Many years ago when I first attended The Writers' Summer School that meets each August at the Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire, little did I think I would be the Vice Chair in charge of the programme for the diamond jubilee celebrations. What an honour!
The job of Vice Chair has been held by the same woman for seven of the last eight years, so I was keen to introduce new tutors and special courses to the programme. One of the most popular courses this year was Pitch to the Publisher run by Nikki East and Sumaira Wilson, the directors of SpellBound Books Ltd. Following this six delegates were offered publishing contracts. They directors also ran several 1-1 opportunities with more delegates and a further six more people were offered contracts. If you include the competition winners of the SpellBound Novel Competition and the SpellBound/Penny Prize a total of fourteen additional delegates had the opportunity to be published. Congratulations one and all. I am proud to have introduced my publishers to Swanwick.
Also this year the committee re-introduced a popular activity, Page to Stage. This depends on delegates submitting short plays to be considered. The plays judged to be the best are then produced, directed and performed by those who most enjoy this form of the art. Certainly, the rest of the delegates who form the audience enjoy the evening.
I made an effort to introduce several new tutors to the school. One course this year was run by first time tutor Penny Blackburn who focused her short course on the theme of celebrations to mirror the school's diamond jubilee celebration this year. Lizzie Chantree also agreed to lead a short course. She shared her expertise about self-publishing your books as well as promoting them. Martin Lake was another first time tutor who spoke about AI and the influence it can have on writers. There was so much interest in Martin's course, I think it should have been longer.
Several talented young writers joined our band this year under our Top Write scheme. This offers writers under thirty an opportunity to take full advantage of the school at a subsidised fee. In addition to this two of them were signed by SpellBound Books!
The Fancy Dress Disco this year was themed 'Diamonds are Forever'. In the past the disco music has been supplied by a delegate with a boom box and delegates had commented on feedback forms last year that the music was always much the same. Therefore, I was pleased to convince the committee that this year we should hire a local, professional DJ, Tiger. She ran an excellent disco, judged the Fancy Dress Competitions and everybody who was there seemed to have a lot of fun.
The highlight of our Diamond Jubilee celebrations was the attendance of the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, the King's representative in the county. She took time to read our letter from the King, do the ceremonial cutting of the celebration cake and attend the formal dinner held to mark the occasion.
So my term in office came to an end. However, I am thrilled that I was able to contribute as Vice Chair to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Writers' Summer School that is known to its delegates as Swanwick.
(Thanks to new Chair Keith Hinchy for permission to use his photos.)
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