THE experiences of a helicopter test pilot and the story of a Wimbledon tennis ace who escaped the Nazis will be among those discussed at the Sturminster Newton Literary Festival this summer.

The event, now in its fourth year, will run from June 5 to 10 with a programme that has expanded to included non-fiction, as well as encompassing the wider Wessex footprint.

Ticket holders can hear about a range of topics from a sequel to Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Michael Langridge, to the experiences of a helicopter test pilot from Chris Taylor, and nuggets of Dorset history from Jon Woolcott.

Other highlights of the festival include journalist Felice Hardy talking about her grandmother, an Austrian tennis champion who escaped the Nazis and went on to play at Wimbledon and West Dorset-based author Brian Jackman, who will discuss how the natural surroundings of his parish inspired him to write Wild About Dorset.

Local poet David Caddy will be reading Rupert Brooke’s poetry in a railway carriage at Shillingstone Station and the exquisite nature photography of Jane V Adams is the focus of another festival talk.

Fiction writers include Salisbury-based Elisabeth Conway and Matthew Harffy, from Wiltshire.

Meanwhile, a dramatic monologue by playwright Sue Ashby, From Sturminster Newton to The White House: the Fuller sisters in America, will premiere during the festival.

Local singers Rachael Alexander, Rachael Revell and Lina Felsa will perform some of the songs sung by the Fuller sisters on their tours at the turn of the 20th century.

As part of the event, the 1855 building will be transformed into a pre-loved fashion show catwalk for a talk by Libby Page on her new book, The Vintage Shop of Second Chances.

And pomologist Liz Copas and cider maker Nick Poole will talk about their research into the lost orchards of Dorset.

Elsewhere, a walks programme includes a look at Robert Young’s Sturminster Newton and the Marnhull setting for Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

Talks on the stained-glass windows in St Mary’s Church will also be given during festival week. The church has glass designed by Harry Clarke and Mary Lowndes, two of the most famous stained glass artists of the 20th century.

Festival committee chair, Pauline Batstone, said: “I am delighted that we have such a full and wide ranging programme for our fourth year.

“Thank you to all those who have worked hard to bring this together and to all those who plan to attend our events.”

For more information, including ticket details, log on to www.sturlitfest.com.