Surprised by event Jon Snow 77450-18Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow has heaped praise on Swindon after appearing at the town's literature festival.

The award-winning journalist, writing in his column for the New Statesman magazine, especially lauded the work of organiser Matt Holland.

Mr Snow appeared on the last day of the festival and spoke about his experiences and his book 'Shooting History'.

Dressed Martin Bell-like in a crumpled white suit, and without his trademark colourful tie, he quickly won over a capacity Arts Centre audience with an intelligent, humorous talk.

In a 30-year career, he has witnessed such historic moments as Nelson Mandela's walk to freedom and the fall of the Berlin Wall, and reported from battlefronts from Nicaragua to Iraq.

In the New Statesman column, which is out today, having spoken about the Tate Modern, he said: "Say 'Swindon'. Do you think 'books'?

"The first of two possible oxymorons in my week but a real surprise.

"The Swindon Festival is seven years older than Tate Modern and, in its own way, the consequence of another remarkable man's drive.

"Matt Holland dreamt it up in his farmhouse kitchen.

"On the 15th day of the festival, a couple of hundred punters (most of them local) packed the little Arts Centre.

"Their questions were thoughtful and keenly felt. My own book was in part triggered by the war on Iraq.

"The audience, like the electorate, was animated. We were a long way from what has often seemed just an urban moment in the M4 corridor."

The Festival of Literature ended on a high with the Swin-don Slam and Quick Quip Quiz, as well as a talk from comedian Dom Joly.

Matt Holland, festival organiser, said it had been a fantastic 15 days and was honoured to have been praised by Jon Snow.

Now in its 12th year, the festival continues to attract top names including TV celebrities, authors and high-profile politicians.

Mr Holland, who also runs Lower Shaw Farm as an educational centre, said: "I'm thankful that somebody of Jon Snow's stature and worldliness thinks so highly not only of our festival but of our groovy little town.

"I feel completely overawed by his comments.

"Our standing in the literary community has been going up and up in recent years and getting feedback like this is really uplifting and is a testament to all the hard work of everyone involved in the festival."

Jon Snow's Shooting History is out in paperback from Harper Perennial priced at £7.99.

Jamie Hill