LIBRARY LIFE

Gladstone's Library, Hawarden

By Rhian Waller - Gladstone's Library PR and marketing

What do you get when you add hot sun, fairground rides and thousands of visitors to a field in a small Welsh village? You get Hawarden Carnival!

Gladstone’s Library made an appearance at this popular community event, which took place at the weekend. To my knowledge, it was the first time the Library has taken part.

Our little stall - which threatened to take off at one point thanks to the breezy weather - was stocked with books and home-made chocolate brownies.

It was a scorching day, but community spirit was in evidence throughout, with a kind neighbouring stall holder lending us some tent pegs so our marquee didn’t end up flying over the border into Cheshire.

We had the chance to chat with people who’d come from across Flintshire to enjoy the carnival atmosphere - especially people from Hawarden and Ewloe.

It was a pleasure to meet our neighbours and to let the village know that the Library is open and ready for their arrival.

The brownies seemed to go down well, unsurprisingly - although the gigantic, sprinkle-covered ice creams served at the van across the way were also tempting.

It was a full-on day, as it involved carting chairs, a heavy fold-out table, pop-stands, the tent and all the wares and sample brownies across the village, but happily the pitch was right by a little herd of sweet-faced donkeys from a local sanctuary, which was ample compensation.

Hopefully, appearing at the carnival with leaflets at the ready will help tempt back some pre-pandemic regulars, and introduce the Library to some newcomers.

Everyone we met was friendly and chatty, and we were even visited by a dinosaur.

We’d like to thank the organisers for letting us have a pitch at this event, and we hope to be back next year.