Community Celebrates 40 Years of Bude Library
Bude Library celebrated a major milestone on Friday 10 October 2025, marking 40 years on The Wharf – four decades at the heart of the community – with more than 100 people joining the festivities.
The celebration began with a special Rhymetime session, complete with party hats and a lively chorus of Happy Birthday. A cake baked by Library Manager Sally Travers-Clapp took pride of place, and speeches were given by Sally and Deputy Mayor Viki Herbert-Coulson.
A commemorative plaque, kindly donated by Andrew Mundy, will be installed beside the Library’s Knowledge Tree to mark the anniversary.
The Coffee & Friends group joined in alongside past staff, Cornwall Library Service colleagues, Town Councillors and staff, local libraries, community groups, and long-time Library users. The event was supported by Sustainable Bude, who provided some of the refreshments, and by many more who generously donated cakes.
“It was such a wonderful morning and lovely to see so many familiar faces come together to celebrate 40 years of Bude Library,” said Sally Travers-Clapp. “The library has always been at the heart of our community, and this milestone is a real reflection of that.”
The celebrations continued the following day, as members of the Bude Library team — Kymble, Wendy, Tammy and Sam — took part in Bude’s Awesome Foursome Quadrathlon to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK, a charity close to team member Tammy Snowsill’s heart.
The team raised an impressive £1,003.36, including Gift Aid, finishing 2nd in the Relay Sprint and 9th overall – a fantastic achievement and a fitting end to a memorable week of celebrations.
Take a look at some of the highlights from Bude Library’s 40th anniversary.
