Guess what? I’ve been chosen as Ysgol Esgob Morgan’s Patron of Reading. How absolutely awesome and fandabbydozy is that? I reckon this is my greatest honour yet and I’ve been nominated for the Carnegie Medal, don’t you know (Simone’s Letters).
Ysgol (that’s Welsh for ‘school’) Esgob Morgan is a junior school in St Asaph’s, North Wales.
monument in the cathedral grounds of St Asaph’s.
Situated in the middle of a housing estate, from the outside Esgob Morgan looks like most schools built in the 1970s; single storey, flat-roofed and functional. Inside, though, there’s a warmth about the place; a buzz, a sense of expectation. Visitors can tell straight away that exciting things happen here.
I’ve visited the school twice. Once was a flying visit when I was with Bethan Hughes, the dynamic children’s librarian for Denbighshire Schools Library Service and the second time was last Friday when I was invited by the head, Mr Tim Redgrave, in my new capacity of Patron of Reading.
The Patron of Reading idea was Mr Redgrave’s. He is keen to promote reading for pleasure in his school. Scratch that; he’s more than keen; he’s passionate about it. He knows how important it is for his pupils to catch the reading bug and wanted to think of different ways to do it. He already sends his staff on training days to develop their creativity. I know that works because I once led a creative writing day for teachers and Mrs Ritchie (below) stood out from the start because of her infectious enthusiasm. Esgob Morgan’s pupils also participate in the Writing Squads and are first to volunteer to visit the public library for book events. In fact they’ve got such a good reputation for all things bookish that they were selected as the school to host the launch for Chatterbooks in North East Wales which meant they got to meet the legends known as the 2Steves
Mrs Ritchie at the back (left hand side) with Y3 and Y5 pupils
It’s no surprise then that it was in the public library at St Asaph’s that I first met Mr Redgrave. It was eight or nine years ago, back when he was merely a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed teacher. He brought his class to meet me during Book Week. I remember the session because the children were great (i.e. they laughed in all the right places) and Mr Redgrave was so full of compliments it was a bit of a struggle leaving the library afterwards because my head was so big!
While I took it for granted kids would find meeting an author a wee bit special what I didn’t realise was how much impact that visit was going to have on Mr Redgrave. It transpired Mr Redgrave wasn’t much of a reader when he was a kid. Even as a teacher he didn’t read that much fiction but when he met me, a real, live author who talked about where ideas come from and how I wrote, it was ‘like a light being switched on.’ Afterwards, he bought my books and read them all (Jade’s Story was his favourite). He hasn’t looked back since and now loves reading but it was that visit to the library, to meet an author, that turned Tim Redgrave into a reader.
Now I didn’t know any of this until last Friday when Mr Redgrave told this story in assembly during my introduction. Talk about emotional. I was welling up and I’m not even kidding.
Tim Redgrave (left) with Steve Skidmore (2Steves) (image © readinggroups.org)
Being the pro I am I managed to contain myself and the rest of the day was pretty straightforward. I met each year group:
The funky Y4s at Esgob Morgan.
Y3 and Y5 with students from Edge Hill and Y5 teacher Mr Hatwood
Some of the super Y6s
Then I signed copies of my books in the library:
Big moment, this one. Roan (seen here with Mr Hatwood) bought the last copy of There’s Only One Danny Ogle. It’s only available in Football Mad now. Hope you enjoy it, Roan. Feel free to tell my publisher, OUP, how you feel it ought to be available still as a stand alone book, won’t you???
I met Hannah and her sister, Bethan, who had broken her arm playing football. Go girl! (I shouldn’t say that, really. Apparently it was the fourth time poor Bethan had broken her arm. She obviously likes visiting the outpatients ward…
Then Mr Redgrave posed with the school council:
All too soon it was 3.15 and home time. The end.
Only now that I’m Patron of Reading at Esgob Morgan it isn’t the end. It’s actually the beginning of an exciting new adventure. Quite where the adventure will take us we’re not sure yet. My first job will be writing to the children, staff and parents to tell them how much I enjoyed meeting them. I’ll also send a copy of my new book Do Shinpads come in Pink? for the school library when it comes out in June and link Esgob Morgan to my website.
