My fourth time at the Open House festival in Bangor, but my first in the newly refurbished Old Court House now owned by the festival trust. It’s another great achievement for the wonderful Lesley Allen, who has been the driving force behind the festival from the start. As for my interviewer. It’s the sixth time Stephen Walker, former Northern Ireland BBC political correspondent, has interviewed me in either Bangor or Belfast. He and his wife Katrin are good friends and Carolyn and I enjoyed a lovely dinner with them prior to the sold-out show.
Harold Wilson was Prime Minister when the ‘troubles’ broke out. He was the man who first sent the troops in. One of the audience questions was what course the history of the province would have taken if Wilson, rather than Heath, had won the 1970 election. But the majority of the discussion was more general focussing on Wilson’s great achievements as student, university don, civil servant and minister, particularly Prime Minister.
Bangor was stunningly lovely in the August sunshine and Stephen Walker (whose biography of David Trimble is published soon) was a knowledgable and jovial host. We’ll be going back to Bangor whether or not I’m invited to another festival.
