ABOUT
The Isle of Wight Literary Festival, an established event on the UK Arts calendar, held its first festival in 2012. The festival provides a far reaching eclectic programme designed to attract a wide audience and increase the cultural richness of the Isle of Wight.
During Covid restrictions, the festival hosted a free digital festival. This year a combination live and digital festival is being planned. Hosted at Northwood House, Cowes over three days writers and presenters will share their latest works. Topics includes crime fiction, history, travel, maritime adventure, gardening, medicine, technology and the social and political issues of our time. From first time novelists to seasoned historians – speakers passionate about their subject will share insights and information.
The festival is a charity (IWLF registered charity no 1164814) relying on the generous support of sponsors, benefactors and friends. Volunteers organise and staff the festival.
The festival has two patrons: Major General Sir Martin White KCVO CB CBE and Nicholas Allan, author and illustrator patron of the Youth Programme; and three vice patrons: Alan Titchmarsh MBE DL, Dick Turpin and Michael Grade, The Lord Grade of Yarmouth CBE.
The Schools Programme was established by the festival to enrich education for the under 18s on the Isle of Wight by increasing the cultural experiences available to stimulate interest in learning and creative ideas. The majority of Island schools now participate in the programme. Covid restrictions sadly made it impossible to hold the Schools Programme in 2020 and 2021.
PATRONS
Major General Sir Martin White, who was HM Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight until March 2019, has been a committed and enthusiastic Patron since the first Isle of Wight Literary Festival in 2012. He has played a pro-active role both in encouraging speakers to attend and with his wife, Lady White, supporting all aspects of the Literary Festival.
MAJOR GENERAL SIR MARTIN WHITE KCVO CB CBE
"The Literary Festival has become one of the most important events in our calendar for both visitors and residents alike. My thanks and admiration go to everyone involved and in particular to the many volunteers who give their time throughout the year to bring us a wide range of authors and a popular youth and schools programme."
VENUES
Nicholas Allan is the author/illustrator of many best selling picture books, including The Queen’s Knickers, Father Christmas Needs A Wee, Where Willy Went and Jesus’ Christmas Party. His books are translates into twenty languages and winner of many awards, including a BAFTA, The Children’s Book Award, The Sheffield Book Award, and the Coventry Book Award for most loved picture book of the last twenty years. He is also the author of the picture book Hilltop Hospital, and wrote the episodes of the television series adapted from it. Hilltop Hospital has been shown in over forty countries. Jesus’ Christmas Party has become s standard schools musical available from Starshine Music. The Queen’s Knickers, Father Christmas Needs A Wee and The Giant Loo Roll are musicals on regular national tour. A new musical of the sequel to Father Christmas Needs A Wee, called Father Christmas Comes Up Trumps, begins this Autumn, ending with a West End run.
NICHOLAS ALLAN | PATRON | SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
"Becoming Patron of the Youth Programme gives me an opportunity to participate more fully in the growth of this unique festival while ensuring my regular visits to one of my favourite islands."
Alan Titchmarsh is a gardener, writer and broadcaster best known for programmes such as Ground Force and The Chelsea Flower Show. He has also presented the BBC Proms and hosts the Saturday breakfast show on Classic FM. His own chat show The Alan Titchmarsh Show ran for eight years on ITV and he currently presents Love Your Garden and Masterpiece – a series of his own devising about antiques and collectables. He has written more than fifty gardening books, three volumes of autobiography, several books on royalty including The Queen’s Houses and ten novels, all of which have made the Sunday Times Best-seller list. A firm believer in variety being the spice of life, Alan has flown a Spitfire, performed on the West End stage in The Wind in the Willows and ridden with The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery – once. He compered the Royal Windsor Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012, Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration at Windsor in 2016 and has presented several documentaries about the royal family. He was made MBE in the Millennium New Year Honours List and is a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire and Chancellor of the University of Winchester. From 2008-9 he was High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight. Alan lives with his wife Alison in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and has two daughters and four grandchildren. He sleeps well.
ALAN TITCHMARSH MBE DL | VICE PATRON
"I am delighted to support the Isle of Wight Literary Festival, being a staunch supporter of island initiatives and someone who makes his living by the written word! I know from previous experience that there is a great spirit attached to the IOW Litfest and I’m looking forward hugely to 2023."
Alan
Michael Grade has had a long career in broadcasting, encompassing London Weekend Television, the BBC, ITV, as well as over nine years as Chief Executive of Channel Four Television.
In May 2004 he was appointed Chairman of the BBC, succeeding Gavyn Davies, resigning in November 2006 when his appointment as Executive Chairman of ITV was announced, a post he relinquished in 2009.
He is non-executive Chairman of Pinewood and Shepperton Film Studios, non-executive Chairman of Infinity Creative Media and Deputy Chairman of Gate Ventures plc. He is a non-executive Director of the Performing Rights Society.
He is a Trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry and is Chair of the Media Museum in Bradford. He has also become an independent non-executive Director of Sir Ben Ainslie’s Americas Cup bid company.
In 2014, together with industry colleague Michael Linnit, he formed the GradeLinnit Company entering into a joint venture with the English National Opera to produce popular musicals at their London Coliseum home when the ENO is on hiatus.
In November 2015, he was appointed Interim Chair of the new Charity Fundraising Regulator.
In January 2011 he became the Conservative Peer, Lord Grade of Yarmouth.
