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13 Apr 2010 09:06:41
Head of Art and Design John Stephens joined celebrities, politicians, community leaders and 3,234 children to set a super-sized world reading record in London.
They were taking part in ‘The Big Read’ at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel to break the Guinness World Record for ‘the most children reading with an adult’. Over a 12-hour period, different groups of children listened for half an hour to readings from Roald Dahl’s timeless classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
John was invited to be a reader because, as a young recent art and design graduate, he had helped create the special effects for the 1971 film ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ which was made in Munich.
The Big Read was organised by IF charity, in partnership with Islamic Forum Europe, Muslim Aid, London Muslim Centre and Tower Hamlets Council. As well as creating the largest shared reading experience in the world, the event was designed to promote reading and literacy among children.
Other readers at the event included George Galloway MP, BBC London presenter Asad Ahmed, Hedy Epstein, an 85year-old holocaust survivor, and several former contestants from the BBC show The Apprentice.
John said he had not fully appreciated the scale of the event until he was at the London venue and saw hundreds of children arriving by bus.
“I chose a section from the book which I reflected the part I had worked on in the film. So I read about where Willy Wonka welcomes the ticket winners to the factory and takes the children into a chocolate room where there is a chocolate river, bubblegum trees and lollipop flowers.
“I wanted to bring the book to life so I tried to change my voice and act out some of the story. I hope the children enjoyed the reading; I was certainly very touched to be asked to take part.”
The event beat the previous record of 3,032 which had been set in Dubai in 2008.
IF seeks to work with and complement the efforts of other charities working to promote the issues of children, communities and the environment both in the UK and around the world.
Latest news» 2010» April» Reading event brings back sweet memories for John
