Pam's Poetry Takes Us Laughing Through Life

Pam Ayres is looking forward to appearing at the Lavenham Literary Festival, has a new book out and is now enjoying life in “saunter mode”, as she tells Rachel Banham.

- Rachel Banham

There are few personalities who can be described as a ‘national treasure’, but surely Pam Ayres is one.

Pam comes to Lavenham Literary Festival on November 16, when she will perform some of her new and well-known poems, alongside stories, anecdotes and jokes.

“The idea is to come along and have a laugh,” she says.

“I always try to introduce light and shade if you’re talking for a long time, so there will be sad poems and funny ones and a few old – and a lot of new – on all different subjects, so I hope there will be something for everybody.”

There will also be a question and answer session, and Pam will sign copies of her new book, Up in the Attic.

Pam loves the region and she recalls how she was enchanted by a boat trip on Hickling Broad.

“I’ve always had a tremendously loyal audience in East Anglia,” she says. “The first ever book signing I did was in Downham Market, I remember, when I was terrified!”

She also fondly recalls going to Norwich Folk Festival, “donkeys’ years ago”.

She adds: “I’ve got very friendly, positive feelings towards East Anglia, particularly because my son married a lovely girl from Norwich.”

Pam’s new book, Up in the Attic, is by turns hilarious, reflective and profound, full of the same magic that has enchanted her fans for decades.

From the dubious joy of being an exhausted, panic-stricken hostess in ‘The Dinner Party’ or feelings of unease about pub tableware in ‘Don’t Put My Dinner on the Slate!’, to a poignant reflection of war in ‘Down the Line’ and the bittersweet nostalgia of ‘Up in the Attic’, the collection promises to tickle and move readers in equal measure.