"I think in the back of all our minds there is that sense of loss, and while we're delighted to be here and we're delighted to receivetheaccolade of this town, I think it will always be tinged with a degree of sadness for those that aren't with us, and indeed those that are injured and can't parade, " he said.
Children's author Philip Pullman will receivethe festival's honorary fellowship, an accolade given in previous years to William Boyd, Kazuo Ishiguro, and PD James.