Maggie Cobbett

Swanwick 2024

This year marks the Diamond Anniversary of the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School and my 18th consecutive attendance. ‘Swanwick’ is without doubt the oldest writers’ school in the UK and, quite possibly, in the whole world. Born in 1948 to bring UK-wide writers’ circles together annually, it has only been cancelled once in its long history. That was, of course, in 2020, the year in which Covid-19 had such a damaging effect on almost every aspect of our lives.

Having benefited greatly from the School myself, it is only natural that I want to give back as much as I can. As one of a team of Ambassadors, I helped new Swanwickers to find their feet by showing them around, hosting one of their reserved dinner tables on the first evening and being generally on hand during the week. In addition, I co-hosted the Prose Open Mic session as usual with Jen Wilson, making sure that everyone who had signed up for it got their fair share of the time available, did three shifts in the Book Shop and taught a two-part course on writing ‘fillers’. No wonder that I got through even more tea than usual this year, but the machines in the bar area are available free of charge from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and every bedroom has its own drinks making facilities.

It wasn’t all work, of course. Swanwick is just as much about meeting up with old friends and making new ones. For most of the week we were blessed with warm sunny weather and could enjoy the glorious grounds of The Hayes as well as take part in a wide variety of activities, some more serious than others. My choices included learning more about crime writing, psychological thrillers, overcoming taboos and developing characterization. I also enjoyed joining a quiz team, taking part in the Poetry Open Mic session, glamming up for this year’s ‘Diamonds are Forever’ fancy dress theme, watching the short plays chosen for Page to Stage, listening to speakers Adele Parks, Lesley Kara and Luke Wright and applauding the success of fellow Swanwickers as they launched their new books. Pictured in the gallery are Andy Roberts, whose technical know-how has been invaluable to me this year and Jo Harthan, who persuaded those of us who ventured into her workshop to ‘Take a Walk on the Wild Side’. (Suffice it to say that I could have been spotted in the wooded area below Lakeside trying to get inside the skin – or rather fur – of a sloth!)

On the last evening, we celebrated the Diamond Anniversary in style. The Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Mrs Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, cut the huge iced cake presented by The Hayes and we toasted the School with glasses of prosecco. After the special dinner, we were back in the Main Conference Hall to see the award of a great many prizes, the drawing of the raffle and watch a farewell sketch from some of the usual suspects.

I won the Chair’s Challenge and was presented with my prize by outgoing Chairman Gerald Hornsby. The following morning, many of us took time out from our packing to wave goodbye to those travelling back to Derby station by coach. Yet another cherished Swanwick tradition!

What could possibly go wrong with these two at the helm? Photographer extraordinaire Keith Hinchy and Swanwick stalwart Maria Hennings Hunt are our newly elected Chair and Vice Chair.

20 August, 2024 - Make the first comment on this story