What started as one man’s move to include novels by the author of The War of the Worlds at Worcester Park’s library, resulted in the renowned writer’s great-grandson judging a competition based on his famous ancestor.

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H.G. Wells’ The Argonauts of the Air incorporated Worcester Park as the setting for the 1895 novel – and 2016 celebrates the 150th year of his birth.

Richard Johnson, a fan of the author from Oaks Avenue, was disappointed to find that Worcester Park’s library had none of the author’s novels in stock, and so set out on a mission to populate the library with his works.

He said: “I acquired a complete set of 12 H.G. Wells novels for £50 on eBay and visited local traders door to door, asking if they would buy one, sign it, add their logo, and donate it to the library.

“Spurred on by 12 out of 13 traders agreeing, I bought two more sets and continued working my way around the high street. The support from small local shops, even charity shop teams, was amazing.

He said that by the end of October, more than 40 H.G. Wells books had been added to the “growing collection” in Worcester Park library, around twice the number found in the rest of the borough.

He added that as Worcester Park is split between Epsom and Ewell and Kingston, Surrey County Council and Kingston Council agreed that the books can be loaned to readers with their currents library cards.

Mr Johnson also organised three H.G. Wells competitions in the last weekend of October – a Time Machine colouring competition, an art ‘inspired by H.G. Wells’ competition and ‘The Argonauts of the Air’ flying competition where children could design paper aeroplanes.

The aptly named H.G. Wells pub in Cheam also agreed to sponsor the event, with winners receiving a £10 book token and the overall winner receiving a family meal for four with drinks.

Professor Dominic Wells, the great-grandson of the famous author, was tracked down by Mr Johnson and agreed to judge the competitions, along with Mayor of Epsom and Ewell George Crawford and Shirley Mitchell of Diabetes UK, the charity co-founded by Wells in 1934.

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Shirley Mitchell, Professor Dominic Wells and Mayor of Epsom and Ewell George Crawford with the winning pieces

Mr Johnson said: “I’d like to thank everyone, across the three Boroughs that make up Worcester Park and beyond, who took part in activities and events to celebrate the 150th Birthday of H.G. Wells and hopefully many will enjoy reading the collection of H.G. Wells books we now have back in the library.

“Thank you to Worcester Park’s local traders who bought and donated books, to Kathy and her team at Worcester Park library and to the generous H.G. Wells pub, for the competition prizes.

“Thanks to the competition judges, Professor Dominic Wells - who travelled across London to see us and gave us a tangible link with H.G. Wells - Mayor Crawford of Epsom and Ewell and Shirley Mitchell of Diabetes UK.