Charity booksale in Carlton raises over £2,000 for local good causes

A charity booksale held recently in Carlton has raised over £2,000 for local causes.

Hundreds of visitors flocked to the ExLibris Masked Charity Booksale, which took place over two consecutive weekends in April and May.

Thousands of second-hand books were bought and helped raise £2299 in total which will be split between the Nottingham & Notts Refugee Forum and School for Parents charities.

Booksale visitors also filled two bins with food bank contributions during the event, and these have now been delivered to St George’s Centre in Netherfield for the town’s food bank.

Many visitors to the sale took part in the tradition of wearing a mask while attending the event. The tradition was started by Josiah Saithwaite, founder of the Federation of Masked Booksellers who are the group who organise the event. Saithwaite believed in doing good by stealth and decided therefore that the identities of all who helped out on his bookstalls should be concealed behind masks.

Chris Cann, who is one of the organisers from ExLibris, said: “We had a wonderful time, and really enjoyed watching people delight in finding book treasures, munching cakes and seeing children enthusiastic about the fun we’d laid on for them.

“So many people said appreciative things and told us that they look forward to our sales. One person said that our sale was the first place she was visiting after major surgery! People travelled to the sale from Leicester, Worksop, Mansfield, Belper, Ilkeston and possibly further.”

The sale was opened by locally born poet and writer Henry Normal – who is the brains behind TV hits The Royle Family, Gavin and Stacey and Mrs Merton. He also performed a poem he had written especially for the occasion.

The Mayor of the Borough of Gedling, Councillor Sandra Barnes, also visited the sale with her husband at the start of the second weekend. Cllr Barnes wore a rabbit mask during her visit – along with her chain of office.

Last year’s Mayor and local councillor Meredith Lawrence also paid a visit.

The sale also was supported by Nottingham-based Sleaford Mods, who donated signed albums and a poster for the raffle.