Book tells story of founder of Save The Children

Sally Poynton from Ellesmere believes not enough people know about Eglantyne Jebb's achievements

A librarian has written a book to highlight to people the story of one of her town's most influential residents.

Sally Poynton self-published the 48-page story about children's rights pioneer Eglantyne Jebb, who was born in Ellesmere, Shropshire, in 1876.

Jebb and her sister Dorothy co-founded the charity Save the Children in 1919, after being outraged by photos of children left starving in the wake of World War One.

Ellesmere library assistant Ms Poynton said she wanted to reach both adults and children, so "in about five minutes, they could be better informed about her life".

While a number of longer books have been written about Jebb, Ms Poynton said she felt the social reformer was still "under everybody's radar".

"We have the Jebb garden, which recognises Dorothy and Eglantyne with some sculptures," she said.

"And we have signs on the roads coming into Ellesmere, with 'birthplace of Eglantyne Jebb'.

"But really, there is not an awful lot about her."

Ms Poynton is offering a free copy of her book to every home in Ellesmere and surrounding villages.

Eglantyne Jebb was born in 1876 in Ellesmere, Shropshire, and later moved to Geneva

She decided to distil the social reformer's story into a "graphic and fast-based" illustrated read.

It highlights Jebb's most important achievement, in drafting a charter that went on to become the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"That was the piece of work she should be remembered by, but obviously I don’t think people realise that about her at all," the librarian said.

"We need to just keep reminding people what Eglantyne’s done."

Jebb's remains were reinterred at the Cemetery of Kings in Geneva in January to honour her standing in the city, where she died in 1928.