A visit from James Melville, Acting deputy Chief of mission and minister Counselor of the American Embassy attended the closing ceremony.

James, the highest ranking American official in the UK until President Obama chooses his Ambassador for the UK, took questions from the 30 students from Priory School who joined in the festival in a play reading, and an audience of some 50 helpers of the festival.

James talked for 15 minutes on American foreign policy and then took questions for 30 minutes on this subject.

The questions from the students from Priory School were searching and intelligent showing that they had a very good grasp of world politics, particularly with regard to American foreign policy. James also answered detailed queries from the general audience with candour.

Dr Seth Gopin, who also had contributed to the festival with his very successful daily lecture ‘A Voice for Democracy on Two Continents’  chaired the Q & A session.

Paul Myles, the festival director, said in closing, that James Melville had come to Lewes with no preconditions, and answered any question that was put to him. Paul noted that with President Obama directing this honest open approach from his foreign representatives then we can all look forward to a more hopeful world order. Paul also said that he was proud to live in Lewes where the Town and District Councillors and the council staff were willing to take the risk in mounting this ground breaking Thomas Paine Festival.

Amanda Dean, the Mayor of Lewes then closed the festival