The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) brought book lovers of all ages together at the flagship Waterstone's store in Piccadilly Circus today, and smashed the Guinness World Records title for the world's longest reading relay.
Corrie star
317 people, including blind and partially sighted people, as well as Coronation Street star Charlie Condou (who plays Marcus Dent), gathered for the world record attempt. Each person read aloud, one sentence at a time, from an exclusive story by Anthony Horowitz, 'The Double Eagle Has Landed', that has never been published in the UK. This new record marks the launch of Read for RNIB Day to raise awareness of reading services for blind and partially sighted people.
Reading relay
The attempt broke the current Guinness World Records title for most people in a reading relay. The record was currently 290 people, held by Austria. The organisers - RNIB, Waterstone's and Walker Books - are delighted that so many book lovers have helped Britain take the record title and celebrate Read for RNIB Day.
Waterstone's
James Daunt, Managing Director, Waterstone's said: "I am delighted that RNIB has smashed the Guinness World Record, and very pleased Waterstone's was able to host their magnificent effort."
Lesley-Anne Alexander, Chief Executive of RNIB, said: "This is a fantastic result, and not only are RNIB now Guinness World Record holders, it has been great to hold an event which is open to everyone of all levels of sight and reading abilities. We shouldn't forget that just 7 per cent of all books are available in fully accessible formats, so I urge everyone to get involved with Read for RNIB Day, and help us provide more reading solutions for blind and partially sighted people."
Gaz Deaves, Guinness World Records, said: "What's wonderful about this record is the way it has unified people in reading. I was very impressed with how people used giant print and braille as well as standard print. It was a fantastic achievement, well done RNIB and Waterstone's."
Anthony Horowitz
Anthony Horowitz, English novelist and screenwriter, said: "I'm delighted that one of my stories has been chosen for this world record-breaking attempt. 13th October is a sad day for Austria as we've beaten the record and can fly the flag for the UK. All credit to RNIB and Waterstone's for encouraging literacy in such a fun and inclusive way."
Be part of the Read for RNIB Day Guinness World Records Attempt. Find out more at www.rnib.org.uk/readforrnibday
ENDS
For more information please contact Susan Duncan, Media Relations Manager, RNIB on 020 7 391 3291, email susan.duncan@rnib.org.uk or Stacey Kerr, Senior Media Relations Officer, RNIB on 020 7391 2223, email stacey.kerr@rnib.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Thanks to Walker Books and Guys Read, USA for their support and permission for the reading.
'The Double Eagle Has Landed' will be accessible to everyone as it will be available in giant print, audio and braille, as well as standard print. Everyone who read a sentence was given a special gift as a thank you for taking part.
About RNIB
Everyday around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight. There are around 2 million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk
About Anthony Horowitz
Anthony Horowitz has achieved global success with the Alex Rider novels - he brought the sequence to a bestselling close earlier in 2011 with Scorpia Rising - but that's only part of the Horowitz story. Anthony is the UK's most popular male children's author, with not just one but three bestselling book sequences to his name - Alex Rider, The Power of Five and The Diamond Brothers- all published in the UK and Ireland by Walker Books. Anthony is also an acclaimed writer for adults and was recently been commissioned by Orion Books and the Conan Doyle literary estate to write a new Sherlock Holmes novel, The House of Silk, to be published in November.
Anthony is also a supremely successful screenwriter, guaranteed to pull in TV's biggest audiences for the shows he creates and writes - including Midsomer Murders, Poirot, Foyle's War and Collision. In Spring 2011, ITV1 broadcast Anthony's latest 5-part primetime drama, Injustice. Anthony is currently writing the screenplay for the second Tintin movie, Prisoners of the Sun, to be directed by Peter Jackson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg.
Anthony is a born polymath; juggling with seeming ease, writing books, journalism, TV series and movies, research trips and book tours. Yet, in spite of all the attention and plaudits he has received - from being named the National Year of Reading's first Champion Author to being invited to tea at 10 Downing Street (by three successive Prime Ministers) - Anthony's chief pleasure remains writing.
For more about Anthony's life and work, go to www.anthonyhorowitz.com