I’m hoping Mr Redgrave’s first job will be to fill the notice board in the library with creative writing the children did during my visit (hint, hint).
Am I excited about being Esgob Morgan’s Patron of Reading? Just a bit.
Remember the formula:
Schools + Writers + Libraries = Magic
This is ace. Do you think we could get every school to adopt one? Write to Michael Gove with the idea…you are a big noise in the Soc of Authors these days.
Tim Redgrave is hoping to do a piece for TES but yes, why not? Every school should have one.
I had a really good day,I especially liked the story about the ghost! It was a great day!
I had a great day too, Sion. It was lovely meeting everyone
It was a fun day, my favourite part was the scary story about the ghost, it was really noisy! I had lots of fun making the treasure map in class and cant wait to write my story about it!
Good luck finishing your map story, Josh. Maybe you could do a ghost story afterwards?
It was fun when Helena read the story about the haunted house! I had a great day and would like to read more of the books about football! It was lots of fun when we made our treasure maps and I’m looking forwards to writing my story about it in the big write this week!
Thank you. Let me know how you get on in the Big Write, Shannon
It was amazing I realy enjoyed vicious circle I realy, I want to find out what happened next it was exicting. I am going to read it I liked the map and the writing
Hi Cameron,
Hope you enjoy reading Vicious Circle. The fox fur gets people every time!
Hi Helena – Thanks for a graet day on friday.It was amazing and a little bit enbarasing for Kyle!!! it was very funny when you screamed in the ghost story. You were realy funny and the whole class realy enjoyed you and your books were really really funny but your ghost book was really the best.
Hey Jack and Amy, Glad you enjoyed my visit and I hope Kyle has recovered!
I loved last Friday it was really fun! Helena was really funny and Esgob Morgan is so luky to have a wonderful arthor like that! I am really enjoing can ponies take penelties, Helena is a really good arthor,I wish she could come again. I enjoed the hauted house, I also enjoed the treasure maps and I am looking forwards to the big write! Esgob Morgan is a small but a great school! From Caitlin
Aw, thanks Caitlin. I’m so happy that I’m Patron of Reading to such a great school
I loved the day it was fantastic I was laughing my head off thanks for the visit
it was a great day very very funny day. Hope to see you again. I am reading a lot now.
I am so delighted that you are reading more since my visit. Result, Ethan. Get in!!
Good day liked the part where we drew our own island. Great to have a patron of reading at our school.I would like to read some of your books.
Hi Dom and Luke.
Having a Patron of Reading is great, isn’t it? Mr Redgrave has some good ideas!
We like your books we think they were great.
We liked the part where we got to draw.
We thought it was funny when you hugged Kyle.
We liked the ghost story.
THANK YOU FOR COMEING
All your storys our really good.
Thanks JD & Wes
I thought you were all great, too
I loved last Friday it was really fun! Helena was really funny especially when she got Kyle and hugged him. Ysgol Esgob morgan is very lucky to have a Author who is very funny + joyfull.I am really enjoying so what if I hog the ball.I am looking forward to doing the big write so we can write about Friday.I also enjoyed drawing the treasure map + I am looking forward to seeing you again.
Thank you so much, Libby. You’ve made my day. Let me know what you think of the book when you’ve finished it
It was a fun day, my favourite part was when you hugged me in front of the whole school, it was funny! I liked the scary story about the ghost, it made me laugh! I had lots of fun drawing the treasure map and I’m looking forwards to writing about it in the big write!
From Kyle
Glad that you’ve forgiven me for grabbing you, Kyle! Thanks for being such a good sport:)
Hi Helena, thank you for a great day on Friday, it was nice seeing you.You were realy funny. We really liked your books.
Hi Hannah and Ellie,
Am so glad you enjoyed my visit. See you again soon
Hi Helena last friday was exicting, because I loved it when you screamed in that story for the boy,I loved it when you made up islands for us it was great fun and amazing.
