On June 3, 2024, our much-loved friend and colleague, trustee of ABC to read since 2004  and Chair for over 7 years, Paul Dieppe passed away.

Paul was instrumental in the development of ABC to read, and we will be remembering him by setting up The Paul Dieppe Award to create a legacy in his name.   We will be presenting the award to members of our charity who, like Paul, have given unwavering commitment to making as many children as he possible could become readers.

Paul told us he didn’t really enjoy reading until he was about 9, when the book “Bambi” turned on all his emotions and he could see the pictures in his head for the first time. The library then became a place where each Saturday he would lose himself in books like “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings”. The only problem was that he did not want to take them back and was always getting fines! Paul went on to develop a love of books both physically and in e-form with his trusted Kindle.

Paul believed that every child should have the same opportunities to read and believed passionately that reading is the key to success.
As a headteacher of a school he had many reading helpers and helped set up ABC to read, becoming one of our founding trustees.  When Paul retired, he became responsible for training our volunteers and devising courses.
As well as personally training many of our new volunteers in the early part of ABC to read’s history, Paul was especially proud of his own ‘Parent Training’, which he set up to help children in a school, just outside Berkshire and so not eligible for help from regular ABC to read volunteers.

None of us who had the privilege of working alongside Paul Dieppe, as part of the ABC to read team – whatever our role – could fail to be convinced of his absolute, unwavering commitment to making as many children as we possibly could into readers – and enthusiastic readers at that! What higher tribute could we pay him?