Hay-on Wye: Why Not?

There is no reason why you should not visit Hay-on-Wye, although during the next 10 days you might find it a bit busy. I nearly forgot to write this short appreciation but I have just got back from my 6 mile drive to get a paper and the Hay Festival convoys are well and truly on the move along the valley road. I know they are going to the festival for two reasons. Firstly, they are consistently driving at speed and most of the cars are of German manufacture. It as though the rains have come and the dessert is blooming, not with flowers, but the literary and chattering classes. There is nothing wrong with any of this but it is an interesting phenomenon to observe.

. The countryside from Brecon through to Hay is often described as the Hampsted Highlands and this week sees migrations of all kinds from all directions. Needless to say this is an excellent boost to local businesses but I have yet to see any research results which puts a figure on it like they do for the Glastonbury Festival. Perhaps the festival’s sponsor, the Guardian, has done some. Being a bit lazy and careful with the cash we need a push to go to any event. The choice is excellent, sometimes the ticket price is very high and other times they are only £5 or £8. There are also some free events. It would be nice to go by bus but as there is no evening service for us to return by. We have got the bus pass, all we need now is a bus service.

Event 222 is of particular interest as the speaker is none other than Bishop 22, sorry, Tutu. Having heard tickets were still available we checked the festival programme. This event is in fact an award ceremony for the Michael Ramsey Prize, and the present Archbishop of Canterbury will be attending as one of the judges.. Tickets cost £75 and will take place in the Oxfam Studio. Bishop Tutu is speaking in the Barclays Wealth Pavilion in the evening. Tickets for this are £50. If you feel this information has too much irony built in, you need to know that Oxfam is the Guardian’s new sponsor partner and I hope they raise a good amount of money. I can’t help thinking that there are more efficient ways of supporting good causes. So if you are at a loose end between now and 31st of May why not take a trip in this direction. Who knows you might be helping economies all over the place. On the other hand you might like to make charitable donations direct to a community through one of the smaller charities.
Dacier