Thank you Helena for the amazing DAY!
Thanks, Bella and Elizabeth. Hope the ringing has stopped in everyone’s ears after my screaming!
It was funny when you pulled Kyle up and hugged him, the ghost story was good, i had a great day! My favourite part was when we made the treasure maps, I’m looking forwards to writing about it in the big write!
Let me know how you get on in the Big Write, Sophie. Hope Kyle has recovered!
I loved the visit, the drawing was fantastic. I hope you visit again soon.
I had a great time, too, Alex. Glad you enjoyed the drawing
I was not here on the day. But I’ve been told it was great. Hope you visit again soon so i can join in!
Hope to meet you next time, Jack
It was a great day, my favourite part was the treasure maps, thank you for visiting us!
You’re welcome, Josh. It was nice to meet you
I’m really enjoying reading the football mad collection. I loved planning my island in the hall and am looking forward to writing my story now! Thank you.
That’s brilliant, Harry. Obviously my story is the best in the collection but the others aren’t bad, either, are they? Good luck with your island story
It was amazing when you came to our school. Matthew Year 3
When we did the map work it was good fun and we are still using the maps to write. Alfie Year 3
Hey Matthew and Alfie,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the map. Can’t wait to do more stuff with you all!
Hi Helana I enjoyed when you came in and read the book about the ghosts in the house I liked the last ghost most of all because it scared you to death. Tal Year 3
Hi Helana I like Vishos Cicle. I did not expet the in side out room. the book was amazing. Josh Year 3
Hi Helana I loved the book do golcipers were tiarerus. Becasue I liked the bit when you descrabed when megan
cut her hand.It sounded dsgusing. Molly. Year 3.
Hi Helana I loveed it when you came it was so cool having a rely righter in Are school. you are my best righter in the world. Ellie year 3
Hi Helana I loved the endin wen thiy won the trowifiu and thiy ess wotd. Lewis y3
Hi Helana i loved the maps becuise we got to put wotevere we wanted on them. Michael Y3
Aw, you guys! I’m blushing here from all your praise. It’s great I started being your Patron of Reading now because we can read and write together all the way until you are in Year 6. Cool or what?
Josh 
Molly 
Ellie 
Lewis 
Michael 
Tal
Hi Helena,
I’ve heard good things from my year 4 son, it sounds like you were a great influence!
I have 4 sons, a passion for reading myself, and I hope that they all grow to love books as much as I do.
Sometimes it takes more than a parent putting on a funny voice or doing some actions, sometimes it needs a real life “I met that author” moment to get a child’s enthusiasm going. I’ve never met an author, but from a grow up’s perspective, I get a little starstruck when I have Twitter conversations with some who’s work I’ve read, this may well be the same thing for the children!
Thank you for taking the time to visit our children, I look forward to hearing more about future events!
Sam,
Ps, sorry about the blog detail autofill, I’m on my mobile phone and I can’t change it! Guess you know what I do for a living too!
What a delightful comment. It’s parents like you, who pass on their love of reading to their children, that the world needs. I think the Patron of Reading idea is going to build unique relationships between children, authors, parents and schools and if it really takes off, I might need some make-up advice from you for all the publicity shoots, too!
I enjoyed doing the map
I relly want to by one of your books thay look relly cool and the map was cool
James and Ryan Year 3
I loved your book Do goalkeepers where Tiaras. I like you! SHANE year 3
I heard it was exellant – the story, the maps and stuff because I wasn’t there but Phoebe told me all about it. year 3 Billy
So glad you all enjoyed the day so much and I’m over the moon that you’ve read Do Goalkeepers wear Tairas? and enjoyed it, Shane. Will see you next time, Billy!
Ryan 
Shane 
Billy 
James
I loved the vist. hope you can come again.
I hope so too, Shannon
Best get Mr Redgrave to start planning!
i realy like your books helana we are reading girls fc
Thank you, Shannon. I hope you enjoy the series!