WHILE most of the events for Bridport Literary Festival had to be cancelled due to the lockdown, organiser Tanya Bruce-Lockhart had something to smile about.

She was given a surprise award by Dorset High Sheriff George Streatfeild in recognition of her determination and immense work she has done to put on a ‘live’ programme of Covid safe events at this year’s festival.

The award was presented after Mrs Bruce-Lockhart thanked the first author, Sir Barney White-Spunner, at the end of an illustrated talk at the Electric Palace.

Mr Streatfeild said: "In a year when joys are in short supply, being able, as High Sheriff, to thank people for the amazing work they do is a huge privilege and joy.

"I have known Tanya ever since she moved down to West Dorset 20 years ago. She would come to Denhay Farm, at Broadoak, march into the office, sit herself down and regale us with stories of her life and travels. She is always wonderful company.’

The literary festival team was determined to go 'live' this year despite the pandemic. The annual, week-long festival had been reduced to four days and everything had been in place at the Electric Palace and Bridport Arts Centre to ensure the safety of audiences, volunteers and writers to enjoy a programme of literary events.

But the beginning of a new lockdown meant the festival had to be cut short although the first day’s events could still go ahead.

Mrs Bruce-Lockhart said the award came as a complete surprise.

She said: "I thought at first it was a This Is Your Life moment and wondered what else would unravel.

‘I was stunned, thrilled and delighted to be awarded the High Sheriff’s Award and the greatly appreciated the citation that George read to the audience."

Mrs Bruce-Lockhart’s first career was in London in television and journalism.

She started on the London Weekend Television team and moved to become a researcher on chat shows with David Frost, Frank Muir, Simon Dee and David Jacobs. She produced The Russell Harty Show, then joined Humphrey Burton as a producer of arts documentaries for Aquarius and then worked with Melvyn Bragg on The South Bank Show.

Latterly, she joined Granada Television to head up arts programming and was instrumental in bringing the ballets of choreographer Kenneth Macmillan to ITV.

Twenty years ago she moved to Dorset and became director of the Beaminster Festival for Music and the Arts which she ran from 2004 to 2014.

She then took control control of the Bridport Literary Festival, which is now in its 16th year.

Wednesday’s events also saw best-selling nature writer Raynor Winn talking about her new book. The day ended with a lively and entertaining conversation between author Robert McCrum and local writer Jason Webster about Mr McCrum's new book, Shakespearean.

Mrs Bruce-Lockhart said: 'Writers who had to be stood down included Kim Darroch, Alastair Campbell, Charles Spencer, Richard Osman, Jonathan Coe and James Rebanks. They were all as disappointed as we were but each has promised to come to Bridport once the country is through these dark and anxious days of the virus - roll on spring."