Wal Warmington
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Wal Warmington
University Learning Skills Advisor
Uses Spring Hill Library and Birmingham Central LibraryFor some reading is a lifelong passion. For others, it’s a moment of enlightenment that sets them on the way to being passionate about books. That’s certainly the case for Wal Warmington, a University Learning Skills Advisor from Edgbaston.
At a crossroads in his professional life, Wal was provided with a copy of William Boyd’s Any Human Heart. It was the first time Wal had taken time to read in a number of years, and the book helped him to discover some clarity with the dilemmas he was facing.
From that point the lapsed reader rediscovered his love of books, and eventually found himself involved in the book club at Spring Hill Library, which meets every couple of weeks.
Wal finds the book club meetings hugely enjoyable as it gives him an opportunity to discuss different feelings and ideas associated with the books in a relaxed way and informal manner. Featuring people from all walks of life, from retired teachers to single mums, Wal particularly enjoys the social benefits of the meetings, which give him the opportunity to meet new people and develop friendships with them. Wal’s involvement in the book group even led to him being selected as a representative member on a panel that appeared on BBC1’s The One Show to take part in a feature called The People’s Booker Prize where he correctly selected the winning book prior to the official announcement being made.
A married father of three, Wal first arrived in Birmingham from London in 1982 to train as a social worker at West Hill College. He now works as an Academic Skills Tutor at Birmingham City University.Looking ahead to the arrival of the new library, Wal said: “It feels like it’s in the right place with the pedestrianisation of the city, the theatre nearby and all of the amenities in the surrounding area, and I think it’s going to be a great success.”
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