A BUST of former Friends of Corfe Castle Library chairman Norman McKenna now takes pride of place in the building he fought to safeguard.

Norman died in August, aged 100, but was chairman of the group for many years.

His bust, made by the late sculptor Mary Spencer Watson to mark his 70th birthday, has been donated to the village’s newly formed community library.

Friends of Corfe Castle Community Library’s Angelika Seik, pictured inset, said: “We are doubly proud of having Norman with us in spirit, in a place dear to his heart. And having a reminder of Mary’s creative work, loved by so many of us in the this area.”

Earlier this year movie legend Edward Fox officially opened the new Corfe Castle Community Library, in a ceremony attended by more than 100 people.

That opening followed months of work by the villagers, who pledged to save their library after County Hall announced in July 2011 it was closing as part of a programme of cuts.

Mr Fox, a Purbeck resident, praised the efforts of villagers for their work to safeguard the library’s future.

Speaking after this official opening, Friends of Corfe Castle Library chairman Alison AllWright said: “I am delighted by the positive outcome of everyone’s hard work and am very excited about the future.”

A group spokesman confirmed: “Mr McKenna was for many years the chairman of the Friends of Corfe Castle Library and had been fighting for its survival often and with tenacity.

“In his memory his family has generously given this bust of him to the newly formed community library.”