Coleridge Summer Conference 23-30 July 2008
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions have been found useful at past conferences. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions not covered below.
Cash and currency exchange facilities
London Airport travel links
How to find the Cannington Centre
There will not be any currency exchange facilities and the limited ATM facilities available in local shops do not accept all international credit and debit cards. The nearest banks/ATMs are at Bridgwater, approximately 5 miles distant. International visitors in particular are recommended to bear this in mind when planning currency exchange.
No computer room or email facilities will be provided. It may be possible to provide limited internet connection if you bring your own laptop computer. This is currently under enquiry.
A link will be provided showing which trains will be met at Bridgwater railway station. Details of rail fares, timetables and booking facilities can be found at Thetrainline.com. There is a facility to arrange collection of your rail tickets from a machine at most stations (e.g. Paddington Station, London), but check this availability if you are starting from somewhere outlandish.
IMPORTANT NOTE: rail tickets bought in advance online can be less than a quarter of the cost of fares bought at the station, on the day.
Bristol International Airport now has direct flights from Newark Liberty Airport United States. When making travel plans from the US, it is worth checking out connections to this airport as an alternative destination instead of London Heathrow or Gatwick.
London Heathrow - Paddington
If you are arriving at Heathrow Airport - this is the link for the Heathrow Express to Paddington (a 15 minute shuttle journey). This journey is not covered by thetrainline.com's rail network and must be bought separately. There is a small saving if you buy online.
London Gatwick Airport
If you are flying into London Gatwick Airport, rail tickets from Gatwick Airport to Bridgwater (this goes via Reading) can be bought at thetrainline.com.
How to find the Cannington-Centre
The conference is on a campus at Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 2LS. (This used to be called Cannington College but has been amalgamated with Bridgwater College so please note the conference is located at their Cannington-Centre not at Bridgwater). For those making their own way direct to the conference venue the college website has good directions: A map of the wider area can be viewed at streetmap.co.uk
The registration site will be clearly signposted in Cannington village.
Weather & clothing recommendations
Outdoor clothing
The conference programme includes opportunities for walks on the Quantock Hills, so outdoor clothing and hiking boots or similar are recommended. Temperatures are generally mild in the west country but clothing should allow for the possibility of rain and wind.
Generally:
The conference style is relaxed and informal; so is the dress-code.
Timing of a 20 minute conference paper
We are committed to maintaining our tradition of having all
conference papers delivered in a plenary setting; there are no parallel
sessions. This makes timing crucial and speakers are asked to please make sure
that their paper does not exceed 20 minutes.
This means a paper should not exceed 2800 words in length.
It is traditional to buy rounds of foaming ale for the conference organisers.