THE Greatham Children’s Literary and Arts Festival made its debut recently, with organisers declaring the event a resounding success.

Held on September 9, the extravaganza saw bookworms of all ages celebrate storytelling.

Stephen Saunders, one of the organisers, said it was a “wonderful” day that proved to be “a great foundation for an annual event”.

“The weather was bright and sunny all morning but we had a terrific thunderstorm while everyone was in the marquee (near St John the Baptist Church) enjoying a performance by Steve Tasane, a performance poet,” he added. “It was exciting and the children rather enjoyed it as if it was a special event in itself.”

An associated book-themed treasure hunt saw competitors searching around Liss and Petersfield, gathering 28 clues, with Nikolai Gibbins, aged 12, crowned overall winner.

There was arts and crafts for visitors to try, with one particularly topical activity.

“Puk Yeong Kim, born in, and escaped from, North Korea, painted everyone’s names in Korean and his wife Cynthia held a letter-writing workshop showing children how to do it the old-fashioned way, including posting, something we may all take for granted, but which is increasingly alien to children as a means of communication,” Mr Saunders explained.

“For a committee of amateurs, organising their first ever children’s literary and arts festival, it was at first exciting, then nerve wracking, then thoroughly enjoyable, and it was a big relief when so many people expressed their appreciation.

“We look forward to it becoming a regular local event.”