Queen Camilla and the Attorney General, Richard Hermer – the government’s chief legal adviser – have donated books to Liverpool’s Spellow Hub community library after the building was a victim of vandalism and arson during the recent rioting and violence across the UK.
The library on County Road, Walton was set on fire on August 3 during violent disorder in the aftermath of the Southport murders of three young girls; Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Alice Dasilva Aguiar (9). The damage to the library was devasting as the hub was designed to support one of the most deprived communities in the country. A GoFundMe had already been launched to help pay for renovations and to replace materials, but donations of books from Queen Camilla and the Attorney General have been greatly received.
Queen Camilla wrote to the Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, expressing her sorrow at recent events in the region, particularly the attack on the library, and the letter was accompanied with a donation box of nearly 70 books as a contribution to the library’s rebuilding.
Books donated by Queen Camilla.
Welcoming the donation, Mayor Rotheram said: “I’d like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Queen Camilla for her thoughtful letter and gift of books which give a much-needed boost for the people of the city region at a very difficult time.
“Her Majesty’s gift, along with donations of books and support from hundreds of authors and thousands of other people, reminds us that the good in this world far outweighs the bad and bolsters our determination to come together and rebuild in the wake of recent events.
“The burning of a library was such a shocking image, symbolising the ignorance of those who seek to divide us. With the help of the Queen’s donation, and of everyone else who has given their support, we will ensure that they do not succeed.”
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, added: “It’s very thoughtful of Queen Camilla to reach out to support Spellow Library Hub in its darkest hour. I’d like to thank her on behalf of everyone in Walton and Liverpool for this touching act of generosity. Her gift is a great example of how much we as a nation value our libraries and the power of reading. This has been illustrated by the overwhelming response we’ve received since that depressingly mindless act of vandalism, be it through the Go Fund Me donations or the #ReadingNotRioting campaign led by author Marnie Riches. It’s so encouraging to see that hope has now replaced hate, and its power is far greater and its legacy much deeper.”
Richard Hermer donates books to Spellow Hub Library.
Attorney General, Richard Hermer also added donated books to the library’s new inventory, each of which reportedly features a personal message written inside. Hermer delivered the books to the library during a visit to the area, during which he also the Crown Prosecution Service and a mosque.
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