Representatives from Denbighshire’s Bookstart team have returned from a trip to Westminster where they met Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane to talk about their work – and accidentally came across the Leader of the Conservatives, David Cameron being filmed for a television programme.
The team – Julia Parry, Nina Jones and Donna Hughes-Jones received an invitation from Mr Ruane to visit Westminster after he attended Denbighshire Bookstart’s 10th anniversary last October and hearing about the scheme’s success in taking the Bookstart message to families across Denbighshire.
After a two-hour tour of the Palace of Westminster, over tea on the terrace, the team briefed him on the work they do with many families in Rhyl and Denbigh in particular, encouraging parents to share books and rhymes with very young children, to use their local library and to support their child’s early learning.
The team visited the family room at the Commons, leaving a few books and Bookstart teddies there for children to play with, and sat in on a Commons session on Communities and Local Government.
In a totally unplanned encounter, as they were leaving the House of Commons, they were filmed shaking hands and talking with the Leader of the Opposition David Cameron as he was being filmed with Sir Trevor Macdonald by ITV for the profile programme which was broadcast on Sunday evening.
Bethan Hughes, Denbighshire County Council’s Reading Services Manager, said: “The team was delighted to be invited to Westminster to discuss the Bookstart project and they were really surprised to come across a film crew with David Cameron.
“Although the programme only broadcast a short clip of the encounter, meeting the Leader of the Conservative Party was not on the agenda for their visit, but the team certainly had its five seconds of fame on national television.”
