Project
Books to Jamaica
In 2012 I visited my old school in Jamaica which I attended when I was a young girl, and found that they had a great need for books. They did even not have a school library. When I returned to the UK I went to my bookshelves, searched through and found 100 books which were suitable to send to them, which included story books, general knowledge, poetry, fiction and dictionaries.
At the time, my cousin Wally Crooks was sending a container with one of his beloved Jaguar cars to Jamaica and I took the opportunity to load the box of books on board.
The first delivery of books to Cacoon School in April 2013: me with the principal Mrs Carol Grant.
Later when I returned to Jamaica, in 2013, I picked up the books from Wally, took them to Cacoon School and presented them to the Principal, Mrs Carol Grant.
The school, including teachers and pupils were so thankful, and grateful for these, and I was so touched that I decided that I would return to England and campaign for books to start a library in Cacoon school.
So, when I returned to the UK, and using social media, I launched a campaign to colleagues, friends and family members appealing for books for Cacoon. My appeal was amazingly successful and hundreds of books poured in.
April 30, 2013
1000 books delivered to Cacoon School
Mission accomplished: More than 1,000 books delivered to Cacoon School, April 2014
On Wednesday April 30, 2014 I delivered more than 1000 books to Cacoon school In Hanover Jamaica. Staff and children were absolutely delighted, excited and grateful. Principal, Mrs Carole Grant said: ‘This is a blessing. Please pass on our thanks to everyone who has donated books. This gift has come at a crucial time for us as we are trying to introduce new subjects into the curriculum.”
The books included basic readers, children’s story books, general information and reference books, black history books, dictionaries, puzzles, poetry and fiction. Also included were quantities of sturdy books for the younger children who are just starting to read. All the books were in first class condition and many were brand new.
Heartfelt thank you to the following who donated books: Geraldine Thomas and members of the congregation at Birches Evangelical Church; Elenor Caroll; Tony and Rose Kelly; John Tyrell; Marisol Grandon; Margot Lambert; Shelley Bishton; Derek Bishton; Tamsin Bishton. I also want to make a special mention for Beverley Johnson at JLB shipping who organised transport to Jamaica. Special thanks also to my husband Derek Bishton for driving to Kingston to pick up the books, and to my son Tim Crooks for lending us his truck to transport the books from the Beach House to Cacoon school.
October 30, 2014
Reading Monitors Scheme introduced at Cacoon School
Reading monitors at Cacoon with their new badges
In October 2014, I visited Cacoon school to say hello and to see how the new library was developing. This was the first visit since the donation of 1000 books in May.
The library is operational. Mrs Grant, the principal, showed me the room where the library was set up. It is a nice quiet room with books displayed on shelves and chairs and tables nicely laid out for the children. Mrs Grant has also introduced a Reading Monitors scheme. Teachers have selected from each class two or three children to act as Reading Monitors, who wear a Reading Monitors badge. The Reading Monitor is responsible for encouraging fellow pupils to read and improve their literacy, supporting their interest in reading by taking them to the library and helping them to select their books. This is a kind of peer group support, which is proving very effective, says Mrs Grant.
April 31, 2013
200 copies of Sam Sharpe donated to mark National Heroes Week
Dionne Lewis, Principal of Aplus Academy of Excellence with children from her school at the Burchill Memorial Baptist Church where National Hero Sam Sharpe is buried
During October, Jamaica celebrates National Heroes Week and to mark the occasion I made a donation of 200 copies of the Handprint publication, Sam Sharpe and the Christmas Rebellion to the Burchell Memorial Baptist Church in Montego Bay. Sam Sharpe is one of Jamaica’s Heroes and is buried under the pulpit of the Burchell Memorial Baptist Church. Pastor Davewin Thomas, and staff members, Mrs Millicent Jackson and Mrs Joy Virgo received the presentation for the church.
Whilst we were going around the Church, we met Dionne Lewis, Principal of Aplus Academy of Excellence. She was there with a group of her children and teachers, for the children to learn about Sam Sharpe. I also gave copies of Sam Sharpe publications to the principal, for their school.
