On 8 November 2012 QueenSpark Books celebrated its 40th anniversary with a fundraising event that reached its target towards the printing of BRIGHTON: The Graphic Novel

The fundraiser was attended by Brighton & Hove Mayor, Bill Randall and one of our patrons, Professor Dorothy Sheridan MBE who reflected on why QueenSpark Boos has survived so long and why it’s important that it continues to flourish.

But the event wasn’t just about speeches. There was an ample supply of refreshments including a bespoke micro brewery ale, a book stall, a popular film show of Brighton movies compiled by Frank Flood, a video slideshow of QS images past and present, a Silent Auction and a raffle.

These are the wonderful prizes that people took away with them after the raffle was drawn:
3 x Virginia Nicholson author signed books – courtesy of Virginia Nicholson
Lunch for two (up to £18) at Pavilion Gardens Café – courtesy of David Sewell
2 x free entrance to Wellsbourne Society event evening – courtesy of Dr David Bramwell
Brighton Photography Book (value £20) – courtesy of Melita Dennett
QS books bundle – Queenspark Books (5 books)
JJ Waller photographic book
Signed copy of Peter James book – courtesy of Peter James
Harveys Brewery gift pack voucher – courtesy of Harveys
Organic Veg Box – courtesy of Stella Cardus and Gerry Holloway
My Policeman signed book – Bethan Roberts
QueenSpark Books Catching Stories T-Shirt
6 copies of From Russia with Love – book by Ian Fleming
City Reads From Russia with Love T-Shirt
BN1 boardgame – courtesy of Paul Stapleton
Pair of tickets to any event at The Latest music bar – courtesy of Jeff Hemmings
Set of Spillfs graphic novels 2 & 3 – courtesy of Tim Pilcher
Set of 9 Little Books of Vintage (worth £53.89) – courtesy of Tim Pilcher
A-Z of London Road book – courtesy of George Coles
Alan Moore: Storyteller & The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga (worth £50) – courtesy of Tim Pilcher
Brighton & Hove Photo Book Volume II (worth £9.99)
Erotic Comics. A Graphic History 1 & 2 (worth £33.98)

Some fantastic lots were also secured in our Silent Auction:
One successful bidder bagged a guided heritage tour of Brighton and group history talk with Dr Geoffrey Mead for herself and five friends. The same bidder also acquired the Bespoke Brighton film DVD compiled by Frank Flood that was screened at the fundraiser.

Other bidders secured their own Desert Island Discs (professionally produced CD recorded at Radio Reverb by Melita Dennett); a signed copy of the book Alice in Sunderland by artist Bryan Talbot and a drawing of the West Pier by artist Ned Hoskins.