THE creator of Winchester Writers’ Conference is retiring after more than 30 years in charge.

Conference director Barbara Large will step down in July after this year’s event.

Held every summer, the conference includes talks by literary figures and competitions for aspiring writers, such as short stories and poetry.

Barbara said: “I think it’s the right time; I’ve reached an auspicious age. But I still have a passion for writing and have some books to read.

“I will miss it. We have 127 authors entering the mainstream after last year. They come to us to polish their skills and learn how to enter the book world.

“One of the memories that stands out for me was a 93-year-old who won the poetry competition a few years ago. That was a highlight because it shows how someone his age is still cable of top calibre writing.”

Barbara started the conference in 1980 while working at the University of Southampton and there were 98 guests at the inaugural event held at The Nuffield Theatre.

It moved to Winchester several years ago and Barbara said the city was an excellent location.

She said: “It was a good move. Winchester is an amazing city of literature. You only have to walk along the Itchen in the autumn and you can hear the words of Keats. The place reeks of history and literature.”

She got her passion for reading from her grandfather, who would take her on trips to the library in Toronto when she was a child.

Barbara said: “He would pick me up after school and take me to the public library. We would pick things like Dickens which is rather difficult for a seven-year-old!”

She added she would start her retirement with some trips abroad, including a return home to Canada.

“I’ve been asked to give presentations in Wales and Hong Kong and have been invited to the first international book fair in Beijing.

“My family lives in Vancouver and I will meet up with some of my old friends from the University of British Columbia. It will be good to catch up,” she said.