Our monthly 'Meet the Haymaker' series shares stories of the change-makers at the heart of Hay Festival Global and the impact it has had on their lives. This month, hear from Glyn Morgan, one of our Hay Festival stewards.
What does Hay Festival Global mean to you?
So many things! It means the buzz of thousands of visitors moving between venues, the warmth of Welsh sunshine, and the bite of cold when it rains, its entranced audiences and the look on a child's face as they have that magical experience of meeting their favourite author.
Above all though, for me it means the joy of slipping back into old friendships and partnerships with our team and especially our incredible stewards, many of whom I've worked alongside for ten years or more. Coming back each year is like picking up a favourite book and slipping back into another world.
Of course, for me it also means a sore back after I haul all my new books home...
What’s your favourite Festival memory?
That's really hard to answer, there are so many to choose from. One story I tell quite often is from my very first year in 2012: I was running the handheld microphone around one of our mid-sized venues during the Q&A for the picture book author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers. He'd just given a talk about his book Lost and Found, about a boy who tries to return a penguin home, he was drawing the scenes live on the projector as he read the story. I was trying to get the mic to kids rather than parents and one little guy, perhaps three years old, asked one of the best questions I've ever heard at Hay: "What does Batman do?" Oliver took the question so well, all smiles, but taking it seriously, and drew a little picture of Batman in his own iconic style. (The answer, by the way, was "fight crime").
Have you ever changed your mind on something having been to a Hay Festival event?
Definitely. One of my favourite things about stewarding is that you're assigned to the venue, not the event. This means that you are there for all sorts of talks, some of which you wouldn't necessarily have chosen to go and see. There are definitely topics, or books, which I didn't think I'd be interested in. But then the event is so remarkable, the speaker so passionate about their topic, that it just completely wins you over. By the end of the festival, I've definitely bought the book and gotten it signed.
Who was the best speaker or performer you saw on a Hay Festival stage?
Again, this is really hard to answer! Ask me tomorrow and you'll probably get a different answer but it is pretty hard to displace something like the power and passion of Michael Sheen giving the 2017 Aneurin Bevan lecture talking about the foundation of the NHS and the radical power of empathy. I've also seen some great music, it's been great to see old favourite acts like Gruff Rhys and Laura Marling, as well as discover new favourites like Amadou & Mariam and Baloji. Dancing in the aisles to something funky after a day full of stimulating talks is just the perfect way to end a day.
What advice do you have for a first-timer at the Festival?
Go see events in different venues: each has their own character. Try to see an event with a speaker you've never heard of. Take some time to enjoy the site too though, potter around the stalls, get some great food, read in the sun. But above all, if you have any questions, just find one of the stewards - unmistakable in yellow vests - and ask them. We are always happy to help!
Sum up Hay Festival Global in five words or less…
Stories changing people's lives forever