The Guernsey Literary Festival, one of the island’s major annual arts events, has been cancelled following the escalation of the coronavirus pandemic and advice from the Guernsey authorities.

This year’s Festival, scheduled for the 29 April to 3 May, had nearly 60 events planned, mostly with writers and speakers from the UK, as well as a full education and community programme.

The Guernsey Literary Festival’s board of directors met to discuss the situation and board chairman Rob Shepherd says that the decision to cancel was taken ‘with a heavy heart’.

‘I suspect that few of you will be surprised at this decision but rest assured it has only been taken as a last resort and with the health of our authors, audiences and volunteers as the priority,’ says Mr Shepherd.

All those who have bought tickets will be refunded. Ben Fogle’s event on 8th October is still going ahead at this point in time.

‘Thanks to the support of its members, patrons and the wider Guernsey community, the Festival has enjoyed many years of success.   I know that we can count on that support continuing in these tougher times but at the moment please focus on your health and that of your families.’

The Festival’s WriteStuff writing competition for local schoolchildren will be judged as normal and results of the Guernsey International Poetry Competition, which has just been judged by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, will be announced soon.

The Guernsey Literary Festival is planned, organised and run entirely by a team of volunteers and last year’s event sold 6,000 tickets and a further 2,000 schoolchildren were able to take part in its education programme.

Festival Director Claire Allen says, ‘We had a brilliant programme ready for this year, and sales of tickets were already ahead of this time last year, but no-one could have foreseen the effect of this virus. People’s health must come first.

‘I would like to pay tribute to the team of volunteers who put the programme together and all our sponsors, supporters and friends. We are all upset by what has happened but we will bounce back.’