HATS OFF TO HAY – SARAH MCINTYRE
Hay’s brilliant! Where else do you get Paddy Ashdown asking to borrow your hat?

I didn’t grow up in Britain and I don’t know who a lot of the big names are, so I depend on my co-author, Philip Reeve, to tell me about whoever it is I’ve just been larking around with in the Green Room. I haven’t had to pull my wellies out of my suitcase yet, we’ve been awfully lucky this year.

Hay’s great during the festival, but I’ve also loved coming here in the off-season, to visit local schools with the festival team and even travel with a bunch of Welsh school teachers to Norway! I thought I was the only illustrator in the group, but one of the local teachers turned out to be a dab hand with the sketchbook, too. I love the mix and blend here of so much talent and energy, a really special place.