Meet our trustees
Carol
Carol has lived in Clevedon since 1988 and has been a member of many community groups and organisations throughout that time. As one of the founding members of the Community Bookshop in Copse Road, Carol enjoyed organising events in the shop and over many years has been part of the Clevedon Marine Lake Festival which used to be held annually at the seafront.
Carol brings administration skills and local knowledge to the team.
Isabel
Isabel has performed with Apples and Snakes; Global Fusion Music & Arts: at Shakespeare & Co in Paris; in Rotterdam; at Brighton Festival Fringe, Keats Festival, London Jazz Festival, local festivals in and around London, in Bristol, Chichester, Guildford, Hastings, Manchester, Margate, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reading, Swansea. She was runner up in the 2013 and 2017 BBC Radio 3 Proms Poetry Competitions; a finalist in nine other competitions, and shortlisted for the 2017 Bridport Prize.
A keen writer, Isabel has been poet-in-residence at First Stop in Darlington, Platform-7 in Margate and London, Urban Photofest at Goldsmiths London, and for the St Bride Foundation. Her work continues with collaborations with Oxford, Sussex and Lancaster universities on initiatives funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council and with three full collections and a pamphlet to her name, Isabel’s poetry and short stories have been widely published – by the BBC and in 17 books and journals to date.
Isabel founded poetry performance collective www.alarms and excursions.com in 2009, to produce and direct provocations on a variety of topics.
Jayne
Moving to Clevedon in 2019 fulfilled a long-held ambition for Jayne – to live by the coast.
Jayne joined the Festival team in 2022 and co-ordinated the volunteers that year. She now primarily looks after the LitFest website and communications. Being involved with the LitFest has given her the opportunity to brush up on old skills and learn new ones. Even more importantly, it has introduced her to some fantastic people and the opportunity to contribute to the cultural life of Clevedon.
Paul
Paul is a father of four, primary school teacher and poet. He grew up in Cornwall and now resides in North Somerset. Paul has had work published in a variety of places including Black Nore, Dreich Magazine, The Frogmore Papers, Ink, Sweat & Tears, Morning Star, Obsessed with Pipework and Orbis. His debut pamphlet 'In the Shadows' will be published in September 2024. Paul became a LitFest Trustee in early 2024.
Chrissey
Chrissey Harrison is an author, crafter and graphic designer based in Clevedon. She writes books about monsters, magic, action and adventure, and fragile human characters trying to muddle through as best they can.
She has been involved with Clevedon Litfest since 2023, contributing to programming and marketing for the 2024 Summer Festival and developing new features for Celebration of the Book. She is passionate about providing support to local authors, artists and makers and providing opportunities that nurture and encourage grassroots talent and creativity.
Jeff
Jeff Lightly - Treasurer