The 2014 Summer Reading Challenge Mythical Maze held at the Henry Bloom Noble Library saw 146 children complete the challenge.

Sponsored by Scottish Widows for the seventh year in succession the challenge, an initiative of independent charity The Reading Agency and supported by the library, aims to open up the world of books to children, encourage creativity and widen their reading range by challenging them to read six library books during the summer holidays.

This year’s challenge produced entries of ‘an exceptional standard that required the assistance of Scottish Widows colleagues to determine the winners’ said borough librarian Jan Macartney at the prize presentation at Cronk y Berry School where His Worship the Mayor Councillor Stan Cain JP presented the prizes. Book reviews, quizzes, workshops and a competition to design a mythical creature all revealed ‘phenomenal’ talent said Mrs Macartney.

Scottish Widows managing director Juan Clarke (pictured) said that the company was pleased to have sponsored the Summer Reading Challenge once again, and that his colleagues enjoyed volunteering at the workshops as much as the children did taking part. ‘It’s a good fit with our work in the community, such as our volunteer reading support scheme Book Buddies…and it’s a great opportunity for us to get out of the office for a while.’

Mr Clarke congratulated all the children who entered and finished by saying ‘The Henry Bloom Noble Library’s the best library in the Isle of Man.’

The Mayor and Mayoress with senior library assistant Shirley Moore and borough librarian Jan Macartney

 The Mayor and Mayoress with grandchildren Kylie-Louise Rutherford, six, Minkie-Lea Rutherford, seven and Bobby Stanley Rutherford, three months