Chorleywood Bookshop

Posted On February 1, 2015
Chorleywood Bookshop
February 01, 2015

Chorleywood Bookshop

Illustration by Gillian Blair

To buy tickets for events click here

Chorleywood Bookshop is one of the leading independent bookshops in the UK, and often has at least one award to its name. It has also been home to some of the best window displays in the town. As well as selling books and gifts the Bookshop runs an astonishing number of events throughout the year, from individual author presentations and literary lunches to full scale festivals. The biggest by far is the Literary Festival which has been an established part of the Chorleywood calendar for since 2007. Every November, a series of  book, related events are held at various venues around the town.  All are organised by the Bookshop and heavily supported by volunteers.

 

Bookshop owner Sheryl Shurville was inspired to start the Chorleywood Lit Fest whilst listening to Lowdham bookshop owner Jane Streeter at a bookseller’s conference. Jane had run a massively successful festival in her Northamptonshire town and Sheryl came away with inspiration to run a Chorleywood Lit Fest but knew that she would need a partner to make it work.

“ Sheryl bumped into me in the street and told me about her thoughts” says Morag Watkins, “She was bubbling over with enthusiasm. At the time I was Manager of the Library and I loved the idea!  We did the first Lit Fest as a joint venture. We managed to get some lottery funding and support from Three Rivers to start it up.”

When a vacancy came up at the Bookshop soon afterwards, it made perfect sense for Morag to apply.  The pair have been working together ever since. The Lit Fest date was moved at an early stage from May to November partly because it made sense to run it soon after 1 October, known as Super Thursday, as so many books are published on the date.

The festival  is loved by the famous.  The line up over the years has included politicians, newsreaders, chefs, historians, poets, foodies, feminists, farmers and a spy.  Some of the top selling authors/celebs and biggies in the business have taken part   – Bill Bryson, Nick Robinson, Ben Elton, Jenni Murray, Nigella Lawson, Sir Terry Wogan, Kate Adie, John Suchet, Peter Snow and Sir Ranulph Fiennes .

Over the years there have been many highlights, but there are a few that stand out.

“ My biggest thrill was Howard Jacobson coming last year to talk about his book The Finkler Question.” says Sheryl, “Between the time of us booking him and the date he won the Man Booker Prize so it was really exciting. So may people wanted tickets we had to change the venue to  RMS to get everybody in!”

One of Morag’s best festival moments was Jonathan Dimbleby broadcasting  from The Royal Masonic School “when he announced .. ‘Any Questions coming from Chorleywood Hertfordshire’ –  it made it extra special.”

“ Mine without a doubt is the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, adds colleague Maggie Wood, “ I was in awe of her. She was amazing.”

 

 

 

 

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