St Peter’s CE Primary School in Harrogate has unveiled its new library.
The library aims to give children a place to build and nurture their love of reading. It was funded by the Friends of St Peter’s and a grant from local charity the Johnson and Mukherjee Trust. St Peter’s worked with York outdoor play company Playscheme to develop the design.
To celebrate the opening, the school and the Friends of St Peter’s have launched a wish list campaign in partnership with independent Harrogate bookshop Imagined Things, which aims to restock the school library with additional books.
Debbie Phillips, the manager and school’s co-ordinator from Imagined Things, said:
“We love partnering with local schools and encouraging that love for reading within their communities. We’re so excited by St Peter’s new library and can’t wait to help fill it with new books.”
Head teacher Paul Griffiths
Paul Griffiths, headteacher at St Peter’s, said:
“Reading from physical books in an inspiring environment is incredibly important to us all St Peter’s. It is at the heart of our focus on enabling children to become fluent, confident, lifelong readers, giving them access to all the wonderful opportunities available to them now and in the future.
“That’s why we are we are truly delighted to have been able to provide such a wonderful child-friendly and exciting space within our school.”
St Peter’s is a member of Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust and is housed in a Victorian building formally home to Harrogate Hospital. The primary school is now looking at plans to further develop its nurture space The Nest.
Anyone can support St Peter’s library by visiting Imagined Things Bookshop on Montpellier Parade to buy a book of their choice that will be placed in the new library, including a personalised note if they wish.
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Bookshop to be centre of murder mystery as crime festival arrives in Harrogate
As fictional crime is celebrated in Harrogate next weekend, one local business is getting in on the fun by staging its own murder mystery.
Imagined Things, the independent bookshop on Montpellier Hill, is inviting people to try to solve the murder of one of its bookseller.
After the crime is discovered in the basement, visitors will be asked to find clues around the shop and at other nearby shops to discover who committed the murder – and win a prize.
It’s all part of the fun brought to town by the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which runs from Thursday, July 20 to Sunday, July 23.
While Imagined Things isn’t an official part of proceedings, owner Georgia Eckert said there is always an extra buzz around the shop during the festival:
“It’s a lovely atmosphere – you never know who you might meet. We even had Nicola Sturgeon just wander in randomly!”
As well as the murder mystery, Imagined Things is hosting five book signings during the festival, alongside a panel event at Harrogate Library with authors Michelle Frances, Ellery Lloyd and Ruth Kelly on Thursday evening.
The shop has also secured four books to sell before the official publication date in August.
Georgia said there are usually dozens of unexpected visitors through the doors too, with a total of 42 authors calling in to sign books during the festival in 2022.
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Imagined Things is among the local businesses benefitting from the thousands of visitors arriving in town for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which this year marks its 20th anniversary.
It begins, as always, with the opening ceremony and announcement of the winner of the crime novel of the year and the outstanding contribution to crime fiction awards.
Over the following three days, workshops, panels and interviews will bring together some of the most established writers in the genre with up-and-coming names in one of the biggest events of its kind.
Its enthusiasts are not the only ones contributing to the success of the independent bookshop, which moved from its first home in the Westminster Arcade last June.
Georgia said:
All Creatures Great and Small author in the spotlight at Harrogate Library“Every year, we’ve got a lovely lady who visits from France and orders a big box of books from us, which is amazing.
“Some people don’t have an independent local bookshop in their town, so they come to support us.
“There’s not as many of us now – although the numbers have been growing since 2017, when we opened. There was an overall increase in the number by one that year, after a 20-year decline, and it has gone up every year since.”
The daughter and son of Alf Wight, author of the James Herriot books, will provide an insight into their father’s famous stories, at Harrogate Library this week.
The book signing event on Wednesday with Rosie Page and Jim Wight marks the publication of The Wonderful World of James Herriot.
It is being organised by Harrogate bookshop Imagined Things and will include a question and answer session.
The new book, a classic collection of the late author’s stories, contains insights from his children.
It looks sure to appeal to fans of the best-selling All Creatures Great and Small books and the current smash-hit Channel 5 TV series, set in the rural communities of the Yorkshire Dales.
Ian Ashton, managing director, the World of James Herriot tourist attraction in Thirsk, said:
“Rosie and Jim’s insights add authenticity to the many tales of the animals and people which are at the heart of Herriot’s stories.
“There’s never a dull moment in Herriot’s company, whether he’s becoming pen pals with Tricki Woo the spoilt Pekingese, dodging a raging bull on a risky artificial insemination assignment, or the inevitable trials and tribulations of lambing season, Rosie and Jim have seen it all”.
The book signing starts at 7.15. Tickets cost £5 (redeemable to those who purchase a copy of the book) and are available at the shop, or by calling 01423 391301.
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Harrogate bookshop Imagined Things set to move
An independent Harrogate bookshop is set to move this year in an effort to improve business.
Imagined Things, in Westminster Arcade, will move to new premises on Montpellier Parade.
Georgia Eckert, owner of the business, said she felt it was time for a change.
Ms Eckert said the new premises will be more visible, have more storage space and also be more accessible for disabled customers.
She said:
“I’m hoping that it will mean that a lot more people will find us.
“It is quite a popular area.”
The current store in Westminster Arcade.
The Montpellier outlet has a better layout, Ms Eckert added, and will be easier for customers to find.
She said:
“We are quite tucked away at the moment.
“We often have to explain to people how to find us.”
Ms Eckert hopes the move will also allow her to give staff more hours in an effort to grow the business.
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The bookshop has been in Westminster Arcade for five years and has acquired a loyal customer base.
Ms Eckert and her three members of staff are set to pick up the keys this month and are aiming to open the new store in June.
A crowdfunding campaign has also been set up to help fund the move, which has so far reached £3,000 of its £30,000 target.
Mrs Eckert said she was grateful for all the people that have helped and has offered rewards, such as merchandise bundles, in return.