Bristol man's dedication to central library

For almost 40 years, he has worked at the Bristol Central Library as the city's art librarian.

However, Anthony Beeson will not be saying goodbye to the library for good as he has pledged to return as a volunteer to sort through four decades of his paperwork.

Mr Beeson will also return to carry out research for books and papers he hopes to write on his wide range of interests, which include Roman mosaics and the history of Bristol.

While not at the library, he will be engaging in his other passion – designing models of dinosaurs that an Anglo-Chinese company then make and sell across the world.

This sideline started when he bought a model from the company from eBay, wrote to them pointing out some anatomical inaccuracies, and was recruited as their principal designer.

The toy dinosaurs are now on sale at shops including Borders on the Clifton Triangle.

Mr Beeson, 61, from Coombe Dingle, said that his fascination with dinosaurs and the Roman world started as a little boy growing up in Brighton.

"I've certainly kept in touch with my childhood," the committed bachelor said. "I have not been afraid to stay much as a child in many ways.

"I have a great feeling that what enthrals us at the age of seven or eight stays with us for the rest of our lives, often there in the background just waiting to come to the fore."

Mr Beeson moved to the Central Library in 1972 from the Courtauld Institute of Art's library to take up the appointment of fine art librarian and to run the recently founded specialist Fine Art Library.

He had only been to Bristol once before, to visit Blaise Castle as a boy, and only initially envisaged staying in the city for three years before moving on.

But he was soon captivated by the library and by the city, both of which he went on to write books about, including Bristol in 1807, which looked at life in the year the slave trade was abolished.

Mr Beeson said: "I have had such great enjoyment working at the library, with some fabulous and very knowledgeable staff, and on the whole I think that I have had a jolly good career.

"The first time I walked into the Central Library, I was overwhelmed by this building and its magnificence.

"Every day I can still say that I count myself blessed that I work in such a wonderful building with such a wonderful book stock."

Mr Beeson has been instrumental in the library's scheme of allowing the public to handle books.

During his long career, he has been committed to opening up the library and its treasures to more people and for that, he should be truly commended.