82-year-old man returns school library book 65 years later
A former pupil has finally returned a late library book to his school 65 years after borrowing it.
Sir Jay Tidmarsh, 82, who graduated from the Taunton School in 1949, found the book while clearing out his shelves.
He opened the cover of Ashenden by W Somerset Maughan, a collection of short stories about a British spy during WWI, and was surprised to find a school library stamp.
He told the Guardian UK: “I don’t know why but I just happened to open the front cover and was shocked to see “Property of Taunton School” printed inside. I thought I should do the decent thing and return the book – paying my dues at the same time.”
The former businessman who was the Lord Lieutenant of Bristol between 1996 and 2007 not only decided to do the right thing and make a special trip to the school to return the book but pay the hefty library ‘fine’, donating £1,500 to his former school library.
Neil Longstreet, director of the Taunton School Foundation, said: “Sir Jay is a much valued supporter of the foundation and we were absolutely delighted to accept the return of his library book, together with an extraordinarily generous cheque to cover the appropriate ‘fine’ after a mere 65 years.
“Inspired by Sir Jay’s actions, I am announcing an amnesty to all those other Old Tauntonians who harbour Taunton School library books on their shelves at home – I know I’m one. In so doing, we can raise further funds which will go towards developing the library.”
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