Thanks to our Sponsors
Contrary to popular belief, everything that Book Town Richmond has achieved was not due to vast sums of money, or large government grants. In fact, it would be quite embarrassing to people and organisations who squander millions to know how far a healthy dose of sheer bloody mindedness can get you. As I said at the opening of Book Town Richmond, it took me 3 years to get a first date from my wife !!! And Peter Baker - well, I sometimes feel sorry for his wife when I think that you just can't say no to the man!!! Our motto in Book Town Richmond is that the secret of life is to fall 7 times, but to wake up 8 !
But we have had a little help from sponsors along the way. And to all of you, no matter how small or big your contribution, we are truly indebted to you for the invaluable contribution you have made to Book Town Richmond.
1) Premier Jenkins of the Northern Cape Provincial Government very kindly made a generous financial donation to the operation of this year's Book Fair which is acknowledged with great thanks.
2) The Northern Cape Department of Sports Arts and Culture with the dedicated assistance of Jonan van Schalkwyk and Luchelle Coetzee came to our financial salvation in the nick of time. We are fortunate that we have supporters in high places!!
3) The Northern Cape Department of Library have been at or side since the inception of Booktown Richmond's first Book Fair and are instrumental in supporting our readership programme to the children.
4) ToyCoon Company and Danie Malan who not only very generously sponsored the many easels which we used but delivered them to Johannesburg all the way from Bronkhorstspruit during a big Currie Cup match. We are indebted to people like Danie who have gone out of their way to make our Festival a success.
5) Shaft Plastics and Lynette who at the very last minute came to our aid with reams of plastic which were used to wrap all the sound system materials, easels and T shirts and printed materials enabling us to get them all safe 'n sound and dry to Richmond despite driving through one of those great Karoo rain storms.
6) I would like to personally and on behalf of all of Richmonders, thank Michael Drysdale, our resident photographer, Richmond Community Development Foundation driver and the one called upon 24/7 to change, up-date, and modify the website, for his never ending smile and generosity and for just being with us in the village. Thanks my man, we love you!!
7) On behalf of all those involved in the Booktown Richmond Book Fair I would like to personally thank the wonderful writers, poets, thinkers, bookies (in the literary sense), collectors, veld walkers and talkers, to the book binders, Karoo chefs, story tellers, rock 'n rollers, and visitors who took the time and made the effort to our come little dorp in the middle of the Karoo
8) Builders Warehouse who have helped us with building and plumbing materials for the renovation of the Hall and for their continued interest in worthy causes.
9) Stuttafords Van Lines - a big thank you to Charl Pienaar who helped move container loads of books from Cape Town to Richmond the wee hours of the morning. The locals thought the drug lords had come to town!!!,
10) PG Bison in Johannesburg, who see to all our shelving needs, which is a vast contribution,
11) Pam Golding ( Karoo ) in the form of Wayne Rubidge for sponsorship of signage,
12) The NamaKaroo Foundation ( Marina ) for not only sponsorship of signage, but infectious enthusiasm for the Karoo,
13) Maritzburg College for their ongoing donation of books,
14) A lady named Mathilda ( no surname given) from the 'bosveld' who posted 4 boxes of priceless Afrikaans books from Mpumalanga to Howick because she wanted to contribute to what she thought was a great project,
15) The countless 'literati' who come to Richmond at great financial cost for the love of the written word. Thank you for opening doors for Book Town Richmond.
16) The Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Recreation in the person of Joan Villet who has gone the extra mile to assist Book Town Richmond, and who was the main sponsor of BoekBedonnerd Literary Festival in 2008, and who has given us seed funding for a literacy project in Richmond,
17) The wonderful Guest Houses in the dorp who have sponsored accommodation for our invited guests,
18) Standard Bank - a special word of thanks to Mandie van der Spuy, who sponsored the appearance fee for Patrick Mynhardt, who officially opened Book Town Richmond,
19) Demolition World, Grant and Ros, for the lights and other materials which they donated for the restoration of the Hall.
20) BKB Richmond, Adri & Merissa, for always being supportive in supplying building materials and paint to be used for the renovation of the Hall.
21) Versus Paint, Big Mike O, good friend and supplier of our all paint needs for the Hall.
22) Universal Paint, John, who has always supported us with paint when we needed it and a kind and generous individual.
23) The Richmond Book Town Committee who have worked on all of the nuts and bolts which have made the event such a success in the past and in the future.