Tom Paine festival

THREE of the world's most significant figures in social and political thought, all at one time Sussex residents, will be feted this summer in the third annual festival to be organised by Lewes-based charity The Tom Paine Project.

The 'Revolution to Revolution' festival runs from July 4 - 14, American Independence to Bastille Day, to mark the role played by radical thinker Paine in both 18th century uprisings. Comprising lectures, exhibitions, guided walks and film screenings, the festival explores the life and works of Paine himself, the great republican and revolutionary philosopher; Robert Tressell, pen name of Robert Noonan, Britain's first and most enduring working class novelist; and, Grey Owl, the world's first conservationist.

Britain's most important working class novel, Robert Tressell's The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, will be a major focus of celebration during the festival. Written in Hastings and St Leonard's on Sea from 1906-1908, the novel tells the story of the destitute and poor of 'Mugsborough', based on Hastings, and was influential in the original outline for the welfare state.

An exhibition telling the story of the book, including the first public appearance of original documents including the original manuscript, will be held in Lewes' Barbican House museum from 4 July to 26 August. On Saturday 13 July, a costumed charabanc outing will retrace 'the beano' works outing vividly portrayed in the novel. Leaving the Lewes Barbican at 10am, the day-long tour will take in all the important Tressell landmarks in Hastings and across East Sussex.

The festival organisers are also delighted to announce a rare UK screening of Sussex-based director Lord Attenborough's most recent directorial outing, Grey Owl (2001). The film tells the story of Grey Owl, a supposed Native American Indian who caused a sensation when he came to England in the 1930s preaching a message against man's destruction of the environment. After his death he was revealed as Archie Belaney, an Englishman from Hastings. The film will be shown at the All Saints Centre, Lewes on the Friday 12 July and is preceded by an introductory talk by Dr Colin Taylor, president of the Grey Owl Society and technical adviser to Lord Attenborough on the film. The event starts at 7pm.

Radical feminist philosopher, academic and broadcaster Germaine Greer will close the festival with a lecture and question and answer session at 5pm on the afternoon of Sunday 14 July in Lewes Town Hall. Other events include costumed walks around Lewes, lectures on working class fiction and the media, and a U3A day school.

Tickets have now gone on sale at the Lewes Tourist Information Centre for the Germaine Greer talk and the costumed charabanc outing. Tickets for both events are only available in advance.