Library Week 2009

- Ailsa Tudhope -

The annual tea party for readers over 60 took place at the NG Kerksaal on Tuesday 17th March. It seems there are more guests each year! This time there were about 120 people who gathered to enjoy the entertainment and a cup of tea and delicacies provided by the Friends of the Library.

An eye-catching backdrop, consisting of handmade quilts and dolls, had been provided by members of the Vlytige Vingers Patchwork group. Chen Freysen, the Friend’s Committee Chair, welcomed everyone to the event and introduced the first guest artists – the Victoria Akademie children.

Chrisna Smit, their teacher, established the school at the beginning of the year. Ten local children of various ages, including her daughter Hané, are following Christian-based curricula, three in English and the others in Afrikaans. Beandrė Tolken presented a reading from NP van Wyk Louw’s ‘Vroegherfs’ and then the children sang some songs from the FAK songbook, followed by a solo from Laetitia Marais.

A familiar TV star, Michael Brunner, then took the floor and delivered a rousing rea-ding of ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling, followed by a marvellous Herman Charles Bosman tale of the Anglo-Boer War. We look forward to many more stories delivered in his deep velvet voice, since Michael and his wife Gunda plan to settle in our village.

Caleb and Rebekah Swanepoel then delighted the audience with song and were joined by more of their extended family for ‘Singing in the Rain’ – a gentle reminder of last week’s floods?

Prince Albert is richly blessed in its library staff. Thank you, Reinie, Bettie and Jeanetta for your service to the community and the extra time and effort you and the Library Friends put into making the annual tea party such a special event. Meer oor Biblioteekweek in volgende maand se Prince Albert Vriend!