A LIBRARIAN at the University of Reading (UoR) sent books in secret to a University in Hiroshima, Japan, after the Second World War, letters revealed.

The secret correspondence has resurfaced online, following the approaching 75th anniversary of the Allied victory over Japan, ending the Second World War in its entirety, on August 15, 1945.

The University of Reading posted a picture of a typed letter to the Japanese university on August 6 on Twitter, detailing the original story of the UoR's role.

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The UoR said: "In 1951, Hiroshima University President Tatsuo Morito sent letters to universities around the world, asking for support to re-establish the university.

"One of the things he asked for were books for their new peace library.

"Enter our hero, Mary Kirkus.

"Mary was the University Librarian at the time. She sent a selection of books to Hiroshima University, making Reading the first UK institution to respond to President Morito.

"But in the background of post-war Britain, she made this decision alone and in secret.

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"The donation remained hidden until 2011, when we received an extraordinary letter from the President of HU and an amazing gift: roof tiles from the Atomic Bomb Dome, recovered from a riverbed.

"Since then, we’ve been working with our friends at Hiroshima University to strengthen the links between us.

"In 2015, we held a symposium to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the tragedy, and in 2018, we were delighted to host visitors from HU."

The thread of tweets were published on the day of the 75th anniversary since the 'Little Boy' atomic bomb was dropped on the city.