May 2017's Ambassador of the Month: Patrick Gale

We are so proud to have the amazing Patrick Gale as our Cultural Ambassador of the Month this May! A talented and hugely successful writer who features Cornwall in his novels, Patrick is also the chair of the North Cornwall Book Festival, and patron of Penzance Literary Festival and the Charles Causley Trust. Read on to find out his top tips and cultural secrets!

1. Name / name of business / whereabouts in Cornwall are you based?

Patrick Gale/North Cornwall Book Festival, Penzance LitFest and Penzance Orchestral Society/Land’s End

2. What have you done to promote Cornwall’s heritage and culture?

I’ve regularly featured Cornwall in my novels one of which (watch this space) is now being developed into a feature film which could really celebrate Penzance.  I’ve been artistic director of North Cornwall Book Festival for four years now as well as patron of Penzance LitFest both of which are great ways  to show that  Cornish tourism isn’t just about sandcastles. Cornwall is a powerhouse of creativity and these festivals  are a great way of celebrating that. Really proud (as its secretary) and excited (as a cellist) that this July will see Penzance Orch Soc mark its 110th year by being one of 100 orchestras in the country to  accompany a screening of the legendary Battle of the Somme film, to mark the battle’s centenary.

Jackie Kay at the North Cornwall Book Festival

3. What has been your most useful Cornwall 365 experience or tool?

North Cornwall Book Festival always features a couple of gigs – this year we’ve got one by amazing jazz singer, Liane Carroll – and Cornwall 365 is the perfect way of selling those beyond the book community.

4. Best experience you’ve experienced (in Cornwall)

Being blasted out of my seat by an opera performance at the St Endellion Summer Festival or watching the sun set while swimming at Nanjizal, the last beach on the south coast, which just happens to be on our farm!

Nanjizal Patrick Gale Cornwall 365

Najizal beach

5. The family is taken care of. The business is taken care of. What is your perfect day & evening in Cornwall?

A long clifftop walk with the dogs followed by a few hours’ happily weeding in our garden (open to the public on June 25!) sustained by tea and saffron buns then a delicious fishy supper and a film at the wonderful Newlyn Filmhouse.

6. You have free tickets to the performance of your choice. Who would you take with you (living or dead)?

I think I’d like Montgomery Clift on one side and Daphne Du Maurier on the other.

7. Most unusual performance space you have been to?

Botallack Mine

8. Best live music venue in Cornwall?

I reckon St Endellion Church and St Mary’s in Penzance come first equal.

9. Your favourite walk?

Trevescan to Porthgwarra across the fields and then back along the coast path.

10. Best place in Cornwall to get food?

Sennen Farmer’s Market is hard to beat. I’ve yet to be disappointed at The Gurnard’s Head or Ben’s Cornish Kitchen.

11. Name one, really different excursion

Tremenheere Sculpture Garden is utterly wonderful – both as garden and sculpture collection – and lays on a fine lunch too!

12. What’s your 2nd best kept secret about Cornwall?

We have the best autumns in the country, when the sea is at its warmest and the crowds have thinned out.

13. If not Cornwall, where?

Hampshire, where I grew up. I miss proper bunches of properly peppery watercress!

 

Patrick Gale’s website: www.galewarning.org
Follow Patrick on Twitter: @pnovelistgale

North Cornwall Book Festival: www.ncornbookfest.org
Follow them on Twitter: @ncornbookfest
Find them on Facebook: @NorthCornwallBookFestival

Penzance Literary Festival: www.pzlitfest.co.uk
Follow them on Twitter: @PenzanceLitfest
Find them on Facebook: @Penzancelitfest 

Photos of Patrick Gale and Jackie Kay © Dan Hall

 
Creative Kernow, based at Krowji, is the umbrella organisation for the following nine projects. Together we support the production, promotion and distribution of work by creative practitioners in Cornwall because we believe in creativity's transformative power and want more people to benefit from it.
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