Alan Johnson MP is coming to Kensal Rise to entertain people about his colourful life to raise much needed funds for a community library

The former Home Secretary, author, postman and author will be at St Martin’s Church, Mortimer Road this Thursday at 7.30pm chatting about his latest book, ‘The Long and Winding Road’.

The fundraiser, organised by The Friends of Kensal Rise Library (FKRL) will help raise the £40,000 needed to run the library in Bathurst Gardens.

Local businesses are donating luxury raffle prizes for the night, including a voucher from florist Scarlet and Violet, who created model Kate Moss’s wedding flowers.

The Labour MP’s award-winning autobiography charts an extraordinary journey from the condemned slums of Southam Street in West London to the corridors of power in Westminster.

FKRL has already raised £160,000 from the community and beyond, to refurbish the space in Bathurst Gardens, which has lain empty since 2011.

This includes an award of £75,000 from Power To Change, part of the Big Lottery Fund

Campaigners formed FKRL in 2011 after Brent Council revealed it was closing six branches in the borough to save £1million-a-year.

After the branch was axed and the site was placed on the market FKRL launched a successful battle to be given an allocated space in the building so they could open a community-run library.

Margaret Bailey, chairwoman of FKRL, said: “Once again we are overwhelmed by the support we have to open the Kensal Rise Community Library. Our speaker, local politicians, the community, and local businesses, have all come together to help us raise funds to operate our library. The support is solid and shows what communities can achieve by working together with persistence and commitment.”