New Faces Running Guildford Book Festival

Published on: 27 Jun, 2016
Updated on: 29 Jun, 2016

By Drew Lernihan

There are some new faces running this year’s Guildford Book Festival.

Co-director Alex Andrews, who managed Puffin Post and the Puffin Book Club Magazine as a sales and marketing manager has worked on events such as the Imagine festival on the South Bank and the Red House Children’s Book Award.

She is joined by Jane Beaton, who was the former head of publicity at HarperCollins Publishers for 14 years.

Since 2009 Beaton has run her own company Kew Publicity, working with authors and publishers alike to promote books across a wide range of subjects. She has also worked with known celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Gordon Ramsey and David Beckham.

Meanwhile, prominent in local arts, Pat Grayburn MBE DL, becomes the first president of the Guildford Book Festival after her significant contributions to it since its inaugural event.

She said: “The Guildford Book Festival is very dear to my heart, having been chairman for 27 years, and it is a great honour to be named president.

“I am confident our new co-directors will produce a festival equally as exciting as its predecessors.”

Former leader of Guildford Borough Council freeman Andrew Hodges takes up the post of chairmen of the festival’s trustees.

He said: “I am delighted that Pat Grayburn has accepted our invitation to become president of the festival in recognition of her dedication and support of the festival as chairman since its inception.”

Alex Andrews said: “I am extremely lucky to be working on such a wonderful festival in my home town. I am thoroughly enjoying matching venues (some of which I’ve known for years) with new authors and book events.”

Jane Beaton is also incredibly pleased with her position. She said: “It is an enormous privilege to be given the task of running the Guildford Book Festival. I have brought authors to the festival before, so know of its excellent reputation, and look forward to continuing, and building, on its success.”

This year’s Guildford Book Festival will be staged over multiple venus across the town for seven days between October 9 and 16.

The festival is a registered charity and is supported by Guildford Borough Council and the University of Surrey, as well as local businesses.