A book launch with a difference
When you think of a book launch event, what do you think of? Personally, I've never been to one, so I get my impressions from movies and television. At a swanky location, people are impeccably dressed, taking crudités from trays and sipping from Champagne flutes, before clapping some congratulatory speeches politely.
As looking back at ... Classic Coronation Street - developed in collaboration with Alzheimer's Society and ITV Studios - is Cognitive Books' third title, we thought it high time that we had a book launch event. With our aim being to bring the joy of reading to people living with dementia, the format from TV and films would simply not be suitable!
Instead, the launch took place on the 64th anniversary of the first episode of Coronation Street at Lightbowne Hall, a wonderful Greater Manchester care home run by our friends at Anchor. Residents were treated to a quiz, exercises from the book to reminisce about some of the larger-than-life characters and some classic episodes of the UK's favourite soap. I was asked to share some brief background and I read a page of the book. The applause that greeted the passage was truly moving.
The conversation and joy was everywhere - not only among the residents, but the fantastic staff as well! Some of the Anchor team dressed up in head scarfs, rollers, hair nets and housecoats to echo some of the show's characters, they had set up their own 'Rovers Return' pub, and the first-class chef even served up some of Betty's famous (and delicious) hotpot for lunch!
To finish the day off, a super singer entertained us with Christmas songs. We sang 'Happy Birthday' to Coronation Street and welcomed its 64th birthday with 'When I'm sixty-four', which the residents sang passionately.
Was it a glamourous event? No.
Was it appropriate? Yes.
Was it fun? Absolutely!
You can keep your swanky location, champagne and crudités ... give me a Lightbowne Hall book launch event every time.
A huge thank you to Rebecca Gray, Asa Johnson and all the team at Anchor.
This is a wonderful initiative. We're glad to hear that your book launch went well 💙