A delegation from Watford, led by Canon Dick Lewis of Christ Church in Leggatts Way, travelled to a small village in Salfeet in the West Bank for the unveiling of a library.

Canon Lewis and fellow members of Watford Friends of Salfeet raised 16,000 Israeli Shekels (about £3,500) from coffee mornings and meetings to furnish and supply books for a library in the small Muslim village of Broqeen.

The village is one of 19 comprising the community of Salfeet in the Israeli-occupied West Bank of Palestine, about 25 miles north of Jerusalem. The library is housed in the Boys’ School for 331 boys aged six to 11.

Last Thursday children and parents crowded into the building, along with the Mayor of Salfeet, the deputy provincial governor and their teachers, to witness Canon Lewis, and the Vice-Consul of Belgium, who was visiting that day, cut the ribbon and declare the library open.

During celebrations at the Broqeen Women’s Centre, headmaster, Abdullah Awad, thanked the people of Watford for their support and generosity. “What we need now is more books,” he said.

Then, having explained that there is no other library in their village, he added: “My dream is that one day we shall be able to open the library to everyone in the community.”

Canon Lewis was given a commemorative plaque and was asked to thank Watford Friends of Salfeet for their encouragement and help.

Canon Lewis hopes everyone using the library would find there, not simply books, but a constant reminder that people across the world are supporting them in their struggle for justice and peace.

On returning to Watford this week, Canon Lewis said: “The area is a series of villages. Salfeet is a Muslim town and the village had not got a library, but a little bit of money in this country goes a long way.”

Watford Friends, of Salfeet, aim to build links between the people of Watford and Rickmansworth and the people of Salfeet.

Their next project is to help create a new cultural centre.