26/10/2026
A really enjoyable morning at Haworth Art Gallery and Artist Studios in Accrington for the launch of a short film celebrating the National Year of Reading.
Julie Hesmondhalgh is passionate about reading and a great supporter of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library . She spoke with real enthusiasm to the children about books and the pleasure of reading, with a few amusing references to The Celebrity Traitors along the way!
The film itself is excellent. Featuring Julie performing her own poem and filmed at 19 locations across Accrington and Hyndburn, it's a wonderfully imaginative way of celebrating the area and encouraging people to read.
There was also some very good news for local families, with the return of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to Hyndburn, thanks to Lawrence Whittaker of , who is funding more than 1,800 books for young children.
I enjoyed meeting the children from Andrew's CE Primary School and presenting them with copies of Pearl The Little Hen, written by Lawrence's grandmother, Beryl Hampson.
Many thanks to Julie, Lawrence and Murray Dawson of Accrington for making this happen. It's a great initiative for Hyndburn and has deservedly attracted plenty of attention.
I've loved reading since I was at primary school, and encouraging more children to develop that same enjoyment is something very close to my heart.