TO say that the visit of acclaimed author Michael Morpurgo to Crediton Community Bookshop (CCB) last Friday evening (November 18) brought out the crowds would be an understatement.

Long before his scheduled 4pm arrival the queue to meet him already stretched some 20 yards down the High Street, and the author had to be smuggled in through a side entrance to reach the front of the line.

The orderly and good-natured crowd outside, very many of them excited children with their parents, were treated to hot punch or hot chocolate, soft drinks, sausage rolls and pasties by staff volunteers running a continuous food and drink shuttle service.

Crowd members competed among each other about how far they had come to meet the distinguished visitor. (At least one family had travelled specially from Bristol).

Once inside the shop the excitement visibly mounted, as those not already bearing their Morpurgo favourite surveyed a table laden with his work to decide which they would like to read next and have personally signed.

The author of "War Horse" and numerous other immensely popular books was most generous in the personal time he spent with each guest, asking about their favourite reading and good-naturedly chiding one little boy whose football shirt loudly proclaimed his support for Arsenal — not Michael’s first choice!

The author has numerous demands upon his time but, as a Patron of the Crediton Community Bookshop, the only independent new bookstore in Mid Devon, he made a special point of visiting the newly-relocated store, pointing out that: “Every town needs a great book shop. Crediton has one. Long may it continue!”

It is not too late to stock up with Morpurgo titles in time for Christmas.

Dee Lalljee, the bookshop manager, still has copies of all Michael’s most popular works, and a special signed bookplate to go inside each one ordered (while stocks last).

She said: “That’ll pretty well guarantee broad smiles when they open what’s wrapped up under the Christmas Tree!”

Future author events at the bookshop include Crediton-based medical herbalist and historical researcher Anne Stobart to sign copies of her new book "Household Medicine in Seventeenth Century England" from 1pm to 3pm on Friday, November 25; Dr Todd Gray MBE signing copies of his latest books "Strumpets and Ninnycocks and How to swear like an Elizabethan in Devon" on Saturday, December 3 from 10.30am to 12.30pm and An Evening with Performance Poet Matt Harvey, including work from his most recent project “Sit!”, an entertaining exploration of dogs and their owners on Thursday, December 8 from 7pm. Tickets are £5, to include wine and nibbles.

To keep up-to-date with all the planned events and developments at the bookshop, drop in, visit: www.creditoncommunitybookshop.co.uk or follow the Bookshop on "Facebook".

Alan Quick