'Childhood lasts a lifetime': Relive Baroness Floella Benjamin giving the BookTrust Annual Lecture

Published on: 12 October 2018 Author: Catriona Wightman

Authors, illustrators and publishers gathered together to hear Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE give the 2018 BookTrust Annual Lecture last night.

Floella Benjamin gives the BookTrust Annual Lecture

Stars including Philip Ardagh, Liz Pichon, Ed Vere, Marta Altés, Christopher Edge and Fleur Hitchcock were at the event, which was hosted by the BBC's Samira Ahmed.

In a wide-ranging talk with the theme 'Childhood Lasts A Lifetime', Floella movingly discussed her own childhood experiences and explained how what happens to us when we're young stays with us throughout our adult lives - which is why children's books are so vital and authors, illustrators and publishers need to take their position seriously.

Floella called for more diversity - with race, disability and gender - and shared her life philosophy of the three Cs: consideration, contentment and confidence.

And she added a fourth, explaining that children need to see us all displaying courage to do the right thing.

But Floella also delighted many in the audience when she invited a special guest to the stage: Humpty from Play School.

Relive the evening with an inspiring moment from the Lecture and then scroll down to see our gallery...

'Denying children books dumps them into a cultural wasteland,' says Floella Benjamin

Topics: Features

Relive Floella Benjamin's lecture in pictures

Floella Benjamin prepares to give the BookTrust Annual Lecture
Samira Ahmed and Floella Benjamin together at the BookTrust Annual Lecture
Guests arrive for the BookTrust Annual Lecture
Authors Marianne Levy, Philip Ardagh and Helen Oxenbury enjoy themselves at the BookTrust Annual Lecture
Author Catherine Johnson with a guest at the BookTrust Annual Lecture
Author Ed Vere and Bookstart founder Wendy Cooling deep in conversation
Authors Fleur Hitchcock and Christopher Edge chat at the BookTrust Annual Lecture
Little Monkey author Marta Altés was among the guests at the event
BookTrust CEO Diana Gerald opens the Lecture
Baroness Floella Benjamin smiles at the BookTrust Annual Lecture
Floella Benjamin delivers the BookTrust Annual Lecture 2018
Floella Benjamin and Samira Ahmed at the BookTrust Annual Lecture 2018
Baroness Floella Benjamin and Samira Ahmed discuss Floella's speech
Floella Benjamin and Samira Ahmed talking on stage at the BookTrust Annual Lecture
A guest grabs a photo of Floella Benjamin and Samira Ahmed
BookTrust CEO Diana Gerald, Baroness Floella Benjamin, Samira Ahmed... and Humpty
Baroness Floella Benjamin enjoys speaking to guests after the Lecture
Auhors Ed Vere, Philip Ardagh and Liz Pichon enjoy chatting post-Lecture
Samira Ahmed speaks to guests after the Lecture
Baroness Floella Benjamin enjoys speaking to guests after the Lecture
Floella Benjamin prepares to give the BookTrust Annual Lecture

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Samira Ahmed and Floella Benjamin together at the BookTrust Annual Lecture

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Guests arrive for the BookTrust Annual Lecture

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Authors Marianne Levy, Philip Ardagh and Helen Oxenbury enjoy themselves at the BookTrust Annual Lecture

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Author Catherine Johnson with a guest at the BookTrust Annual Lecture

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Author Ed Vere and Bookstart founder Wendy Cooling deep in conversation

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Authors Fleur Hitchcock and Christopher Edge chat at the BookTrust Annual Lecture

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Little Monkey author Marta Altés was among the guests at the event

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BookTrust CEO Diana Gerald opens the Lecture

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Baroness Floella Benjamin smiles at the BookTrust Annual Lecture

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Floella Benjamin delivers the BookTrust Annual Lecture 2018

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Floella Benjamin and Samira Ahmed at the BookTrust Annual Lecture 2018

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Baroness Floella Benjamin and Samira Ahmed discuss Floella's speech

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Floella Benjamin and Samira Ahmed talking on stage at the BookTrust Annual Lecture

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A guest grabs a photo of Floella Benjamin and Samira Ahmed

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BookTrust CEO Diana Gerald, Baroness Floella Benjamin, Samira Ahmed... and Humpty

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Baroness Floella Benjamin enjoys speaking to guests after the Lecture

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Auhors Ed Vere, Philip Ardagh and Liz Pichon enjoy chatting post-Lecture

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Samira Ahmed speaks to guests after the Lecture

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Baroness Floella Benjamin enjoys speaking to guests after the Lecture

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