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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 21 March 2008

9 to 5, Dolly watches over council boss

A SQUEAKY, curvaceous blonde singer will be watching over council leader James Kempton’s every move after being given pride of place on his desk.
Framed and signed, the memento of Mr Kempton’s meeting with Country and Western legend Dolly Parton will sit permanently smiling on the Lib Dem leader’s desk, where she will be able to bear witness to the important decisions the council leader takes daily.
Mr Kempton, who met Ms Parton at the launch of her reading programme the Imagination Library at the Savoy Hotel on The Strand in December, has only just received his signed copy of the rendezvous.
He said: “Dolly came to the UK to launch her project about getting kids reading and she had a reception to encourage people to take it up and she brought her guitar along.
“At Islington we regard reading as a high priority. We promote that really highly and it’s really good to have support from someone like Dolly. I’m sure [the children’s] parents will have heard of her and targeting the parents is part of it.”
But Mr Kempton said he had a little trouble getting Ms Parton to say anything, adding: “She wasn’t up for conversation but I’d have liked to ask her to send a letter to the borough’s parents asking them to encourage their children to read.”
But the 5ft singer has left a lasting impression on the Lib Dem leader.
Mr Kempton said: “She’s a very talented lady. I’m not a great fan of Country and Western but I thought she was fantastic.
“For me the real privilege was to hear her without backing vocals or an orchestra, just her and a guitar. She sang 9 to 5. I never really expected to meet her and everyone I’ve told is very jealous.”
As for the photo, he said: “It’s going to sit proudly on my desk.”

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