VOLUNTEERS for the Wigtown Book Festival (WBF) have been sharing their stories, as Scotland marks Volunteer Week.
More than 100 people from the region and overseas volunteer for the festival in a variety of roles including drivers; event stewards; event hosts; festival bookshop assistants and administrators.
Fred Kluit and his wife Ans Corr have both been volunteering for a number of years in variety of roles, he said: “We started volunteering because we had so much fun as customers. We decided to give something back.
“For the first three years I volunteered for the Festival Shop. I loved to chat with customers about books, writers, festival etcetera. Then I got involved in organising the storing and selling of books in the Festival Pop Up Bookshop and organising the selling and signing of books straight after the events at the venues.
“This is hard work but gives so much fun and the feeling that we help to make the festival a success. Most important to us is the contact with visitors from all over the UK and abroad. They are happy to be part of the festival and grateful for everything you can do to help them.”
Anne Dunford, who moved to Wigtown over 20 years ago, commented: “From 2003 onwards, I’ve enjoyed getting involved with the Book Festival as a volunteer.
“As an avid reader and one who is passionate about encouraging people of all ages to share the enjoyment that reading can bring, getting involved with the festival is a chance to do just that. It’s great to see people enjoying themselves, discussing what they’ve read, who they’ve met.
“After 22 years of volunteering, usually stewarding or looking after information points, I never tire of meeting people and seeing the town buzzing with folk enjoying the world of books.”
In the case of Wigtown Book Festival more volunteers are always wanted, as operations director Anne Barclay said: “Our volunteers make such a big difference, they are wonderful and we just can’t thank them enough.
“And right now we are looking for more, so please come forward if you would like to join them.”
