Estonian president Lennart Meri has fulfilled a pledge he made to Haworth's Bront Parsonage Museum during a visit earlier this year.

He has, as promised, sent over Estonian translations of books written by the famous literary sisters. And in a covering letter to the museum, the presidential office praises Keighley News coverage of the VIP visit in February. We interviewed the president and pictured him at the parsonage.

Accompanied by his wife and an entourage of diplomats, President Meri toured the museum with its director Mike Hill and Bront Society chairman Dr Robert Barnard. He was the first head of state to visit the parsonage.

The Estonian delegation was in the UK as part of celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of its country's independence from Russia. After audiences with the Queen and Prime Minister, President Meri - a former writer and film maker - made a point of visiting the parsonage before returning home.

In the letter to the parsonage, the presidential office states: "President Meri, Mrs Elle Meri and the whole Estonian delegation have vivid memories from the visit to West Yorkshire. It was windy and at the same time sunny. The Bront sisters have depicted their home in the books so well that the Parsonage Museum looked quite familiar.

"Thank you for a kind reception and also for the nice press coverage of the event in the Keighley News, which the president has seen."

Museum director Mike Hill says President Meri's gesture is much appreciated and the books will form an important addition to the parsonage collection.

Another distinguished overseas visitor - Beijing University professor Fang Ping - visited the museum earlier this month. He presented the museum with a copy of Jane Eyre translated into Mandarin Chinese.

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