Teesside University Chancellor presents his new book to Darlington Library

Teesside University Chancellor Lord Sawyer of Darlington presented a copy of his new book to Darlington Library.

Lord Sawyer’s book ‘Radicalism, A Passion for Books’ brings together the details of his own private collection which celebrates the best of radical English writing.

He presented a copy to the library where it was received by the Leader of Darlington Council, Councillor Bill Dixon and Deputy Mayor Councillor Charles Johnson.

Lord Sawyer’s collection covers ideas, movements and individuals that influenced socialism. These include Utopia by Sir Thomas More, first published in 1551, Robert Blatchford’s Merrie England, The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan and The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine.

His new volume is the story of his collection and Lord Sawyer explains: 'Book collecting is usually a very private affair; books slip on and off shelves and in and out of houses. Very few collectors leave a record of why they chose particular books so I decided I would leave a short story that my family and friends might enjoy.'

That story begins when Lord Sawyer describes growing up in a house without books, reading his first newspaper at 18 before being introduced to Communist Party pamphlets at 21: 'During my twenties, I became a voracious reader. What excited me was discovering that generations before, men and women, had the same or similar ideas about a better future. These were the books I could read and learn from.'

It was when he began working for the National Union of Public Employees in his late twenties that he began collecting and his collection began with the first volume of Ernest Bevan’s Biography by Alan Bullock. 'One of my clear memories was seeing and touching the books belonging to my friend, the General Secretary of NUPE, Rodney Bickerstaffe in his home in Whitley Bay and I began to dream what my own collection would be like.'

The book has a foreword about Lord Sawyer by Mark White, Head of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office at Teesside University, recalling his first meeting with him when he visited Teesside in 1989 with then leader of the opposition Neil Kinnock before he returned to become Chancellor of Teesside University and attended a football match at Middlesbrough with Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Henderson CBE DL.

Mark says: 'Over the years we have got to know one of the key architects in the re-birth of the Labour Party which won the General Election in 1997, someone whose passion for fairness in society and the workplace is equalled by his great love of books.'

Leader of Darlington Borough Council Councillor Bill Dixon said: 'We are delighted to accept the gift of Lord Sawyer’s book which reveals his love of books and journey as a collector. It demonstrates how reading and books can make a great impact on life and why our libraries are such an important part of community life.'

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