By Isle of Wight Observer
More than 6,000 Island pupils enjoyed visits from leading authors, as part of the Isle of Wight Literary Festival’s biggest schools’ programme yet.
A total of 27 authors delivered 100 sessions across almost every Island school last week, inspiring children and young people, aged five to 18, to develop a love of reading and writing.
Best-selling authors, Hannah Gold, Maz Evans, Thomas Taylor, Darren Simpson, Fidan Meikle, and Lottie Saahko, were among those visiting primary schools. Former professional rugby player Ben Mercer, former Southampton FC footballer, Francis Benali, and award-winning author, Liz Hyder, visited secondary schools.
One unusual visitor was Teddy, the Shetland pony, who accompanied author, Alice Goring, to Holy Cross RC and Queensgate primary schools, in East Cowes. Pupils met the pony, and heard about his adventures in Teddy Goes to London.
Former Medina High School pupil, Dominic Minghella, whose television writing credits include Doc Martin, Robin Hood, and Hamish Macbeth, returned to the Island to lead a screenwriting workshop at Christ the King College.
He said: “It was really inspiring to see how dedicated and energised the Island’s upcoming writers were.
“I wish there had been something like this back in the 1980s, when I was a lad at Medina High.”
The programme was supported by the Literary Festival, a substantial public donation, WightAid, the Daisie Rich Trust, Ryde School, and town and parish councils.
Programme lead, Dawn Haig-Thomas, thanked sponsors for making the 100 sessions possible during the Year of Reading.
