Wigtown Book festival weathers Storm Amy with increased ticket sales

Organisers of Wigtown Book Festival have hailed another successful year, despite being hit by Storm Amy.

Many events had to be moved from marquees into alternative venues during high winds and heavy rain.

But outgoing artistic director Adrian Turpin said staff and volunteers went “above and beyond to keep the show on the road”.

And he said the 10-day festival in Scotland’s national book town had seen a 7% increase in ticket sales on last year.

Among the big names who appeared at the festival over the final weekend were former Still Game star Greg Hemphill and his actress wife Julie Wilson Nimmo.

The talked about their book which was inspired by their BBC TV series Jules and Greg’s Wild Swim.

Husband and wife novelists Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, and Airdrie-born former royal butler Grant Harrold also led events at the festival.

It was Mr Turpin’s last year in charge of the event, which is now in its 27th year.

He said: “The festival has weathered so many storms in recent years. Storm Amy was a dramatic way to go out.

“But it highlighted the ingenuity and resilience of the event staff, tech crews and volunteers as they went above and beyond to keep the show on the road.”

A small number of events were cancelled due to road and rail disruption.

“It has been one of the privileges of my life to be involved with the Wigtown Book Festival and this unique, can-do community,” Mr Turpin said.

“It’s a magical place and a magical event and I’ll miss it hugely. But I know that it will go from strength to strength under Isla Rosser-Owen, the new CEO.”

Nicola Sturgeon and Del Amitri frontman Justin Currie also made appearances during the earlier stages of this year’s festival.