Book lovers on Wimbledon Common attended the re-launch of the Wombles classics on Saturday.
By Rhian Hughes
Book lovers on Wimbledon Common attended the re-launch of the Wombles classics on Saturday.
Wimbledon Bookfest celebrated the original furry friends of Wimbledon Common as Bloomsbury re-launches Elisabeth Beresford’s much-loved creations.
The six Wombles’ titles are returning in November after first being published in 1968 and have been out of print for almost 10 years.
The first book available will be The Wombles, introducing us to Beresford’s cast of characters.
“The Wombles have always been environmentally aware, recycling the rubbish that they find and putting it to good use, so it gives me particular pleasure that their adventures are also being recycled,” said Elisabeth Beresford.
“We cannot rely on The Wombles to do all our recycling for us but I hope they will encourage everyone who reads their adventures to follow their example and have fun into the bargain.”
To kick off the re-launch, audiences in the brand new Bookfest Marquee on the common were taught in true eco style how to recycle and transform their own sock in to a Womble.
The launch also included a visit from the Wombles themselves, storytelling and games.
Kim Everett, mother of three, said: “I use to read the Wombles as a kid, and it’s great I can share the Wombles tales with mine now they are coming back into print.”
Celebrating its fourth birthday, Wimbledon Bookfest consists of authors, reading and writing – plays, poetry, scripts and screenplays, fiction and non-fiction.
