On why it is good to be at Totleigh Barton

Totleigh Barton prepares for a long hot summer.

After the last three weeks of August weather we are strangely relieved to find ourselves in the traditional April showers this week. It is not that we don’t appreciate the slice of mid summer we’ve been given. It’s just that we want to make sure this part of the world is at it’s greenest this year as we will be piloting the food writing course with Sophie Grigson and Alastair Hendy this summer and some rain now will make sure we have the best and finest Devon produce come 2 July. So bring on the rain, but not too much please…

Last week we had a group of mad writers who had come to do the screenwriting course tutored by Paul Fraser and Lucy Scher. The Friday night was used to show some short films as they were shot that afternoon. It was amazing to see how they had managed to capture Totleigh Barton, putting the spotlight on the remoteness in a hilarious short about a woman trying to find a mobile phone signal which, and this should surprise nobody who’s ever been here, she hopelessly failed to find. Truly a great week with a fantastic party afterwards, can’t wait for the next one.

And we have just welcomed the next group who have come to do the fiction course with Jane Harris and Richard Beard. We’ve just served our Monday night dinner and The Arvon magic has already turned all the individuals into a group that is excited about their stay at Totleigh Barton, eager to talk to Richard and Jane (and us) and looking forward to the rest of the week. They seem terrified about the cooking though but I’m sure we will still end up with a good meal every night this week. I’m sure. Well, fingers crossed anyway…

In short, it is good to be at Totleigh. Very good.

Huib Boekelman, Centre Director
Totleigh Barton, Devon