The Telegraph Hay Festival has been celebrating its 25th anniversary and Martin Chilton picks out his highlights.
The Telegraph - 11 Jun 2012
• Comedy capers
The line-up of comedians at the 2012 Telegraph Hay Festival was incredibly strong, and included Tim Minchin, Jack Dee, Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey - and there was plenty for all age groups watching. Dee talked about life with teenage children adding, in his usual deadpan style: "Even I went through a period when I was quite morose." Moran, meanwhile, joked about the dubious pleasures of a skiing holiday. "Why would you want to go skiing? Just sit in your kitchen and break your own knees with a hammer."
• Hay Fever
• Music makers
The 25th Hay Festival featured the innovation of The Sound Castle, and there were some great concerts in the afternoon and evening. Lianne La Havas and Frente Cumbiero thrilled the crowd, Cerys Matthews and Courtney Pine lived up to their star billing, and even local acts such as Alex Valentine showed why they are worthy of wider attention. And, of course, what a treat to have Bryn Terfel at the festival.
• Tales of the unexpected
With more than 500 talks, ranging from literature, the environment, politics, science, health, music and Downton Abbey, you can always be surprised at Hay. I chanced on a talk by Wade Davis about the 1924 attempt to conquer Everest. Among the fascinating snippets was the grisly fact that when George Herbert Leigh Mallory attempted to climb the North Face in June 1924, a quest that cost him his life - he had earlier been so oxygen-deprived that he had coughed up the entire lining of his throat.
Read the full piece at The Telegraph
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