Governor Sir Richard Gozney has appealed to young people to put down the TV remote control – and pick up a book.

The Governor was speaking at a meeting of the English Speaking Union (ESU) — an organisation which exists in 49 countries with the aim of spreading knowledge and strengthening ties among English speaking people.

The Bermudian wing is headed by the President, Baroness Elizabeth Raben and has about 90 members. As part of its mandate, the Island's ESU regularly donates money to various organisations such as the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society (BMDS) and hosts monthly meetings.

But Baroness Raben is also trying to encourage new members to help continue their generous giving and bolster the aim of the organisation – fostering the English language.

She said: "We, like every organisation in Bermuda, want new members because people don't have time.

"When we sold our building we got quite a bit of money and we used that money for donations to different places.

"The reading clinic, the BMDS, and all kinds of things to help people along. We try to make it something that's connected to the English language or learning which does include music."

At a meeting on Friday night, the Governor threw his support behind the work of the ESU while encouraging the next generation to put down TV remote controls and pick up books.

"I have always thought of the ESU as a platform. It's an organisation where like-minded people come together. It's a platform where people can speak and I think platforms where people can speak are at a premium," he said.

"Everyone now switches on the TV. With the younger generation, how can we nudge, help, encourage them to do what I think we all did in our time, which is getting stuck into books.

"They have their role models they are just not quite the same as the ones we had. There is a common theme, though. It's something that was familiar in the 50s and 60s.

"It's the people who are a bit anti-establishment or in the American terms: 'Off the wall'."

The Governor then gave examples of Frank Gardner, a British journalist who was shot while reporting in Saudi Arabia in 2004 or British Army General Sir Michael Rose who challenged the reasons for entering Bosnia.

He also encouraged all those in attendance to place biography's of these men and other role models of the younger generation under the Christmas tree in support.

"If the theme is not only to get together and share friendship but to encourage a level of debate among people of education then we need to get the next generation reading to equip them to take on the next level," he added.

n Anyone interested in joining or finding out more about the ESU should email to this address: dancingledge@northrock.bm