Pictured above: Michaela Strachan with some of the children
who attended the Big Read
One of Burton-upon-Trent's biggest businesses is celebrating
setting a new Guinness World Record after holding the biggest
bedtime story reading ever.
More than 650 adults and children, made up of network members
and people from the local community, helped Palletforce to set the
record for the most adults reading to children in a single
location.
In an email sent to Palletforce Guinness World Records confirmed
the record was set and congratulated the company for its
success.
Michael Conroy, Chief Executive of Palletforce, said: "We are so
happy and proud to be world record holders - it's a brilliant
achievement.
"We could not have done it without the support of our fantastic
membership and the excellent local people of Burton upon Trent,
many of whom came along on the night. As a major local employer we
were happy to host an event that so many people from the local
community could take part in."
According to Guinness rules Palletforce, the UK's leading
palletised distribution network, had to have more than 201 adults
reading to 201 children.
Television star Michaela Strachan, who first found fame on The
Really Wild Show and more recently Zoo Babies, led the reading of
'No Job Too Tall', a children's book created by Palletforce in an
industry first.
She also spent time with Rhiannon Miller, six, from Branston,
who has autism and won a competition to be part of the record
attempt.
The world record was part of a free event last month to launch
'No Job Too Tall' and was held in Palletforce's 400,000 sq ft
distribution hub, which overlooks the A38.
The hub - which is the setting for the story - was transformed
for the night with fairground rides and refreshment stalls.
'No Job Too Tall', which features characters like Bob Stacker,
The Big Cheese and Phil Truck, has been published in order to
engage children and their families with the transport industry, as
hopefully they will be the next generation of logistics
professionals.
"The bedtime story reading and the book have been huge fun to be
involved with and hopefully something a lot of people have
enjoyed," added Michael.
"But there was a serious point to them which was to spark some
interest and enthusiasm in the younger generation in our industry,
and I think we have done that.
"You wouldn't normally associate a pallet network with a world
record or a children's book, but at Palletforce we like to think
outside the box and lead the pack."