* Bookfest, Oxfam’s first book festival, ran from 4 to 18 July. The books team blogged during Bookfest 2009 (check our archives to see what went on) but, as there were more than 250 events around the UK, we’ve still got more to report on. We continue our coverage with a series of Bookfest end notes (only one more to go!)…
The manager of Oxfam Bexleyheath, Diane Dawson, explains what happened when seven courageous men and a famous peer decided to help out Oxfam…
“In January, a gentleman called John came into our shop and, whilst chatting, told me the story of seven men’s recollections of the war. The story caught the imagination of the shop team, who were thinking about what to do to promote Oxfam books during Bookfest.
This interest developed into the shop team starting a writing group with its members sharing stories of memories to do with local history and the war. I had the idea that it might be possible to produce a book from the recollections of the seven men who had spawned the writing group idea.
John laughed at first but, with a lot of hard work and effort from the writing group members, the Bexleyheath shop have now produced a book! The writing group decided that they would pay for printing and donate all profits to the Bexleyheath shop. I suggested writing to some famous people to see if they could help with covering the costs of production.
We did, and were amazed when prolific author Lord Jeffrey Archer generously stumped up all the costs for printing, which means that all money made from selling the book will go to the shop. It just goes to show that with lots of hard work, imagination and a little help amazing things can happen. The book, Has Bexley Got Talent?, is on sale in Bexleyheath Oxfam shop for £5.99 - click to find out how to contact the shop to buy your own copy of this unique book.
Buoyed by their success, the dynamic writing group is already talking of its next project. The group is going to approach the library and local schools to ask relatives to write 2,000 words about their war experiences. With the recent death of the last British survivor of the First World War to fight in the trenches, Harry Patch, such efforts are even more timely to ensure these precious memories are preserved. Good luck to the Bexleyheath writing group!”
You can read more about the book and the group in the News Shopper’s story. Head over to Jeffrey Archer’s site to read his blog and find out about his books, including his latest best-seller, Paths of Glory. And let us know if your thoughts on the writing group’s book in the comments.
Tags: Bookfest 2009, Bookfest end notes, famous faces at Bookfest, new releases, Oxfam shops and specialist book shops, writing group
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