Just one day covering the Bradford Literature Festival this year, as the event celebrated its 10th annual serving of diverse presentations, performances and entertainment.
There are always few famous faces making an appearance at the festival, and on Tuesday I had the pleasure of meeting the Rev Kate Bottley. In my 40-year-long career as a professional photographer I’ve encountered many famous people and media stars. I can honestly say Kate, who lives in Retford, was one of the nicest and most genuine.
The Church of England priest has appeared on television in numerous programmes including Gogglebox, Would I Lie to You and Celebrity Mastermind, but was very down-to-earth and not in the least stand-offish, greeting audience members at the Alhambra Studio in the bar beforehand, chatting and posing for selfies, before being interviewed by journalist Peg Alexander.
Earlier in the day, I photographed Dr Campbell Price, an Egyptologist, as he entertained and informed hundreds of primary school children about hieroglyphs and the world of ancient Egypt. The Curator of Egypt and Sudan at Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, expertly held the attention of a diverse roomful of pupils in a lecture theatre at Bradford University in a lively presentation.
Finally, it was over to St George’s Hall for Ruby Wax’s show I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was. The comedian detailed her experiences of bipolar disorder and depression. Interviewed by journalist Remona Aly, there were, despite the subject, plenty of laughs and insights into her personal quest for an antidote to a frazzled life.
