Hundreds flosked to Dumfries House at the weekend for what was one of the most successful Boswell Book Festivals since its creation.

The sun shone for the 12th edition of the popular event, with a feeling that they have finally returned back to normailty after the past few years.

It was another great weekend, from the emotionally charged first event, the Ukrainian fundraiser with Catherine Czerkawska and Liudmila Proniakina to the curtain coming down with Deacon Blue front man Ricky Ross.

Cumnock Chronicle: Barbara Dickson and Jim Todd, Provost of East Ayrshire, Boswell Book Festival 2023Barbara Dickson and Jim Todd, Provost of East Ayrshire, Boswell Book Festival 2023 (Image: Iain Brown)

Highlights of the festival included Ayrshire-born Andrew Cotter appearing with Olive and Mabel, who took to the floor walking around the sell out audience as he talked about his life with the famous Labradors.

New Cumnock's own celebrity hair stylist, Sam McKnight, also attracted one of the most glamorous audiences the festival has ever seen.

Elsewhere, actor Neil Pearson appeared made an appearance to talk about the diaries of his great friend Alan Rickman and Gogglebox’s Giles Wood and Mary Killen delighted all with tales from their ‘nutty idyll’.

On a more serious side Philip Short, former Moscow correspondent, gave a fascinating insight as to what makes Putin tick, as well as his understanding on what is happening in Ukraine today. 

Cumnock Chronicle: Andrew Cotter brings Mabel and Olive, the Boswell Book Festival's first canine guests, to Dumfries HouseAndrew Cotter brings Mabel and Olive, the Boswell Book Festival's first canine guests, to Dumfries House (Image: Iain Brown)

Caroline Knox, Director of the Boswell Book Festival was understandably delighted with how the weekend turned out once again.

She said: “This really was a stand out year for us. 

"It felt as though things have finally returned to pre-Covid times and we are grateful to all those who attended our events. 

"We are even more grateful to all our volunteers, including the Auchinleck Army Cadet Force as we could not do this without their help.”

David Robinson, who chaired the event with award winning poet Don Paterson marking his first visit to the festival was over-heard saying “Well, there are book festivals.....and there’s the Boswell Book Festival”.