More names announced for the 2016 Literary Festival

Author and journalist Horatio Clare, award-winning English historian, author and broadcaster, Bettany Hughes, and artist Barbara Rae in Gibraltar earlier this year for the Royal Academicians exhibition, will form part of the 2016 edition of the Gibunco International Gibraltar Literary Festival. Returning to the festival is local author Giselle Green.

Her latest novel ‘Dear Dad’ has been described as a heart-warming love story that develops when a determined nine-year-old desperately tries to find his father. Other authors include Paula Byrne whose most recent book is a biography of Kathleen Kennedy, sister of US President John F. Kennedy and John Bentley whose debut novel ‘The Royal Secret’ is a mystery thriller centred round a modern day woman’s search for a famous and extraordinary Elizabethan.

Repeating the success of 2015, there will also be a special edition of Nicholas Parson’s famous ‘Just A Minute’ television programme with a celebrity panel consisting of Felix Francis, Maureen Lipman, Tony Hawks and Pam Ayres.

Gibraltarian actress, singer song-writer and renowned author Carmen Gomez together with accomplished poet David Bentata will also be leading the contingent of local participants in this year’s edition of the Festival.

Another poet is Gabriel Moreno, a Gibraltarian folk-singer and lyricist with strong links to the London alternative Americana scene who has just participated in the 2016 Gibraltar Music Festival.

Clive and Geraldine Finlayson, directors of the local museum will be discussing the Gorham’s Cave project and the successful bid for World Heritage status which was achieved earlier this year. Both have been stalwarts of local natural history undertakings with vast background in the fields of research and archaeology. Closely linked to the world of academia, Clive Finlayson is also the organiser of the Calpe International Conferences in Gibraltar.

Also taking part in the festival will be Justin Bautista, who will be discussing Gibraltarian food and its influence on local culture in an ‘In Conversation’ event.

Tourism Minister Samantha Sacramento said she was looking forward to the excellent programme of talks that have been put together.

“I am delighted that local authors will be playing a part in the event and no doubt their participation will add further incentive for the public. “

She believes this fourth edition of the Gibraltar Literary Festival will provide a good mix of subjects that will appeal to a wide cross-section of the community.

“I am confident that the festival will be another resounding success and that it will further consolidate our reputation as a leading cultural venue in the English speaking world.”

Minister Sacramento said that as organisers they were extremely excited at having attracted such a varied and strong field of UK authors for the 2016 literary festival.

“We are in the process of finalising all the organisational details of the festival over the next few weeks, and everything is progressing according to plan. I am confident that this year the festival will be even bigger and better than in previous editions.”