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New Suffolk Garland book now available in all libraries

Following a recent presentation, copies of a special book created to celebrate HM Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are now available from every library in Suffolk.

A New Suffolk Garland – A Suffolk Anthology was created as part of the jubilee celebrations and copies were recently presented to every library and secondary school in Suffolk.

The New Suffolk Garland book was created as a key initiative of The Festival of Suffolk to mark the Platinum Jubilee with the first copy having already been presented to the Queen as a gift from Suffolk.

All profits from the anthology are also being donated to the Festival of Suffolk Legacy Fund that will be administered by Suffolk Community Foundation. Grants will be given to charities working to address needs in Suffolk relating to community, health and well-being, opportunity and education, enterprise, environment, and culture and tourism.

John and Mary James, A New Suffolk Garland editors, presenting copies of A New Suffolk Garland to Suffolk high schools and libraries.
Lady Clare, Countess of Euston, visited Gainsborough Community Library to hand over copies of A New Suffolk Garland.

Lady Clare Countess of Euston, Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, who is the inspiration behind the Festival of Suffolk, said:

“This wonderful book is a joyous celebration of all that we love most about Suffolk, and I am so delighted that it is to be available for all generations to read and enjoy. With copies available in every library and every senior school we all have the opportunity to share the culture, character, heritage and humour of this very special county, a place held in great affection by Her Majesty the Queen as we celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.”

Bruce Leeke, CEO of Suffolk Libraries said:

“We’re thrilled to be presented with a copy of A New Suffolk Garland for all 44 of our libraries. The book is a fantastic celebration of art and writing from across the county. Like our libraries it reflects the diversity and unique nature of Suffolk. I know our thousands of customers will enjoy discovering A New Suffolk Garland at a Suffolk library near them.”

With 90 authors and 45 artists and photographers included in A New Suffolk Garland, it is an anthology of the best writing and art, new and old, and is a real celebration of the county of Suffolk. It was edited by Elizabeth Burke, Dan Franklin, John and Mary James, from Aldeburgh Bookshop and is published by The Boydell Press. The book was launched in May and is selling well, with HM The Queen receiving the first copy of the limited special edition.

The book’s topics are diverse and include iconic items and places such as the Sutton Hoo helmet, Ipswich Town football club, Newmarket racecourse, the Suffolk dialect, Lowestoft fish market, and the Aldeburgh Festival.

Extracts of published work are from Charles Dickens, ‘Pickwick Papers’, about Ipswich, Ed Sheeran’s Framlingham ‘Castle on the Hill’ lyrics, Richard Curtis’ script from the film ‘Yesterday’, and writer Ronald Blythe’s descriptions of the medieval deer park at Staverton Thicks, near Orford.

Tim Holder, Head of Public Affairs at Suffolk Community Foundation said:

“We were so delighted when John and Mary presented the Festival Team with the idea of this incredible book, but perhaps even more so when they explained the full extent of their plans. John and Mary’s passion, creativity and generosity of spirit has been so infectious to us all and we are so thankful to them for really embracing the festival’s ambitions with this project and ensuring that it will reach people of all ages from all walks of life across the whole of our County and beyond.”

A New Suffolk Garland is available to borrow on the Suffolk Libraries catalogue.