And the winner by unanimous decision is…Music For Hope!

  24th October 2013

We’d like to thank all those who came out to support the ‘Event in the Tent’ at the Cheltenham Lit Fest, which featured two of our U of G lecturers: novelists D.D. Johnston and Tyler Keevil.  For forty minutes, the pair were interviewed by the always eloquent Dr. Martin Randall, who grilled them about their latest works: The Deconstruction of Professor Thrub and The Drive.  At the end of the discussion, the literary debate and lighthearted banter gave way to some real pound-for-pound action; Johnston and Keevil laced up the gloves and took each other on in a head-to-head sparring match, with Randall acting as referee.  It was the first (and possibly last) boxing match the Cheltenham Literature Festival had ever seen.  It was supposed to be for fun, but both men being as competitive as they are, things got a little out of hand.  Blood was spilled, noise complaints were made, and low-blows were thrown…but it was all for a good cause, and all profits from book and T-shirt sales at the event went to Music For Hope, a grassroots charity which supports children and young people in rural El Salvador.  In total, the event raised nearly £150 for the organization.  A big thanks to everybody for their generosity and good humor on what was a hugely enjoyable occasion.