As the sun rose over sleeping Swindon, and the late-night revellers exiting out onto the High Street, around 150 early-birds gathered to kick off the opening of the twenty-fourth Swindon Festival of Literature in Lawn Woods.
Many would have been forgiven for spotting the drizzle in last nights late sky and forgetting to turn on the alarm but then they would’ve been kicking themselves for missing the traditional start to the annual Swindon Festival of Literature on a glorious, albeit slightly chilly, Swindon morning.
Danny kicked off proceedings on the pipes, positioned high on a plinth against the dawn sky overlooking the Parks area of town.
Late comers would have caught the Sun Arise Singers practising behind the trees before coming out to sing in the sun.
Jake the Juggler and his mischievous friends from The Cats Pyjamas danced, juggled and threw themselves around the brightening sky to the delights of the growing crowd before Tony Hillier, the Swindon Poet and may pole master, closed proceedings leading the dancing around the may pole.
This event which was fun for all, despite the early morning start, is just the beginning of the great things to come from the festival over the next two weeks, starting with the health run and talk at Lydiard Park this afternoon.
