This year as every year, Hereford Times staff visited Hay Festival, taking in an eclectic mix of events that exactly sum up the reason Hay appeals to so many.

"I saw the ever-likeable and charming Graham Norton talk about his well-received debut novel, Holding," says Rebecca Cain. "He explained that , when approached by a publisher to write his memoirs, he had only agreed if he could have a two-book deal to include a novel.

"And, asked who was on his wishlist for the Graham Norton Show sofa, he revealed that he'd pick the young royals, William, Kate and Harry.

"Tom Daley, meanwhile, was in Hay to talk about his book, Tom's Daily Plan, a collection of recipes, workouts and tips on mindfulness, at the end of which he answered questions from youngsters in the audience with charm and encouragement.

"The world's obsession with time was the subject of journalist Simon Garfield's witty and intelligent talk - about how we have perceived, contained and saved time over the past 250 years."

Richard Prime kept it local with Bacton-based Matthew Engel talking about his new book on the influence of America on the English language - "and his desire to be at the head of the charge to reclaim our native tongue."

Early in the week, Joe Lycett was in Hay to chat about his book, Parsnips, Buttered: "If there's one thing Joe Lycett taught me," says Philippa May, "it is that the best form of attack is not defence, but charmingly disarming responses to self-important bureacrats and jobsworths." Joe later joined Nish Kumar and Ellen Tiernan for the Macynlleth Comedy Gala - "two standout moments: Nish Kumar's observation that in a post-Brexit world Pret a Manger could easily become Food Innit and Ellen Tiernan's observations on the Dyson Airblade ... hysterical but I think you had to be there. Repetition wouldn't do her justice!

"My own Hay 2017 ended in fine style with poet Lemn Sissay's energetic and mesmerising readings from his collection Gold from the Stone, which in the space of one short hour, hit any number of buttons - he was funny, the poems were moving, the audience were delighted .... and in total agreement with his assertion that he 'make(s) magic'.

Add in a bit of summer time jazz with Will Young and his Jazz Quintet, and this 30th anniversary Hay proved a vintage year.