Wednesday 4th December saw the Smallbone Library celebrate its 30th birthday. The weather outside may have been frightful but inside was truly delightful.

Guests started the evening with a drinks reception in the library and it was wonderful to see so many old faces, along with current staff members and our school trustees.

We then headed over to the Wilson Auditorium where the Headmaster made a heartwarming welcome speech on just how important our library is and how lucky our students are having access to such a wonderful resource. Quoting former headmaster Graham Smallbone, after whom the building is named, he spoke of the importance of a library that provides “access to academic and intellectual excitement, alongside generous study space, where enthusiasm for research, for seeking information (with the availability of generous resources), expert assistance and advice on hand, and ,above all, the unrivalled stimulation of seeing others enjoy the satisfaction and pleasure of working”  and the hope that “such things can and do rub off on even the most minimally motivated of students”.

Author of the recently published ‘Reading Lessons’, Carol Atherton, was our guest speaker for the evening and she had the audience absolutely captivated with her inspirational talk about the importance of the written word. Her thought-provoking words really did put into perspective how literature, however old the publication, is relevant to today’s students – it’s just which angle you choose to dive into it from. She really opened our eyes to how analysing texts from outside of the box can spark a whole new set of conversations.

Following Carol was our returning storyteller, Mark Fraser. The lights were dimmed to allow Mark, and his magnificent array of hats, to give us an atmospheric performance of A Christmas Carol. Once again the audience were memorised as Mark, aided by his trusty puppets, recited perfectly his version of the festive classic.

The end of the evening saw everyone head back into the library for warm refreshments and a slice of absolutely delicious birthday cake, which had been so lovingly made by our very own Ms Spilberg. A wonderful way to end a special day, showcasing our amazing Smallbone Library.