September 2015
600 Books delivered to Nannyville and Mount James
Delivering books to Nannyville Basic School, helped by Ivan Coore (left) and George O’Coonor (right rear) with Principal Nicole Sterling
In September 2015 I sent a further 600 books which were distributed to three schools and a youth project in Jamaica – Nannyville Basic School and the Nannyville Youth Uprising Club, both in Kingston; and The St James Day Care & Learning Centre and New Garden Primary and Infant School, both in Mount James, St Andrew.
Derek and I picked up the books from Kingston Wharves, helped by our friends Ivan Coore and George O’Connor who provided transport and helped us to deliver the books to the schools.
First, we made a delivery of 200 books to Nannyville Basic School in Kingston. Nannyville is a deprived community in east Kingston, and although the school is spacious and well-built, it is chronically short of resources. As the boxes of books were opened groups of excited children rushed to come and examine them, as did the parents and teachers.
The school Principal Mrs Nicole Sterling thanked us, and said: “This is such a very precious gift which you have brought for us. Our school needs the resource.”
Ivan Coore also received books for the Nannyville Youth Uprising Club, situated opposite the school, where he helps run activities and training courses for teenagers from the area.
Then, from the heat and dust of Kingston, we drove far up into the Blue Mountains to the Mount James Basic School. Both the Mount James and New Garden schools are set in the most beautiful and lush countryside, with the majestic Blue Mountain peaks ranged against the skyline. By this time, in the late afternoon, the schools were closed for the day, but Mrs. Nelson – known to everyone as Miss Pansy – the Vice Chairperson of the St James Day Care & Learning Centre was there to receive the books on behalf of both schools. Our friend Ivan had introduced us to Miss Pansy the previous year when she told me of the great need for books in this deprived rural area.
Children and staff at St James Day Care and learning Centre
Later that year, in December, we visited the St James Day Care and Learning Centre and the children showed us their favourite books.
November 2018
800 Books to Anchovy Primary
Another shipment of 800 books on the way to Jamaica.
In 2017 I was very inspired when I attended the opening of the John Hoyland Wing at Anchovy Primary School. Beverley Hoyland was there to officially open the Wing, which bears the name of her late husband and comprises two new classrooms devoted to music. John Hoyland is regarded as one of the great abstract expressionist painters of the 20th century and he and Beverley, who attended the school as a child, spent many happy times visiting Jamaica. She thought it a fitting gesture for the John Hoyland Trust to fund the new classrooms.
I had met Beverley at a reception at the Autograph gallery in London, and she told Derek and me about her Jamaica project, her donation to Anchovy Primary School and of the forthcoming opening ceremony. As we had planned to be in Jamaica at the same time as the opening, Beverley invited us to attend the event. It was such a wonderful gesture and a brilliant gift from Beverley to her old school. The staff, children and community were very delighted with the new facilities in their school. The opening was attended by many dignitaries, including the Hon Derrick Kellier MP and the Mayor of Montego Bay Mr Homer Davis, Dr. Michelle Pinnock, Director Ministry of Education Region 4, church ministers, and the local community. It was then that I promised to make a donation of books to Anchovy Primary School.
These books which I collect for schools in Jamaica are donated by colleagues, friends, and family, and I would like to say a big thank you to the following people who have contributed generously to this shipment of more than 800 books: Julie Clayton, who brought boxes of children’s books, some almost brand new, all nicely packed and delivered them to my door; Corale Chapman, presenter at New Style Radio Birmingham for the many bags and boxes of books she has collected from listeners and brought to my door; Susanna Bearfoot, for the collection of music books, brought to us through Brian Homer; and lastly my friend, Geraldine Thomas who continues to bring us books delivered to her church by the parishioners.
A Big Thank you to my husband Derek for invaluable help and support in everything including taking photographs, checking, packaging, and lifting heavy boxes. Thanks to my son Tim who has been there for me with his van to transport me and 9 large boxes to the shipping agent.