MICHAEL GRADE, THE LORD GRADE OF YARMOUTH CBE
VICE PATRON
"Having been a participant of the first Literary Festival in 2012, I am pleased to support this very worthwhile endeavour, which encourages local authors and through its varied programme inspires and entertains all those who attend."
Dick Turpin is a long time supporter of the Isle of Wight Literary Festival.
Dick served with the British Army (Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and 7th Gurkha Rifles), between 1975 and 1988. He left the Army in 1988 to pursue a career in the financial sector. He retired at the end of 2018 as a Partner of Artemis Investment Management LLP. During his time at Artemis, he was responsible for the day to day relationship with the management team of the Artemis Sailing Academy, which was based in Cowes, and Artemis Ocean Racing, which was based in Southampton.
He has a love of literature, both fiction and non-fiction.
DICK TURPIN | VICE PATRON
NORTHWOOD HOUSE
ST MARY THE VIRGIN CHURCH
COWES ENTERPRISE COLLEGE
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON
ISLAND SAILING CLUB
Northwood House, a magnificent Grade II* listed late Georgian manor house set in a 20 acre park, is the main venue and weekend box office for the Isle of Wight Literary Festival. Occupying a prime position above Cowes, the star listing is for the House’s incredible painted function rooms where the talks take place.
Purchased by George Ward in 1793 and extended and improved by his heir, George Henry Ward, the House has a varied and interesting past including hosting elaborate entertainments for royalty and Victorian history, serving as a convent and acting as a convalescent VAD hospital in the First World War. The House and Park were gifted to Cowes Urban District in 1929. Today the estate is the responsibility of Northwood House Charitable Trust Company Limited.
Opening Times for the Festival Café
Thursday 3rd October | 1:00pm – 5:30pm
Friday 4th October | 10:00am – 6:30pm
Saturday 5th October | 9:30am – 5:00pm
Sunday 6th October | 9:45am – 4:00pm
(Hot food will be available during the lunch time period 12pm – 2:00pm)
NORTHWOOD HOUSE | COWES
Directly next to Northwood House and only a two minute walk, is St Mary the Virgin church which is also used for our festival speaker sessions.
The first church on the site was built in 1657, during the Commonwealth of England. A chancel designed by Joseph Richards was added in 1811. John Nash designed the west tower, which was added in 1816. It is unusual for being in a Greek Revival style. In 1867 the whole church except for the west tower was rebuilt to Gothic Revival designs by the architect Arthur Cates.
ST MARY THE VIRGIN CHURCH | COWES
A regular supporter of the Isle of Wight Literary Festival the RYS hosts receptions and fundraisers in their impressive club house know locally as “The Castle”.
Founded on 1 June 1815 in the Thatched House Tavern in St James’s, London as The Yacht Club by 42 gentlemen interested in sea yachting, the original members decided to meet in London and in Cowes twice a year, to discuss yachting over dinner. Membership was restricted to those who owned a vessel not under 10 tons. Today this is interpreted as any gentleman or lady, “actively interested in yachting”. The Earl of Yarborough, later first Commodore of the Yacht Club, welcomed the Prince Regent as a member in 1817. In 1820, when the Prince Regent became George IV, it was renamed the Royal Yacht Club.
The Club started organising racing as a principal feature of the annual regatta, which is now known as Cowes Week. In 1833 William IV renamed the club, The Royal Yacht Squadron. Its association with the Royal Navy began early and Nelson’s Captain at Trafalgar, Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, headed the list of Naval members. The Royal Yacht Squadron celebrated it’s Bicentenary in 2015. It remains one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the world. The clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight, the club’s patron is Queen Elizabeth II.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON | COWES
A long term supporter of the Isle of Wight Literary Festival, the Island Sailing Club hosts our annual Fizz Quiz.
The club was founded in 1889 as an alternative to some of the more exclusive sailing clubs being established in Cowes. Affectionately known as ‘The Friendly Club’, the Club has a rich history in yachting and racing and offers a wide range of sailing and social activities for all preferences and abilities.
The Club organises the annual Round the Island Race, a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight. Regularly attracting around 1500 boats and around 15,000 sailors, Round the Island Race is one of the largest yacht races in the world and the fourth largest sporting participation event in the UK. A member of Cowes Combined Clubs, the Club helps organise Cowes Week – one of the oldest and most prestigious regattas in the world. Over seven days in August, Cowes Week offers a mix of competitive and social activities regularly attracting around 1000 boats and around 10,000 sailors. Competitors range from Olympic and world-class professional to weekend sailors.
ISLAND SAILING CLUB | COWES
Privacy Policy, Cookies & Terms & Conditions
Registered Charity Number 1164814
© Isle of Wight Literary Festival 2024
Northwood House | Ward Avenue
Cowes | Isle of Wight | PO31 9AZ
For events taking place at Cowes Enterprise College, parking is available. There are 7 parking bays for disabled blue badge holders as well as a substantial car park for other vehicles.
If you are travelling from or have parked at Northwood House due to attending other speaker events, Cowes Enterprise College is 200 metres walk from the top of the Northwood rotunda entrance, we estimate a 5-10 minute walk depending on abilities. For those less abled to walk from Northwood to Cowes Enterprise College please email volunteer@isleofwightliteraryfestival.com to express your need for assistance with this event.
COWES ENTERPRISE COLLEGE | COWES
