ACTING couple Timothy West and Prunella Scales were the guests of honour at the first Braunston Literary Festival.
Over 70 book enthusiasts attended to hear the actors read selected passages from two books to be launched at the event, which was held at the village’s All Saints Church.
The first was A Summer on the Nene by Denys Watkins-Pitchford – written under the pseudonym ‘BB’ – a facsimile reprint of a now scarce book covering two voyages in a small boat on the River Nene in 1966 in the twilight years of river carrying.
Following this was Andree’s War: How One Young Woman Outwitted the Nazis. It was written by Francelle Bradford White, based on her mother’s diaries. Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina interviewed Francelle, who chose selected readings.
Francelle was reduced to tears by Prunella Scales’ reading of Andree’s diary entry for the day that Paris fell in June 1940.
David Laing, the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, presided over the event, which raised over £1,000 for charities Crusader Community Boatings and Dementia UK.
