Chairman presented with Gideon Bible

THE chairman of Stratford-on-Avon District Council chairman, Cllr George Atkinson, has been presented with a copy of the Gideon Bible by Keith Harrison, branch chaplain of the South Warwickshire and Redditch Gideons.

The idea of disseminating Bibles in hotel rooms was first discussed by the Gideons in 1903, but it was not until 1908 — five years later — that the practice was formally adopted by them at a national convention.

Cllr Atkinson said: “It was hard not to feel the hand of history of my shoulder as I received the Gideon Bible, given the fascinating history associated with the book.

"It has become such a regular feature of hotel rooms these days that I’m surprised when I find a hotel room without one.”