AN AGATHA Christie festival, celebrating the best-selling crime writer’s connections with Wallingford and Cholsey, is to take place for the second year running.

The novelist lived in Winterbrook House, Cholsey, from 1934 until her death in 1976 and there is now a commemorative blue plaque on the house.

Mrs Christie is buried in the churchyard at St Mary’s Church, Cholsey, and in September last year Wallingford staged its first festival dedicated to the popular writer.

TV historian Lucy Worsley gave a talk at the festival and organisers, including Wallingford Museum curator Judy Dewey, are now seeking a speaker for this year’s festival.

Ms Dewey said: “Last year’s festival was a great success and it will definitely happen again this year.

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“There will be walks, talks and exhibitions, and Cholsey will be playing a role once again.

“It is a special year because it is the 125th anniversary of the writer’s birth in 1890.”

The Agatha Christie weekend festival will take place over the weekend of September 19-20 and Ms Dewey said she hoped it would become a permanent fixture on the calendar.

There is a permanent Agatha Christie exhibition at Wallingford Museum in High Street, detailing her life with her archaeologist husband Max Mallowan.

Many of her books were written at Winterbrook House. The exhibition takes visitors behind the scenes to her home life, featuring photographs, letters and memories of local people who met her.

Anyone who wants to join Cholsey’s Agatha Christie group, which supports the festival, should call 01491 651609.