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21/04/2015

Write at the water's edge! CalMac sails in with the stars of Colonsay Book Festival

As a major partner of Colonsay Book Festival for the third year in a row, Caledonian MacBrayne will be providing the event's stars with free water wings.

 

CalMac has supported the event since 2013 by offering passage to the stellar line-up of one of the UK's most remote book festivals each year - and this year is no different.

 

In that time, the ferries have helped organisers bring the likes of Ian Rankin, Christopher Brookmyre and Val McDermid to this unique and particularly intimate event.

 

"Colonsay Book Festival is a fantastic community event," said Caledonian MacBrayne's marketing manager Peter Griffiths. "It began in 2012 and we got involved the year after - and we have been proud and delighted to play our part in bringing some of Scotland's biggest literary stars to this unique cultural gem ever since.

 

"This year, as our CalMac Culture programme continues to develop and grow, we are delighted to maintain this support, along with sponsorship of varying levels given to around 100 other events each year.

 

"It is our way of giving back to the communities we are part of around Scotland's west coast and bringing their cultural credentials not only to life, but to the attention of a greater audience."

 

Taking place on April 25-26 at the island's community hall in Scalasaig, the festival is, once again, attracting the cream of the crop, with Aline Templeton, James Buchan, Jim Crumley, Sara Maitland, Mary Contini and William Letford all making their way across the waves. And composer and musician Mike Vass, supported by friends, will provide musical entertainment with a literary twist on Saturday evening, as they perform In the Wake of Neil Gunn.

 

The full programme for the weekend is available at the festival website www.colonsaybookfestival.org.uk

 

Immediately following on from the book festival, Colonsay launches straight into the creative three-week long SpringFest, beginning April 27 and running until May 17.

 

Also supported by CalMac, this is an eclectic selection of activities ranging from craft workshops like basket-weaving, screen-printing and glass fusing, to special walks with guides exploring everything from the island's birdlife to Viking heritage. There are also baking and foraging workshops, as well as a delicious supper club.

 

"Our annual three week Festival of Spring has gone from strength to strength and is now in its fifth year," said organiser Sarah Hobhouse. "We are very grateful to CalMac and all our other supporters, without whom it would have been difficult to grow the Spring Fest into such an important event in Colonsay's calendar."

 

Further information is available at http://www.colonsayevents.co.uk/

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