OPINION - From Hillary Clinton to Elton John and Arsène Wenger — the Hay Festival's idiosyncrasies have made it special

This week I step down from the Hay Festival, where for the past decade or so I’ve been a trustee, vice-president and chairman (or, alternatively, chief cook and bottle washer). I’ll be staying on in an advisory (and probably quite annoying) capacity, but operationally I’m done. Ten years is long enough to be involved in any arts organisation, and it’s time for different people with different ideas to have a go.

I have to say it’s