On Saturday I was thrilled to return to Wimbledon and to support the most wonderful independent bookshop, Wimbledon Books and Music. Ros and Rathan Sippy are the loveliest, warmest people you could ever hope to find and they have been a huge support, especially of Ella Bella Ballerina.
Ros was, for many years, a costumier with the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, and together with her husband have done wonders to get Ella established amongst their customers. Last year they sold almost 100 copies of Ella Bella and Cinderella (in hardback). So the stakes are high this year!
Usually I visit the shop and sign but this year it was a bit more spectacular. The Wimbledon BookFest had a huge tent on the common (complete with a Womble: Uncle Bulgaria was there in all his glory!). So I was able to have a larger audience and tell stories, share Madame Rosa’s music box, and do a few quick illustrations. Afterwards I met the lovely families who came and was rewarded with a slice of Womble cake.
The event was particularly special as the book is dedicated to Ros, who has done so much for me and for Ella Bella. Poignantly, it is also dedicated to her late-colleague in the industry, Lesley Agnew.
I’ve known Lesley for years, from when her daughter Kate was my wife’s boss at Heffers Children’s Bookshop in Cambridge. Lesley was a rare and remarkable advocate for books and reading for children, and worked tirelessly from her shop in Muswell Hill, to get the right good books to the right children. Ros and I agreed that she will be greatly missed and always remembered for her extraordinary achievements. One book, celebrating two great ladies.
A thought-provoking and memorable day.
My thanks to everyone at Wimbledon Books and Music and also to lovely Lucy, the Hachette rep, who chauffered me from Kings Cross to Wimbledon and back!
Next week: The Lion and the Unicorn!
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