Childhood inspiration ; Former Times editor Peter Stothard got his love for classical literature when growing up in Chelmsford. As he returns to the town for the Essex Book Festival, he tells Darryl Webber about the inspiration for his memoir and makes a confession

A former Times editor who grew up in Chelmsford is coming home totalk about his memoir for the Essex Book Festival - and to return abook he borrowed from the library more than 40 years ago.

Sir Peter Stothard will be at Chelmsford Library this Thursday(March 10) to talk about his book The Spartacus Road and at the sametime will finally bring back a copy of Essays on Virgil that is morethan 40 years overdue.

Sir Peter made the confession during an interview in which healso said that the reason for him becoming a lover of classicalliterature was his upbringing in Chelmsford.

Stothard, who grew up in the Rothmans Estate in Great Baddow andwent to …