PLANS for this year s Royston Arts Festival are almost complete. And organiser Kathy Wholley is hoping that the event will be as much of a success as last year. We have introduced a number of new events this year, and we are hoping to have more young peo

PLANS for this year's Royston Arts Festival are almost complete.

And organiser Kathy Wholley is hoping that the event will be as much of a success as last year.

"We have introduced a number of new events this year, and we are hoping to have more young people involved."

Organisers are currently working on last-minute details.

"We really hope that Royston will take this opportunity to see and enjoy the talent there is in the town," she said.

One event concentrating on children will be the launch of a book, Royston Through the Eyes of a Child.

The book has quotations from children aged 4-9 and is seen as both a literary project and a piece of social history.

Pupils from Barley, Barkway, Reed, Tannery Drift, Royston; Icknield Walk, Royston; Roman Way, Royston; Studlands Rise, Royston and St Mary's, Royston, contributed some 500 entries for the book.

Organiser Cath Boughton said: "This is really something special. We wanted the festival to make its mark this year and to involve children.

"Asking our children what they like about the town seemed the most fitting celebration of Royston," she said.

She said the book was "special" because of the quality and variety of the contributions - ranging from positive, heartwarming and observant.

"Royston obviously holds a special place in our childrens' hearts," said Cath.

The book has been edited by The Listings, and designed by the Royston-based company Black Pig, with the cost of printing being met from festival sponsorship from Johnson Matthey.

The book is to be launched at Royston library on Thursday, September 25.

The festival this year is running, too, a Big Book Group Coffee Morning at Greneway School, Royston, on Sunday, September 28.

The idea is that everyone reads the same book then turns to discuss the work.

The book that has been chosen in, appropriately, The Reading Group, by Elizabeth Noble.

The Crow will be publishing full details of this year's Royston Arts Festival from September 25-28.