Warwick grandma weaves a telling tapestry

Seventy-three-year-old Jean Baggott’s creation, a ‘modern day’ Bayeux tapestry, delves into the details of her life as she remembers it, with key events including the day man landed on the moon and living on war-time rations.

The writer, who grew up in West Bromwich, not only dedicated time to weaving the 112cm x 41cm tapestry, but she has also written an accompanying book, Girl on the Wall, that stitches facts from history books with the unforgettable characters that have touched her life.

Jean said: “I started to write my story many years ago, but I found it hard to put into words - the tapestry isn’t a memoir but an account of my history and what it was like to live through the events I’ve encountered throughout my life.

“I’m so glad I’ve had the opportunity to share it with the public and that it hasn’t just remained as my coffee table cover for only my family to enjoy.”

People can join Jean for afternoon tea and cake at the Shakespeare Centre as part of the literary festival on Tuesday April 26, where she will be retelling tales from her book and showcasing her tapestry. Tickets cost £12.

The festival runs from Monday April 25 to Monday May 2 and Jean is appearing alongside well-known names such as Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter, actress Patricia Routledge, actor Larry Lamb, Today programme presenter John Humphrys, comedy actress Celia Imrie, bestselling crime writer Sophie Hannah, Whitbread winner Justin Cartwright, Baroness Shirley Williams, comedian Arthur Smith and DJ Mark Radcliffe.

Festival-goers can also meet novelists Katie Fforde, Esther Freud and Barbara Trapido, and take part in writing workshops including a day with the editor of the Writer’s and Artist’s Yearbooks and Midlands poetry group Nine Arches Poets.

To see the full programme, visit www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk

For tickets to all events, call 01789 207100 or buy them online at www.civichall.co.uk