Public invited to help shape the future of local library services

We attended the Remembrance service which was outdoors in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Rangoon. There are 56 pillars with over 27,000 names of those missing in action. My Uncle Ernie’s name was just above my head height (remember I am in a wheelchair) the names are engraved; this enabled me to put my fingers into the letters. As I folded my fingers into the letters of his name I welled up with emotion and as the Royal British Legion standard bearer lowered the “colours”. Elizabeth and I burst into tears, it is as if every emotion my family had carried since his loss was being released, for unlike a remembrance service for us this was a funeral. Writing this now still brings an outpouring of emotion.

We met with dignitaries, had tea and cucumber sandwiches on the lawn, where introduced to the cemetery caretakers, who have the job for life, the responsibility of the cemetery is passed onto the next generation. Going back to the air-conditioned hotel, 11am and its 40 degrees we welcomed the opportunity to visit the local Anglican Church for the Remembrance service.

chapter. We travelled to Redcar, laid an identical wreath and stones from the memorial garden in Rangoon on her grave.

After visiting his parish church we were informed that his name was not in the Burma Star book, which is opened at the villages’ remembrance service. After presenting the church with the Royal British Legion records of his death, not only did they ensure his name was put in the book but left it open on that page on display at their remembrance service. His name is also in the Burma Star book in York Minster. Uncle Ernie was a member of the Prince of Wales West Yorkshire Regiment, who were predominantly recruited from around Redcar and North Yorkshire.

“We brought him home, we literally brought him home”

Residents across Redcar and Cleveland are being asked for their views on library provision in the area, to help shape the future of the service.

The publics views are being sought to understand in more detail how they use libraries, if they don’t use libraries what would encourage them to use them in the future, what libraries mean to them and their thoughts on how the service could be developed.

The council currently operates 13 libraries across Redcar and Cleveland, offering a wide range of books, computer access, and online resources, as well as hosting regular events, clubs and meetings.

Even before the pandemic there were significant changes in the ways that local library services were used; with falling user numbers and the ever-increasing popularity of digital lending, which can be accessed anywhere, the service must evolve to remain cost-effective and meet the needs of local people.

Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Culture, Cllr Louise Westbury, said: “As part of a review of library services across Redcar and Cleveland we are keen to hear from residents, both library users and non-library users, to ensure the public continue to receive a service that meets their needs and the needs of the community.

“The council cannot ignore the financial pressures we face and factor these into the engagement exercise. Library services like other public services affected by the reduction in Government grants will need to make efficiency savings and the publics input is important when making these difficult decisions.

“The feedback will allow the council to shape a library offer that is fit for the 21st Century with the services, activities and programmes reflecting the needs of local residents.”

The public engagement exercise begins today, Wednesday 8 February and will run for eight weeks, closing on Wednesday 5 April. There will be two versions of the questionnaire available, one for library users and one for people who don’t currently use the library service.

Residents can complete the questionnaire online https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/ libraries-consultation or pick up a printed version from any library in the borough.

To enable the public to share their views and ask questions regarding the engagement exercise and the future of library services, the council are also hosting a series of focus group sessions in March, in partnership with an external facilitator, which will be publicised nearer the time.

At this service Elizabeth read out a poem that I had written in memory of Uncle Ernie. This poem was framed and now hangs in the chapel of remembrance at the Anglican Church in Rangoon. We feel that nanny’s dying wish for uncle Ernie to be remembered has been fulfilled. We came back to the UK with one more task to close the

This story and poem are published in my book entitled The Year God Introduced Himself with a Prayer for Non-Believers (available on Amazon Books and Kingdom Publishers all profits go to charity)

I believe my faith has carried me forward, the faith I learned as a child helped me get my life back on track. I want to leave the world a better place than I find, I became a staunch disabilities awareness campaigner and have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charities along the way..