Farewell to Peter Usborne

It was always a magic moment having an Usborne book in my hands, and still is. Light and colourful, with exquisitely rendered pictures at just the right size and level of detail, the text measured and salted with enough information to pique curiosity and satisfy a child's thirst for knowledge, each skilfully crafted volume was and is a pure delight.

I had a copy of a book about trains and I could never quite believe that I was the owner of the volume, it was so wonderful. Every time I opened it up, I was mesmerised. Truly mesmerised. I can see myself in my mind's eye propped up on my bed in my small, cosy room carefully peeling back the covers and feasting my eyes on each page. I must have been eight or nine. As a child who didn't find reading easy at all, it was a blessing to have so many glorious pictures to fill in the gaps in my understanding.

So it is with great sadness that I read today of the passing of Peter Usborne, the architect of this masterpiece of educational publishing. His vision shone out of every page and brightened many a child's day.

Thank you Peter. Your good judgement led me and millions of others like me on to a fulfilled adulthood. Though I never once knew your Christian name back then, it is fitting that I can link you as an individual to the quality I associate with the name Usborne now.

May your legacy continue.

'Do it better' ?

You certainly did.