Library campaigners in Wembley celebrate Lord Tennyson’s birthday

Members of Preston Community Library in Carlton Avenue East celebrated the 206th birthday of the much loved poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Cllr Michael Pavey, deputy leader of Brent Council who hails from Lincolnshire, the poet’s birthplace, attended the celebration on Monday.

Following the reading of the famous and well loved “The Lady of Shalott” the library community made a dramatic enactment and reading of Tennyson’s tragic and beloved poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” with residents from Preston Lodge Retirement Home.

Conversations about the futility of war followed the reading of the anti-war poem over a feast of specially commissioned Lincolnshire sausages.

The event was rounded off with songs from the Preston Library community choir.

Geraldine Cooke, literary agent and library campaigner said: “The whole event was a testament to the power of reading aloud in the community to draw people together for entertainment, education and companionship regardless of age or ability.

“Preston Community Library events have made a feature of reading entire works aloud in marathon sessions, not only poetry but whole novels, such as Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’, and George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. We have found it is possible for adults and children to work together in this way, which is refreshing and delightful.”