A YEAR of events aimed at getting people to read the same book was kick-started with the Welsh themed launch of 1book4stevenage on Friday. Among those who attended the event, hosted at the North Hertfordshire College in Stevenage, was best-selling author

A YEAR of events aimed at getting people to read the same book was kick-started with the Welsh themed launch of 1book4stevenage on Friday.

Among those who attended the event, hosted at the North Hertfordshire College in Stevenage, was best-selling author Ken Follett, Stevenage mayor Brian Underwood and representatives from Ottakar's, Stevenage Central Library and the youth council.

During the evening there were a number of Welsh themed performances from local groups including songs from the Stevenage Male Voice Choir and a display from the Footworks School of Dance.

The audience was also treated to a dramatisation of a scene from the book, Malcolm Pryce's Aberystwyth, Mon Amour, by the youth section Stevenage Lytton Players.

The organisers of 1book4stevenage hope the campaign will promote reading and help generate community spirit by encouraging as many people as possible to read the same book at the same time.

Mr Follett said: "As a Welshman by birth, I particularly enjoyed the evening. My mother used to make Welsh cakes but I haven't had one for at least 20 years. I could have done without the whelks, though.

"I am patron of the Stevenage Male Choir and I thought their performance was one of the highlights of the evening."

Friday was the first in a long list of events taking place to encourage people to read. This list includes Malcolm Pryce's visit to Stevenage Central Library and Ottakar's on May 6 to speak about his novel.

For more information about the events on offer, visit www.1book4stevenage.com where readers can submit their reviews of the book and read those left by other people.