Wokingham

Children were spellbound at Wokingham Library last Friday (December 15) when Coronation Street star Ian Redford came to read them stories of mutiny on the high seas from the JM Barrie classic children’s novel Peter Pan.

Ian Redford, known mainly for playing Keith Appleyard in Coronation Street, was guest reader at a special storytime at the library. Children and parents are not only entertained by story tellers, but also encouraged to become more interested in literature and reading for themselves. Storytimes are run throughout the year, with different themes, in all of Wokingham Council’s libraries.

Ian Redford fascinated the audience of 20 children and 15 adults when he told them how much fun he had in his present role as the infamous pirate and villain Captain Hook, in the Peter Pan pantomine at the Camberley Theatre, Surrey.

Elizabeth McDonald, librarian at Wokingham Library, said: “It’s delightful that a star like Ian came to bring so much life to a special storytime at Wokingham Library. I would like to thank him very much. Storytime sessions have been very successful throughout this year and we hope this successful event will attract even more parents to bring their children along next year.”

Ian Redford said: “I really enjoyed my visit to Wokingham Library and it was a pleasure to read to such well behaved children. The library was very impressive and the staff were very helpful, they even gave me two mince pies!”

Storytime will continue in 2007 in all Wokingham district libraries. January’s sessions will be themed around bedtime stories, February will have a birthday theme to celebrate the tenth birthday of World Book Day, and March will feature yummy food stories!

There are weekly sessions at the larger libraries, with themed sessions once a month:

# Wokingham – 2.15pm-3pm, every Tuesday

# Woodley – 2.15pm-3pm, every Thursday

# Lower Earley – 2.30pm-3.15pm, every Thursday

# Spencers Wood – 4pm-4.45pm, every Monday

There are themed storytime sessions once a month in all other libraries, as follows:

# Maiden Erlegh – 2.15pm-3pm, January 16, February 27, March 20 (Tuesdays)

# Winnersh – 10.15am-11am, January 20, March 3, March 17 (Saturdays)

# Twyford – 2.15am-3pm, January 16, February 27, March 20 (Tuesdays)

# Wargrave – 1.45pm-2.30pm, January 15, February 26, March 19 (Mondays)

All storytime events are free to attend and there is no need to book. For more details please contact the relevant library or visit our website www.wokingham.gov.uk/leisure/libraries

Wokingham District Council