It was an opportunity to villagers to get together and celebrate one of the greatest literary works of all time, while raising money for a charity that helps some of the poorest people in the world.
After the success of last year’s bonanza, Melbourn celebrated its second ever Bloomsday event last week, with revellers dressing up in early 20th century garb to re-live scenes from James Joyce’s modernist novel Ulysses.
Chief organiser Hugh Pollock said: “The Crow reported earlier in the year on our group’s short story reading programme and our intention to mount James Joyce’s play Exiles in play-reading form, which featured prominently.”
There was also a lunchtime saxophone concert directed by Adrian and Naomi Brind, an afternoon of Edwardian crafts directed by Eirwen Karner, and the Cambridge based Orlando Singers in concert directed by Peter Horley.
The event also featured two prominent speakers on major international development issues, local creative writers speaking about their work, a major public lecture hosted by Melbourn Village College, rounded off with an evening of traditional folk music from Green Shoots in a local pub.
Hugh added: “It was all free with a donation to WaterAid welcomed. Not bad for a small group of volunteers.”
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