Sedbergh Festival of Ideas 2008

Box Office 015396 20125

• Details of events
• Booking information
• How to find us
• Access
• Bookshops etc.
• Eating In or Eating Out in Sedbergh
• Next year’s; Festival
• Acknowledgements
• Download a copy of the printed festival brochure as a PDF file (require Acrobat Reader)
  (The printed brochure is available from the Sedbergh Tourist Information Office)

John Rice, Festival Director
(photo: Stevie Rice)

Sedbergh, England’s Book Town is a town where writers and booksellers, artists and gallery managers contrive to offer you their stock in trade - ideas!

If you are planning to travel to Sedbergh, pack your bag for a short stay for it‘s a lovely place. If you live locally you’ll already know that, so just write ‘Go to lots of Ideas Fest events’ on the pages of your diary marked 17th, 18th, 19th & 20th July. And here’s the deal - we’ll supply a variety of excellent speakers who have plenty of ideas and are keen to share them. We’ll even supply note pads and pens for you to scribble down your own jottings, notes and ideas. All you need to bring are the following: an open mind, your point of view, the knack of listening to others, a bit of cash to buy a few books (and maybe an artwork) and, of course, your ideas!

Details of events

Top Thursday 17 July

Event 1, Reflections of a War Zone Thug - Martin Bell OBE

The Chair of Sedbergh Book Town, Hilary Hodge, will offer a welcome to this year’s Festival and introduce the opening speaker
8pm, People’s Hall

Top Friday 18 July

Event 2, Standing on Dignity

The Ideas Festival in partnership with South Lakeland District Council presents a creative workshop designed to allow local people to develop ideas that may be integrated into SLDC’s Equality & Diversity Policies.
Admission price includes light evening snack of tea/coffee and sandwiches after the workshop.
4pm, Farfield Mill

Event 3, Living Well Within Our Means: Turning energy descent to our advantage - Jonathan Dawson

Introduced by George Handley
7.30pm, People’s Hall

Top Saturday 19 July

Event 4, Varieties of Consciousness: Day 1

Neuroscience and Consciousness, Philosophy of Consciousness, Post-neuroscience Ethics
10am, People’s Hall

Event 5, Who on Earth was Jesus? - In Conversation: David Boulton and Stephen Mitchell

Can we distinguish between the Jesus of history and the Christ of Theology? Boulton thinks we can, Mitchell thinks we can't. And does it really matter?
In the chair: Carole Gotham
2.30pm, Farfield Mill

Event 6, Philosophy for Children. A parents and children workshop enquiry facilitated by Dr Barry Hymer and Elizabeth Dawson

Suitable for children aged 7 - 13
Restricted numbers, early advance booking essential
4 - 5.30pm, People’s Hall

Event 7, The Kingdom of Infinite Space - Raymond Tallis

Introduced by William Sang
Think of this presentation as a journey around the part of your anatomy to which you feel most attached, your head.
5pm, Powell Hall, Sedbergh School

Event 8, Where Did Mr Shakespeare Get His Ideas?

Shakespeare 4 Kidz presents four 30-minute workshops for families
Suitable for children aged 8 - 13
6, 6.30, 7 or 7.30pm, People’s Hall

Event 9, The Age of Ideas, The Era of the Imagination - Baroness Williams of Crosby (Shirley Williams)

We regret that, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, this event has now been cancelled. All previously purchased and paid-for tickets will be reimbursed.

Event 10, Late Night Comedy: Poems & Pints

10.30pm - midnight,
The Dalesman Inn, Main Street
Free

Top Sunday 20 July

Event 11, Varieties of Consciousness: Day 2, Taster sessions and panel

Three guest speakers will offer attendees a chance to sample the delights of meditation.
10am, People’s Hall

Event 12, Six Degrees - Mark Lynas

Introduced by John Rice
Mark Lynas shows clips from the National Geographic documentary film about his global warming book Six Degrees and how humanity can avoid a fiery future.
11am, Powell Hall, Sedbergh School

Event 13, Shaking the Kaleidoscope - Richard Holloway

Introduced by David Boulton
In 1897 Paul Gauguin received the news in distant Tahiti that his daughter Aline had died of pneumonia. In response he produced a massive painting that was a cry of puzzlement at the riddle of existence. He wrote three questions on a corner of the canvas: D‘où Venons-Nous? Que Sommes- Nous? Où Allons-Nous? Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?
2.30pm, Powell Hall, Sedbergh School

Event 14, The Political Future of the UK … If there is one! - Peter Hitchens of The Mail on Sunday

Introduced by Carole Nelson
4.30 - 6pm, Powell Hall, Sedbergh School

Festival Feedback

After a hectic and stimulating four days of talks, presentations and debate, it’s now time for members of the audience to comment upon this year’s festival.
Free
6.30pm, The Dalesman Inn

Top Booking information

Top How to find us

Sedbergh is on the A684. Leave the M6 at Junction 37 and drive 5 miles east through the stunning Howgill landscape to the town … it couldn’t be simpler! The nearest train stations are Oxenholme (Lake District) 10 miles, Garsdale 10 miles and Kirkby Stephen 12 miles.

Farfield Mill is about 1 mile from the centre of Sedbergh, all the other venues are in easy walking distance of the centre of the town.

Top Access

Top Next year’s Festival

For your Diary, next year’s Festival of Ideas will take place from Wednesday 15 to Sunday 19 July, 2009.

Why not sign up to our mailing list now using our online feedback form and we'll send you further news about Sedbergh and it's Festivals as it becomes available.

Top Acknowledgements

The Ideas Festival wishes to acknowledge the help and support of the many bookshops, businesses, organisations, hotels & B&Bs, schools, venues and tourist attractions which have supported the festival so positively this year. Also, grateful thanks to all the Tourist Information staff, Book Town committee members, volunteer staff and other dedicated individuals who have shown such allegiance to the project. The Ideas Festival would like to offer particular thanks to Carole Nelson for her unshakeable enthusiasm and unbounded energy in her work for both this festival and the Book Town.