BOOK readings in cemeteries must be relatively rare events, but a well-known author's appearance and reading at York Cemetery raised £1,000 for charity.
Author Tracy Chevalier is a volunteer at Highgate Cemetery in London, and recently visited a reading festival in Ilkley.
Ainslie Waller, one of the Friends of York Cemetery, heard about Ms Chevalier's visit to North Yorkshire and invited her to read in the York Cemetery Chapel.
The event proved a real success, with about 120 people packing into the chapel.
The £1,000 was raised from entrance fees, while the Little Apple bookshop, of Micklegate, York, donated £2.50 from every copy of Ms Chevalier's books it sold on the day.
Ms Chevalier herself also made a "significant" donation to the final total.
The money will be put towards general upkeep of the cemetery and maintenance of the chapel.
Friends spokeswoman Iris Wells said: "It went really well, we were very pleased. "The atmosphere inside the chapel was excellent and Tracy seemed delighted to be reading there."
The next event in the chapel will be tomorrow's carol concert, at 7.30pm. Admission is free but donations are encouraged and early arrival is advised.
Updated: 10:08 Thursday, December 19, 2002
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