Meet our team

Annie

Excited and inspired by the formation of ‘More than Words’, Annie joined the CLF Committee during summer 2020. She says “as a relative newcomer to this town it is a wonderful way to get involved in something that lifts my heart”. She became a key member of the CLF team for the 2021 Festival, initiated the Festival map and trail, and organised a number of events for June 2022.

Annie has a mixed background in the arts, higher education and social welfare. Starting out as an archaeologist, both in the field and then as a lecturer, she moved to wider roles in museums and other public sector organisations, managed a museum service and then worked as an independent consultant for arts organisations. Becoming a mother meant a big life review, and she moved into the psychotherapeutic field, running her own practice and being a part-time lecturer in counselling.

Involvement with the Clevedon Literary Festival enables her to draw on her organisational experiences and skills, to work creatively with others and to contribute to arts projects in her local community.

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 Jayne 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.

Julie

Julie has a background in teaching and business administration, joined her first writing group 24 years ago, and moved to Clevedon five years ago. After winning the 2023 More Than Words short story competition she was keen to support Clevedon Litfest in its mission to foster local enjoyment of the written and spoken word in all its forms, and subsequently joined the charity as a Trustee in early 2024.

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.

Grace

Having lived in Clevedon for 40 years and brought up a family here, I was always keen to encourage more of a cultural life within the town, thus avoiding the need to travel to Bristol or Weston. The opportunity came once I had retired and the idea for a festival was raised at an AGM of Clevedon Community Bookshop, of which I am a minor shareholder. I am a sucker for anything with the words cooperative, community and charitable attached.

Initially a primary teacher, I worked for 20 years for Springboard Opportunity Group which provides play activities and support for pre-school children with additional needs and their families, throughout North Somerset. As in my working life, I am committed to helping to develop a festival which is fully inclusive with something to appeal to the whole community.

Maureen

I moved to Clevedon in between lockdowns in 2020 and noticed the silent empty bandstand. I chatted to a friend, Cinzia Apreda, about this situation and we both felt it would be great to have music up there, on this purpose-built outdoor music venue which was being under-used!

Clevedon Literary Festival supported us with our idea and on 12 June 2021 Clevedon Community Bandstand was launched as part of the More Than Words Festival. I have an interest in shared public space and made a documentary called Instrument of Change: Street Piano about the effect that the street pianos have on communities. Music in public spaces creates connection and community and, most especially post-Covid, this is sorely needed. Literature, the arts and music are a form of social medicine.
Since the Literary Festival we have been supported by Clevedon BID to put on more events around Clevedon – we are on the move!

I have a background as a counsellor and running a business, am a mum and grandmother, and all the time learning more about being a human being.

Nicky

Nicky was approached by the Clevedon Literary Festival committee in 2019 to take up the role of Company Secretary, and now takes care of everything to do with ticketing. 

Nicky grew up in Clevedon.  She joined the Foreign Office after leaving school and following a peripatetic career, firstly in the Foreign Office and then in the oil and gas industry, returned to her hometown eight years ago. Nicky still loves to travel!