The sixth annual Monty Lit Fest wrapped up in style recently as superstar rugby referee Nigel Owens packed out St Nicholas’ Church.

The Welsh rugby union refereeing legend and broadcaster closed the festival, which ran from June 9 to June 11, with a talk about his new book, ‘The Final Whistle’.

Organisers of the festival were forced to hunt for a new location due to high demand, as tickets for the original venue at Montgomery Town Hall quickly sold out.

Festival co-chair Sarah Corser said: “We’re not called the Friendly Festival for nothing. Monty Lit Fest was once again about our communities coming together to enjoy and spread the joys of the written word – and having loads of fun along the way.

“We could have no finer ambition and it’s down to the local people and our volunteers that we can achieve that.

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“We knew that the chance to hear Nigel Owens would mean a sell-out - but not quite so quickly.

“We had barely begun to publicise the festival when there was an avalanche of demand to hear Nigel talk about his book.

“He is such a charismatic character, and his book is full of the energy, fun and seriousness of the man himself. The festival itself has such a sense of place, a Marcher town. ‘The Final Whistle’ is the voice of a man with strong roots who still has to find his place, and he is so captivating in the way he talks about it.”

As well as Mr Owens, the festival featured several well-received talks and presentations, including Rhys Mwyn in conversation with Jeff Collins and Marcus Berkmann who treated attendees to facts about Elvis Presley’s hair, Keith Moon’s driving and the iconic piano notes of Bohemian Rhapsody.

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Pete Brown explained to audiences that there’s a lot more to beer than meets the eye, Rebecca Wragg Sykes taught people about Neanderthals, and Edward Brooke-Hitching explained fox-tossing and fireworks boxing.

Top fiction authors like fiction authors Clare Mackintosh, Lissa Evans, Annie Garthwaite, Alis Hawkins and Siân Llywelyn made appearances at the festival, in addition to children’s storytelling, poetry readings, music and song.

Co-chair Myfanwy Alexander said: “We’re slightly blushing at some of the very nice things people have said about this year’s Monty Lit Fest.

“We are just thrilled that so many people enjoyed themselves over a beautiful weekend in such a magical place, with book lovers mingling with authors and authors meeting their readers. And who doesn’t love a book signed by their favourite author?”