Quentin's bookmark is auctioned in Yorkshire Brownies' fund-raiser
Friday 14th May 2021
Quentin has again joined celebrities such as Dame Helen Mirren, Axel Scheffler and Jacqueline Wilson for a project to raise funding for a school in Zimbabwe.
Every year the girls of the 1st Burley Brownies, based in Burley-in-Wharfedale near Ilkley, North Yorkshire, write letters to their favourite authors, illustrators and celebrities asking them to design a bookmark.
This year the brownies have received over 350 bookmarks from authors Jacqueline Wilson, Cressida Cowell, and M.G Leonard; illustrators Quentin Blake, Jackie Morris and Chris Riddell; comedian Jo Brand; musician Brian May; actors Dame Helen Mirren, Anita Dobson and Debbie Chazen and many more. Quentin's bookmark (pictured) which is an original drawing on watercolour paper, features a tall green bird with books, and his signature on the reverse.
The Bookmark Project is now in its fifth year and all the money raised is used to support Katiyo Primary School in Zimbabwe. Brownie Guider Sharon Hattersley said: “Over the years the Brownies have helped to raise over £20,000 for the school. This money has helped to build blocks of toilets, provide desks and benches for all the classrooms, bought reading books and supported a number of other projects.”
Sharon added: “This year the funds raised will go towards building nursery classrooms for the youngest children who currently have none. We will combine the proceeds of this year’s auction with funds already raised and hope to be able to start the building project in the next 12 months. We are in the process of drawing up preliminary building plans."
All the bookmarks will be auctioned online, between 10th-24th May. To take part in the auction go to: www.jumblebee.co.uk/bookmarkproject2021