamshire Libraries giving a talk on What Will You Read This Summer?

Sheelagh, the literature and reading development officer for the county, will advise, guide and recommend books to take on holiday, catch up on classics or simply escape from everyday life.

On June 3 at 2.30pm in the village hall there will be a special performance of Elizabeth To Elizabeth to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Lance Pierson with soprano Belinda Yates and pianist Heather Chamberlain present a pageant of readings and music from across the centuries.

Lowdham Book Festival will then take place from June 24 to 30.

Tickets for all events are available from The Bookcase, Lowdham.