CLAIMS to being boring are, you might say, boring. And the more so if you are the distinguished novelist Elizabeth Jane Howard, once an actress, once a model, and, moreover, someone who has been thrice married, notably the late Kingsley Amis, author of Lucky Jim, who perhaps ought to be re-christened Lucky Him.

Add to that her admitted record of amours - her numerous lovers including Laurie Lee, Cecil Day Lewis and Arthur Koestler - then you might think she would look back with polite bravado, at least when it comes to writing her autobiography.

But Elizabeth Jane, now 78, silver-haired and walking with the aid of a cane, was in no such mood when she provided a stimulating evening of readings of her favourite prose and poetry - and some personal chat - at a recent supper party in Ledbury's St Katherine's Hall.

The event was organised by the Friends of the Ledbury Poetry Festival.

When she was asked about the progress of her forthcoming autobiography, she insisted: "I have reached the age of about 33. And there's a hell of a lot more of it.

"The awful thing in writing autobiographies is that you realise how very boring you are. I had no idea.

"But your boringness comes out all the time. And I find it very difficult. I like it when I am writing about other people. Then I'm told by my editor to stick to writing about myself. I'm longing to stop but I'm well over halfway through, I suppose."

This year's Ledbury Poetry Festival runs from June 28 to July 8. For a free programme, phone 01531 634156.

GERALD ISAAMAN