Literature festival calls for talks as it faces an uncertain future
The irony that the solution to a financial threat to Cheltenham Literature Festival resulting from a protest by authors could be ‘better dialogue’ will not be lost on some, but it's serious.
Dear reader,
Welcome to Monday’s edition of The Raikes Journal. We hope you had a great weekend.
We’re a bit late delivering today because we’ve being in conversations with firms from outside of Gloucestershire about how they see the county as an economic force, following their visit to Cheltenham during last week’s science festival.
In particular we talked about the county’s place in the fast-moving UK cyber sector, the Golden Valley, the place GCHQ has to play in our economic future, and whether any of it is as important as we tell ourselves here. We think you will find it interesting, and plan to publish later this week.
In the meantime, on to another festival - Cheltenham Literature Festival - and the threat it now finds itself under after protesting writers, under the banner Fossil Free Books, forced the withdrawal of a major long-standing sponsor.
The irony that a literature festival’s joint chief executive officer has been left with little option but to call for better dialogue - or any dialogue - will not be lost on some, but the situation is serious.
Oh, and don’t forget the diary dates at the foot of the edition either.
And lastly, we must again thank those of you who have signed up to support this community interest company on its mission to support Gloucestershire businesses, charities and education and training sectors. And anyone else we can help too! Please feel free to share each edition with anyone you think would appreciate the thought and who might join the fold.
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🦁 Willans LLP is the latest firm to lend its support to the 2025 Lions at Large campaign, which aims to help transform cancer care in the region. Between July and September 2025 Gloucestershire will stage its first ever Wild in Art sculpture trail throughout Cheltenham and Gloucester - in aid of Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity. The aim is to raise enough funds to make possible new facilities in Cheltenham including digital consulting rooms, a research area and a therapeutic outdoor space. Lions have been chosen for the sculpture trail to reflect the courage of those who are fighting the disease. Find out more here.
Your Monday briefing notes
🧠 Gloucestershire County Council is in need of good business brains. That is to say that the local authority is seeking individuals to help make up a Gloucestershire Economic Growth Board to help shape the county’s economic future. The board will help the local authority replace functions of the now defunct GFirst LEP, the local enterprise partnership whose functions it absorbed in April. Sectors it hopes to draw expertise from include cyber, agri-tech, construction, engineering, finance and professional services, energy and tourism. Find out more here.
🏘️ Conveyancing firm Montpellier Legal has expanded into the Cotswolds. The firm, which is headquartered in Cheltenham and has offices in Gloucester, Stroud and London, has now opened an office in Cirencester. Simon Thomas, the firm’s chief executive officer, said expanding into the market town was a ‘natural fit’. The office is expected to open this summer.
💪🏼 There is a new chief operating officer at one of the Gloucestershire’s biggest professional services firms. Phil Lane has announced on social media that he is the man in the hot seat at accountants Hazlewoods, which has offices in Staverton and Cheltenham. He is also the firm’s mergers and acquisitions partner. Lane has more than 25 years’ experience advising entrepreneurial businesses on M&A, strategy and raising finance and has been a partner at Hazlewoods for 10 years. The firm has 50 corporate finance professionals, and an estimated 550 staff.
🏉🎉 A massive congratulations to Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s Rugby Football Club who have made it through to their second appearance in the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby in as many years. They produced a dominant 50-19 win over Exeter Chiefs to set up the match against Bristol Bears at Sandy Park on June 22. Fans of the Gloucestershire club will be hoping for a repeat of last year, when they lfted the silverware at thier home fromo home, Kingsholm.
Literature festival calls for talks as it faces an uncertain future
The irony that the solution to a financial threat to Cheltenham Literature Festival resulting from a protest by authors could be ‘better dialogue’ will not be lost on some, but it's serious.
By Andrew Merrell
It sounds too much like a work of fiction to be true, but protests by authors against a business that supports the literature festivals that help them make a living have threatened the very future of at least one of those events.
Hundreds of authors signed an open letter under the banner Fossil Free Books against investment firm Baillie Gifford’s sponsorship of numerous arts events UK-wide. That and the sustained pressure over months has caused the firm to withdraw its support and take its funding with it.
Cheltenham Festival has now revealed the financial blow caused by the decision has put this year’s October event in a serious financial position, with the event’s boss appealing for ‘dialogue’ between all parties.
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