History of The Mere Literary Festival

The Mere Literary Festival has been shaped by the dedication of its directors, each bringing their own vision while building on the legacy first established by Adrienne in 1997. Together, their contributions have helped the festival grow into a much‑loved fixture of the local calendar.

2025

Director
Wayne Stevens

In 2025, the Mere Literary Festival entered a new chapter under the direction of Wayne Stevens, supported by a dedicated committee of volunteers. Building on the strong foundations established over previous decades, the festival continued its commitment to bringing writers, readers and the wider community together through a varied and engaging programme of events.

The 2025 festival ran across a full week, with talks and activities taking place in The Grove Building. Alongside celebrating literature, ideas and conversation, the festival also continued its longstanding commitment to supporting the local community. More than £5,000 was raised and distributed to charities and causes within Mere, ensuring the festival’s success extended well beyond the events themselves.

2019 – 2024

Director
Gail Garbutt

The role of Director passed to Gail Garbutt, whose tenure from 2019 to 2024 marked a period of steady development and wider reach.

Gail introduced the festival’s first website, bringing it into the digital space for the first time. Alongside this, she implemented online ticket sales to complement existing booking methods through the library and by post, making events more accessible to a broader audience.

She also expanded the range of venues used across Mere, establishing a more visible presence throughout the town. Events were hosted in a variety of public buildings, including St Michael’s Church, the United Reform Church, The Lecture Hall and The Grove Building, allowing the festival to grow in both scale and atmosphere.

A key focus of Gail’s approach was audience development. Festival programmes were distributed well beyond Mere, reaching surrounding areas from Castle Cary to Sherborne, and from Tisbury to Warminster. This significantly increased awareness and helped attract visitors from across the region.

The programme itself evolved under her direction. Gail introduced a more varied format, combining traditional standalone author talks with interviewer-led events, adding depth and variety to the schedule.

Her contribution laid important groundwork for the festival’s continued growth, strengthening both its structure and its reputation within the local and wider literary community.

1997 – 2018

Director
Adrienne Howell

Adrienne Howell founded the Mere Literary Festival on 13th October 1997 and led it with dedication and vision for 22 years, stepping down after the 2018 festival.

What began as a fundraiser for the Mere & District Link Scheme quickly grew into an annual celebration, featuring author talks, writing workshops, the Pennybank Writers, children’s events, short story and poetry competitions, with entries arriving from as far as France and South Africa.

The festival became known for its warm hospitality, welcoming atmosphere, and generous helpings of cake!