Francesca Simon

J K Rowling  was given The Book People Award for Outstanding Achievement, her fifth Nibbie, 10 years after receiving her first one for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Presenting the award, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, "She has joined a distinguished line of British authors whose work has got the whole country reading, and whose books will be read for many years to come by successive generations."  Rowling quipped that she was pleased that ``I haven't been pensioned off just yet with a Lifetime Achievement Award,''