Callow: My love of books is all down to a kind, cockney lady

Simon Callow today paid tribute to the woman who taught him to read as he became the latest celebrity backer of the Evening Standard's literacy campaign.

The 62-year-old actor said he was "late starting" reading but that it was down to "a loving and patient" family friend that he finally learned.

He started reading aged six thanks to the mother of the headteacher of the now defunct Elmcroft School in Goring-on-Thames, Berkshire, where his mother worked.

He made the comments as he donated 1,000 of his own books to Westminster reference library in Leicester Square. Callow, now starring in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol at the Arts Theatre in Soho, said he decided to give away part of his book collection because he was moving house and did not have space to store them.

Five hundred are specialist performing arts books which will form a "Callow Corner" section at the library, while the rest will be distributed to other sections of the library or to other Westminster libraries.

Callow said books play an "invaluable" role in society and that he was "deeply concerned" about cuts to library services and shocking levels of illiteracy.

He said: "I'm dismayed by what's happening: that people are losing that joy and source of strength. It's the linchpin of all educational merriment, is reading - it gives you power at best. I was a bit slow starting reading, I think I was about six years old. The woman who taught me to read was Mrs Birch, the mother of the headmaster of the school my mother worked at."

The Evening Standard's literacy campaign, which is supported by the Duchess of Cornwall, has raised more than £250,000 for children in the capital to get help from reading mentors since it was launched just over six months ago.

Callow said: "I totally support the Evening Standard's Get London Reading campaign, I can't think of anything more important to be happening. Mrs Birch had lots of time on her hands; she was a patient and loving cockney woman."

He added: "I believe very, very passionately in libraries. I used them through my childhood, youth, manhood and I still use them Books and the ability to learn and imagine yourself in different people's worlds, places, is invaluable."

Council bosses said they were "extremely grateful". Westminster councillor Melvyn Caplan said: "Libraries sit at the centre of our community and are a tremendous source of specialist information on every subject."

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