After 21 years of working at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, Jackie Herring, Director of the annual Jane Austen Festival, is set to pack up her bonnet and retire.
Over the years, the Jane Austen Festival has expanded from a weekend to ten days and from sixteen to over 90 different events.
The record-achieving festival has given many artists the opportunity to perform and improve their skills before an audience.
The film premiere of Bride and Prejudice took place during the Jane Austen Festival before its London celebrity event.
Jackie said: “I have loved every minute of organizing the Jane Austen Festival.
“It is never work when something is so much fun! The people, the costumes, the wonderful performers and this beautiful city make the Jane Austen Festival very special.”
The Grand Regency Costumed Promenade is held on the opening Saturday of the festival. The Promenade has featured on national and international television, making appearances on, amongst others, BBC Countryfile, Amanda Vickery’s Lovers of Jane Austen and Masterchef.
In 2011 the Promenaders were the fortunate recipients of the food prepared by the contestants on the Royal Crescent lawn.
With the cancellation of the 2020 festival and its 20th-anniversary celebrations due to the pandemic, the 2021 festival became extra special.
Jackie continued: “The 2021 festival was a triumph over adversity due to the uncertainty over social distancing and its effect on audience sizes, it was probably the most difficult one to organise but also the most rewarding to be involved in.”
“Everyone was so glad and thankful to be able to get together and to celebrate in Regency style, albeit with not so many of our friends from overseas.”
When asked what will happen to the festival after she leaves, Jackie said: “Since May I have been working closely with Tessa Kerslake (formerly of English Heritage and Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal) and know that the future of the Jane Austen Festival is in very safe hands.”
