LEDBURY was indeed fortunate to have the company this year of Dame Eileen Atkins, during the town's annual Poetry Festival.

The good fortune was not just because she is such as well known actress: the toast of numerous Royal Shakespeare Company productions and of the 1966 production of "The Killing of George", which took her to Broadway; the lovable but prissy spinster in the television series, "Cranford"; - her career has indeed been long and varied.

Now, when referring to herself and fellow actors in Cranford, including fellow Dame, Judi Dench, she rejoices in "the company of Britain's unbotoxed best".

It is impossible not to warm to Dame Eileen, who exudes both geniality and a certain sage wisdom when on stage.

Her bravery, and the Festival's good fortune, was evident when she explained that her husband had died only nine days before.

She said: "I have kept my promise to come; I'm not going to excuse anything. I just wanted you to know that."

Dame Eileen was in good company on stage at the Community Hall: being interviewed by Ursula Owen, a founder director of Virago Press and a fine, sensitive interviewer, capable of sensing the boundaries and not stepping over too much.

With a nod to the present state of the UK and the world, Dame Eileen began with the John Donne sermon which teaches how we are all connected by the common bond of humanity, and which contains the memorable line, "do not send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee".

Then it was on to the Cavafy classic, "Ithaca", which is a life-journey poem, about always seeking new experiences and overcoming inner fears. She read it splendidly, of course, with utter conviction: almost as though she had written it herself.

She said: "It's a reminder of how much we cannot enjoy life, with the knowledge of death."

Another memorable recital was Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach", which deals with the loss of faith in a troubled, violent world, and with the need for people to love each and be true to each other.

She revealed how she had only put together her final list following her husband's death, and that the process of making the selection had been a help to her.

Of course, there was laughter, such as when Dame Eileen revealed how, when given the task of greeting a coach visitor in "Cranford" and, after many false starts, she had declaimed, "Welcome to Ambridge!" instead of "Welcome to Cranford!"

Both she and Dame Judi are avid fans of The Archers, and they cried with laughter so much on the set, following the mistake, their make-up had to be re-done, which took two hours.

Dame Eileen is a person devoted to the spoken word and poetry, and she displayed both enormous inner reserves and a great sense of fun at the same time.

If she returns to read again in the future, then Ledbury will be doubly fortunate.