AN internationally renowned author gave a talk about her youth in Oxfordshire as a literary festival returned to Wantage.

Town mayor Jim Sibbald, opened the eight day Wantage Literary Festival on Saturday to a full auditorium awaiting Lord David Owen’s talk on Donald Trump, at The Beacon Arts Centre in Wantage.

Oxford Mail:

Lord David Owen. Picture: Wantage Camera Club.

Lord Owen’s talk was then followed by Pam Ayres, who regaled funny tales of her youth growing up in Stanford in the Vale and trips to Wantage, when she would buy material for dresses for her Saturday nights out on the town.

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The events continued with Tracy Borman, fresh from the BBC’s History Weekend in Chester.

Giles Milton’s fascinating talk on ‘D-Day: The Soldiers’ Story’ followed and there was intrigue from espionage author Henry Hemming’s talk on how spies changed the course of America joining World War 2.

The literature festival will run until next Saturday, November 2.

Oxford Mail:

Pam Ayres. Picture: Wantage Camera Club.

Events still to come include racehorse trainer Henrietta Knight, who is based in West Lockinge, BBC’s Blue Planet’s oceanographer Jon Copley, local doctors Rachel Clarke and Henry Marsh, followed by maths star and children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball.

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Comedian Katy Brand will close the festival by explaining her life-long obsession with Dirty Dancing and how it has influenced her attitudes to sex, love, romance, rights and responsibilities.

Oxford Mail:

Authors Giles Milton and Henry Hemming gave talks at the festival. Picture: Wantage Camera Club.

The talk is based on her book I Carried a Watermelon and is followed by a screening of the hit 1987 romance film.

Details and tickets for all events can be found at WantageLiteraryFestival.co.uk