text: Getting ahead of ourselves!
  July 15 2024The 2024 Festival starts on Friday 18 October but if you were in Cedars Hall on 11 July, you might well have thought it had already begun! Those who were lucky enough to be invited to a packed Cedars Hall enjoyed a foretaste of what lies ahead. Mike Gunton, Creative Director of the BBC Natural History Unit, gave an absolutely brilliant presentation about his career as one of the finest, best-respected filmmakers in the business.
  This annual event is the Festival’s way of thanking our Friends and sponsors for the support they give us. Without their generosity we would be unable either to help fund such an impressive range of educational projects (currently on average around £30,000 pa), or attract such a wide range of diverse, entertaining, informative and intriguing speakers.
  Mike’s wonderful description of how he and his team manage to bring the natural world to our TV screens in such a moving and memorable way proved to be the perfect starter for the delights of our 2024 Festival. Our programme this year promises a brilliant mixture of politics, history; science, art; poetry, drama; cookery… There will be shocks and surprises; cowardice and heroism; tears and laughter. And the Literary Quiz is back by popular demand!
  The brochure will be available from 25 July. It’s even more colourful than usual and packed with information. As is the website which will provide all the latest updates right through to November.
  For now though the dates to remember are:
  - 29 July – start of Priority* booking for Friends and sponsors
  - 5 August – main booking opens
  You might have missed Mike Gunton’s special talk. But it’s not too late to enjoy the other benefits of being a Friend* including Priority booking and discounted tickets.