Council's new writing festival was criminally good
Monday 23 June 2025: Hillingdon Council welcomed more than 200 literature-loving visitors to the Winston Churchill Theatre on Saturday (21 June) for a sell-out writing festival featuring some of the country's top crime authors.
These included The Reverend Richard Coles of Strictly Come Dancing and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! fame, along with Mark Billingham, SJ Bennett, Fiona Cummins and Elly Griffiths.
The event builds on the popularity of the council's regular 'Coffee and Crime' author events, which feature talks from top writers delivering one of the key ambitions of its Library Service Strategy (2023-2027) to promote reading and literacy through new initiatives.
The strategy sets out five ambitions that build on and enhance initiatives already available in council libraries, promoting reading, literacy and culture; health and wellbeing; digital services and inclusion; information and learning; and sustainable service delivery.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: "We are proud to offer residents a broad, modern range of library services and events that help foster healthy, happy communities, so it was brilliant to see how popular our first crime-writers' festival was.
"Our libraries promote literacy and reading, but also support learning and development, encourage socialising and can offer a quiet place to study or get online for essential tasks.
"There's also a range of events and activities, often free of charge, which run throughout the year, and our Home Library Service and mobile library help ensure that everyone can experience the joy of reading too."
Speaking after the festival, author SJ Bennett, said: "The Hillingdon Libraries Crime Festival is a new highlight in the crime writing calendar.
"It was a delight to be part of an impressive line-up, and to meet so many enthusiastic readers afterwards. After such a great start, I'm sure the festival will go from strength to strength."
The next Coffee and Crime event takes place on Friday 4 July at Manor Farm Library and features author Rachel Wolf. Find out more and book at discover.hillingdon.gov.uk/rachel-wolf.
