Suffolk Libraries is delighted to announce that former BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Lesley Dolphin has agreed to become a patron.
Lesley joins three other prominent Suffolk residents Emma Freud, Michaela Doherty and Gina Long who agreed to lend their name and support as Suffolk Libraries' patrons in January.
Lesley has already been supporting her local library in Felixstowe for several years as a member of the Friends Group and has kindly compered the Suffolk Libraries People’s Champions Volunteer Awards for the past few years. Her love of books and community life in Suffolk meant she regularly featured guests and updates from Suffolk Libraries on her show over the years.
She has already pledged to undertake her first big challenge to support Suffolk Libraries by tackling the Orwell Walk on 25 June.
Lesley retired in 2022 after an amazing 40 years in broadcasting, 30 of them with BBC Radio Suffolk. She is much missed on the Suffolk airwaves but remains very busy and involved in Suffolk life.
After spending time learning the ropes at BBC Radio Leeds as a station assistant, Lesley began her career at the newly launched BBC Norfolk before moving to Suffolk in the mid 1980’s. She presented various programmes over the years including her popular weekday afternoon show from 1992 right up until her retirement.
Of her many achievements over the years one standout is Lesley’s 2011 fundraising climb up Mount Kilimanjaro which was part of the hugely successful project to build the Treehouse in Ipswich for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). These days Lesley lives in Felixstowe with her husband Mark Murphy who was BBC Radio Suffolk’s breakfast show presenter until very recently.
Lesley said:
“I’m so chuffed to be asked to be a patron for Suffolk Libraries - with over 40 centres across the county the charity is embedded in local communities and does so much more than lend books! Not that I underestimate the value of books - I well remember visiting my local library when I was growing up. It was so exciting to pick four new books every week!”
Lesley says she’s not sure how far she’ll get on the 26 mile Orwell Walk but says it will be worth it to raise much needed funds for the organisation. She will be joined on the Orwell walk by Bruce Leeke, CEO of Suffolk Libraries. You can sponsor her via her JustGiving fundraising page.
Bruce Leeke, CEO of Suffolk Libraries, added:
“We are delighted that Lesley has become a patron. Her deep understanding of Suffolk communities makes her the perfect person to be an advocate for the many services Suffolk Libraries provides. Lesley is a true Suffolk institution, just like our libraries and we look forward to working together to promote the many benefits our charity brings to people across the county.”
