Schedule of murder-mystery events for Agatha Christie statue

The base statue will sit on a bench positioned against the backdrop of Wallingford Museum overlooking the Kinecroft which has also been recently installed.

First pictures of the statue were revealed in April ahead of its grand unveiling in September.

The design has been modelled in clay and is currently undergoing bronze casting before it is revealed at noon on Saturday, September 9.

It will kick off a weekend of murder-mystery-themed events to celebrate the detective novel writer, who lived in the town for 42 years from 1934 to 1976.

The project, which was commissioned by Wallingford Town Council and funded by an Arts Grant, has taken around three years to come together.

The weekend of the events will include ‘Immersive Murder Mystery Experiences’ on the steam-powered Bunkline train service – which was used by the writer - organised by the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway.

The train will also be used for shuttle rides to visit her grave at St Mary’s Church in Cholsey.

On Friday, September 8, there will be an Agatha Christie quiz at 3.30pm at Wallingford Library, before a talk from a historian, specialising in the world of Agatha Christie, Mark Aldridge at the Corn Exchange at 7.30pm.

The statue will then be revealed at midday by her grandson, Mathew Prichard on Saturday, September 9.

A children’s mystery treasure hunt will then run at 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm on the Bunkline at Cholsey and Wallingford railway station.

There will be a guided Walk at 2.30pm which will re-trace the town’s links to Agatha Christie and include a glimpse outside her former home, Winterbrook House.

A themed talk will be given at 3.30pm by historian and author Lucy Worsley at the Corn Exchange Theatre – home of the Sinodun Players amateur dramatics society of which the writer was president.

In the evening, there will be a ‘Who Dunnit’ challenge at Wallingford Museum at 7.30pm

You can also dress-up for the Bunkline ‘Who Dunnit’  at 7pm with performers from After Dark, riding the Cholsey Express in a 1930s-themed murder mystery.

Throughout the day, between 10am and 2pm there will be an interactive mystery experience.

The marketplace will become an interactive performance space for a cast of professional actors from The Experiences Group.

On Sunday, September 10, there will be guided Walks between 10m and 2.30pm.

The bunkline will also run from Cholsey and Wallingford Railway at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm.

Between 2.30pm and 4.30pm there will be ‘Queen of Crime’ afternoon teas at Wallingford Town Hall.

Throughout the weekend, a pop-up open-air cinema in Castle Gardens will screen a programme of free murder mystery films.

The museum will also hold an ‘At Home with Agatha Christie’ exhibition – which will detail her personal letters, work with archaeologist husband Max Mallowan, and their home life in Wallingford.

You can also visit the grave where Agatha Christie is buried and discover the beautiful ancient church where she and Max Mallowan worshipped.

Professional sculptor Ben Twiston-Davies said the design matched the character of the writer, who is the best-selling fiction writer of all time.

He said: “It suits her because she was a very quiet reserved person. She was quiet and shy and lived in her imagination.

“She’s sitting quietly as if she’s reading a book and she looks up from the pages as if she’s noticed something across the path that maybe inspires an idea for a story.

“She was a watcher and a listener rather than a talker.

“It’s great for Wallingford to celebrate its connection with Agatha Christie. We should celebrate our authors in this country.”

Booking information can be found at https://www.wallingfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/2023/04/bronze-sculpture-of-agatha-christie-to-be-unveiled/