Award-winning actor Julie Hesmondhalgh has premiered a new short film celebrating the power of reading at a special event in Accrington, which also saw the relaunch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Hyndburn.
The event, held at Haworth Art Gallery on Thursday, brought together the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Mrs Amanda Parker JP, #AmazingAccrington business leaders and children from St Andrew’s CE Primary School for a celebration of reading, storytelling and opportunities for young people.
The new film, produced by Scott Dawson Advertising for the National Year of Reading campaign, features a poem written and performed by Julie Hesmondhalgh, exploring the many different ways reading plays a part in everyday life.
Filmed across 19 locations in Accrington and the surrounding area, the production brings Julie’s words to life, highlighting how reading extends far beyond books and is something we encounter every day, often without even realising it.
The poem was originally written by Julie for a National Year of Reading event in Salford, with the new film bringing it to a wider audience as part of the national campaign.
Julie, who has also written two books, An Actor’s Alphabet and A Working Diary, attended the premiere and spoke to guests about her passion for reading, before taking part in a Q&A session with the audience.
Julie Hesmondhalgh said: “I had such a great time filming this across 19 different locations, and it was lovely to see so many places and people involved. It’s fabulous to see the film being used by the National Year of Reading, and I’m really proud to be supporting something that encourages people of all ages to discover the joy of reading.”
The premiere was accompanied by another major announcement for local families, with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library shortly to be relaunched in Hyndburn, supported by a generous commitment from Accrington-born businessman Lawrence Whittaker.
Lawrence, CEO of Warrantywise and The Lister Motor Company, has pledged funding for more than 1,800 books for local children, helping to give youngsters access to reading materials from their earliest years.
Founded by Dolly Parton in 1995, the Imagination Library provides free, high-quality books delivered directly to children’s homes from birth until their fifth birthday, regardless of family income.
The programme has grown into an international success, with more than 3.5 million children receiving a book every month, including over 90,000 in the UK. For just £26, a child can receive a brand-new book every month for an entire year, making the support of local businesses and individuals vital to the programme’s success.
Lawrence Whittaker said: “All my life I have been a huge Dolly Parton fan. I was born and grew up in Accrington, and when I heard that Julie Hesmondhalgh was bringing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Accrington, I just couldn’t wait to be a part of it.”
The event also featured a special tribute to Lawrence’s grandmother, Beryl Hampson, who was herself a children’s author.
Julie read Beryl’s book, Pearl The Little Hen, to the schoolchildren attending the premiere, with the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Mrs Amanda Parker JP, presenting each child with their own copy to take home. The heartwarming children’s story features a little hen called Pearl who discovers that being different makes her special.
Lawrence has also committed to funding the printing of 2,000 copies of his grandmother’s book, ensuring that her stories can be enjoyed by a new generation of children across the borough.
Murray Dawson, Chair of #AmazingAccrington and Managing Director of Scott Dawson Advertising, said: “It’s been a real privilege to work alongside Julie and the National Year of Reading, supporting the campaign with our film and production expertise, while also helping to champion Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. We’ve got a fantastic group of business leaders in #AmazingAccrington. It’s a header tank of people who want to make things happen. One call to Lawrence and he was on board.”
Clare Cook, Director of Fundraising and Communications at The Dollywood Foundation UK, attended the event and welcomed the support for the programme in Hyndburn.
Clare said: “It was fantastic to attend the event and see such enthusiasm for reading. We’re incredibly grateful to Lawrence for his generous donation, which will make a massive difference to children and families in Hyndburn. Every book delivered helps inspire a love of reading from an early age, and support like this is so important.”
Sarah Bird, Regional Lead for the National Year of Reading, praised the film and the collaboration behind its production.
Sarah said: “I absolutely love the film and the way Julie brings the importance of reading to life. It captures exactly what the National Year of Reading is all about. A huge thank you to Julie and Scott Dawson Advertising for all their support and for helping us share this message with such creativity.”
The event attracted local, regional and national media, with Julie speaking to journalists about the film, the National Year of Reading and the importance of encouraging children and adults to read.
To find out more about the National Year of Reading and how to get involved, visit goallin.org.uk
Learn more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library here: www.imaginationlibrary.com/uk
