I love telling stories. This event sees me and my audience travelling from the Bronze Age right through to the 1970's. Stopping off for more than a moment in that era that changed our working lives forever, namely the Industrial Revolution! Stories of real people from Bude, some of these are the genius innovators from eons past, but far more typically you will see me sharing tales of real working people who never usually get to have their stories heard. I bring along copies of my book 'Come Work in our Factories' for my audience to purchase after the event.

The Rev Sabine Baring-Gould, parson and squire of Lew Trenchard Manor, West Devon is probably best remembered as the author of the hymn 'Onward Christian Soldiers' and the children's hymn 'Now the Day is Over'. What may not be so well known about him is the large collection of folk songs he collected from the country people of Devon and Cornwall in the late 19th century. Local folk singer Mike Bosworth sings songs and plays fiddle tunes from the collection in a concert style performance, which includes some of his humorous tales of the parson and the singers he got his songs from.

A case of Cornish stories, with Hunt and Bottrell, tale collectors. Join Hunt and Bottrell as they unpack their suitcase of stories with a bit of help from Mazed storytellers. Hear tales of generous giants, mischievous piskeys, hissing spriggans, and flying sheep. ' a special kind of magic '

Join Elizabeth Dale, 'The Cornish Bird' as she explores 'The Forgotten Women of the Cornish Coast'. Cornish writer, Elizabeth Dale, has been writing her blog The Cornish Bird since 2016 and in that time she has delighted in discovering many lesser known stories from Cornwall's past. In this talk she introduces us to a wide range of feisty female characters, all with connections to our coast and all now faded into obscurity. Their stories, ordinary and extraordinary, help to illustrate why she finds Cornish history so endlessly fascinating and exciting.

I love telling stories. This event sees me and my audience travelling from the Bronze Age right through to the 1970's. Stopping off for more than a moment in that era that changed our working lives forever, namely the Industrial Revolution! Stories of real people from Bude, some of these are the genius innovators from eons past, but far more typically you will see me sharing tales of real working people who never usually get to have their stories heard. I bring along copies of my book 'Come Work in our Factories' for my audience to purchase after the event.

Join Michael Arnold, author of the critically acclaimed Civil War Chronicles, for an exclusive discussion on his latest historical novel, The Savage Isle. Set in Britannia in 42 AD, the book follows Cullen, a young orphan caught in the brutal struggle between warring tribes as the Roman legions prepare to invade. In this talk, Michael will explore the rich historical backdrop of the novel, the real events that inspired it, and the challenges of bringing the ancient world to life on the page. Perfect for history lovers, fans of historical fiction, and anyone intrigued by Britain's past.

The Rev Sabine Baring-Gould was a notable historian, antiquarian and pioneer in the archaeological discoveries of Dartmoor. He was the first person to discovery and record the old folk songs of Devon which is without doubt his most important contribution to the musical heritage of the West country. The world would never have heard of 'Uncle Tom Cobley' and his mare if the Rev Gentleman had not collected the song. Mike sings songs from the collection and tells the story of how it all came about from an after dinner conversation about the old folk songs in the early summer of 1888.

Join Michelle Wilkinson as she tells a story inspired by the antics of her real life dogs, Jake and Bruno. Michelle Wilkinson is a new writer currently living in Cornwall. Before writing this book she worked as a nurse in the community.

Join us for this talk delving into the murkier side of Cornwall's past as we explore tales of smugglers, from stories of secret tunnels leading to the sea, rumours of murder, revenge and haunted pubs, to daring exploits and battles on beaches. All across Cornwall youll find folklore around smuggling, whether it's in the fishing villages, up on the moors, in those hidden caves along the beaches, even at farms, country estates and cottages. Our smuggling past crops up everywhere, and in this talk well be looking at some of the darker stories and legends connected with it, exploring some of the most notorious characters and their nefarious deeds, the reality of Cornish smuggling, and why it continues to fascinate us. Keith Wallis is host of The Piskie Trap - a podcast series exploring the folklore, history and legends from across Cornwall. His recent work has involved a number of collaborations with leading historians, writers, folklorists and storytellers, as part of a movement to preserve local folklore traditions, and to promote Cornish history and heritage.

Richard Frost is the Devon-based author of Eastwood Stories, a series of three contemporary fiction novellas which bring laughter and tears, explore grief and joy and love and loss. In this event Richard will be reading from the books and talking about what inspired them and the characters who appear.

Harriet is a writer who has loved Bude for 30 years. She currently lives in Montserrat, outside of Barcelona, where she works as an art therapist and writes short stories, non-fiction and the odd speculative musings, but visits her family in Bude often where she enjoys writing and sea swimming. She has a long-held interest in Catalan and Cornish local traditions, languages and folklore. This event is a celebration of her most recent publication Pepita: a poetic journey through the meeting of two women, from two different countries - one fifty years older than the other - who seem to not have a lot more in common than a fondness for old films and having their feet rubbed. Filled with humour, heart and that sense of wonder when one is faced with a new place and the task of finding themselves within it. Pepita shows how friendship can grow across cultures, between generations, through misunderstandings, mishaps, shared jokes, confessions, dubbed films and rude words. There will be a reading, discussion and signing of books for sale on the day, as well as a short musical interlude.

Join me at The Castle for a spoken word and poetry performance that explores the many emotions we experience in life. Im 32 years old and have been passionate about writing poetry and spoken word for many years, using it as a way to express the highs and lows of human emotion. My work delves into a range of feelings, both uplifting and challenging, some drawn from personal experiences and others reflecting universal moments we all face. Through rhythm, words, and raw honesty, I hope to connect with the audience, offering a journey through the emotions that shape us. Whether youre a poetry lover or just curious to experience the power of spoken word, Id love for you to be part of this special first performance.