A CLERGYMAN has won a national award for encouraging boys to read.
Father Paul Baker, of Pennywell, Sunderland, is a volunteer at Grindon Broadway Junior School, where he encourages a love of books and leads classes and assemblies on reading.
In recognition of his efforts, he was nominated by the school as a National Reading Champion through the National Reading Campaign.
Fr Paul was among 20 people recognised as champions at a recent celebration at the Theatre Museum, in London's Covent Garden.
He received a certificate and a prize from novelist Ken Follett.
David Miliband MP, School Standards Minister, said: "I welcome initiatives that raise standards of literacy. I am pleased that the campaign is encouraging boys to read."
Margarita Acklam, headteacher at Grindon Broadway Junior School, said: "Father Paul makes a tremendous contribution to the life of the school, promoting a quest for knowledge, information, pleasure and enjoyment through reading."
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