by David Holland

Last week, on September 22nd (2023) I had the privilege to be present at the presentation of a memorial bench to honor the late Dame Hilary Mantel in Budleigh Salterton, Devon.

The bench was presented to the town’s Mayor, David Hayward, by the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival. The date coincided with the first anniversary of Hilary’s death and the Festival’s event this year.

Sue Briggs, the Festival’s Chair, was accompanied by Ben and George Miles. Ben was Thomas Cromwell in the adaption in the stage productions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies, and he also co-authored with Hilary the play version of The Mirror and The Light to great acclaim, in which his character meets his demise. George is a professional photographer and lecturer and he and Ben collaborated with Hilary on the publication of the Wolf Hall Picture Book – a magnificent work of art that captures the essence of Hilary’s writing in photographs, with new and exclusive commentary from Hilary. 

Ben and George became close friends with Hilary and they shared their experiences of working with her at the festival. 

The bench was made by a local Devon based blacksmith; a lovely gesture, and if you know your Thomas Cromwell, you will appreciate the reference. The centre of the bench is a Tudor rose. The leaf on the left says, ‘So now get up,’ and the leaf on right mark’s Hilary’s time as President of the BudLitFest.

The bench aptly sits outside the Public Library in Budleigh, close to a running brook that can be heard over the noise of passing vehicles, and on the corner of a pedestrian passageway from the Town Hall to St Peter’s Church.

The handing over of the bench was without ceremony and the handful of people present included Hilary’s lifelong friend Anne Preston, her agent and publisher Nicholas Pearson, and her agent Bill Hamilton. Ben, George, Bill, and Nicholas will join a host of other speakers at the Wolf Hall Weekend in June 2024.