SCHOOL kids in the Forest of Dean are in line for gifts of Christian books over the next few years as part of the bequest of a little-known benefactor.

The gifts are in the will of Harold Francis Johnson, who at one time was a jobbing carpenter who went from job to job on a bicycle.

Mr Johnson, who hailed from Sunningdale in Berkshire, lived for some time in the Cinderford area, where he was a member of the Open Brethren church, and married a girl from the Forest.

Don Dickenson, a helper with Teens in Crisis in Mitcheldean, is agent for the Johnson Trust and he is distributing the books starting with primary schools.

"I am afraid I know very little about the man behind the bequest, other than that he moved away from the area and became something of a millionaire," Mr Dickenson said.

"He moved to the Slough area and set up what turned out to be a thriving business. At Langley, near Slough, he built houses and shops, and it is the rent from these premises which supplies the money for the books given to schools.

"Retiring early from business he devoted himself to working in schools using Christian films to promote knowledge of the Christian religion."

Other than that the trust is not very forthcoming about the man himself, said Mr Dickenson, who wanted to make it clear that the fund was for the one specified purpose and not open for any other funding requests. Neither would there be any point in schools applying for their book quota because each will eventually be visited by him in turn.

"I was formerly Minister of Mitcheldean Christian Fellowship but went away to Portugal to work with young people but I have come back and am now retired and I was taken on by the trust as agent to give the books away.

"The books do not represent large amounts of money, some £200 to £300 for each school, but they are a very pleasing gift. It's quite a pleasant job to give things away."

Many schools will recognise Don as the organiser of the Christmas Child Shoe Box Appeal in the recent past.