www.mywokingham.co.uk
november 2023
MyWokingham
COMMUNITY
21
Children’s festival especially for bookworms
Y
oung bookworms enjoyed a special event just for them recently. Wokingham staged their annual Children’s Book Festival over two days with some big names in attendance. Illustrator Nick Sharratt, who has collaborated with popular authors including Jacqueline Wilson, Julia Donaldson, Kes Gray and Michael Rosen, dropped into Wokingham library for a masterclass in drawing. Nick has created illustrations for over 250 books including over 60 of his own titles, including much-loved favourites Ketchup on Your Cornflakes and Shark in the Park. He told My Wokingham: “It is always lovely to meet your readers and this event is even more special as I haven’t been doing this since Covid.” When asked what a youngster should do if they wanted to follow in his footsteps as an illustrator, he said: “I wanted to do this ever since I was small. I always drew at school and joined their art club. I entered a lot of art competitions and then went on to art college.” And he said he loves collaborating on a new project. “Often the author is present for a new story and we bounce ideas off each other. I do produce rough drawings and now quite often the author will trust me with creating the right characters.” Nick gave an amusing presentation and then held a masterclass in drawing with his images projected onto the wall as the children drew along. Local author Holly Webb is one of Britain’s best-loved children’s writers. She has written more than 150 books and her work has been translated into over 30 languages. Holly didn’t have far
to come for the book festival as she lives in Tilehurst, just outside of Reading. Ally Sherrick is the award-winning author of stories full of history, mystery and adventure. Her latest book, Vita and the Gladiator is the story of a young girl’s fight for justice in the high-stakes world of London’s gladiatorial arena. James Carter, award-winning children’s poet, non-fiction writer and musician, provided a buzzy and highly
interactive session full of poetic and musical madness. Children joined Georgia Byng to see why they are writers too. She gave a fun talk about ideas and characters, about stories and words and different worlds - from magic monsters to hypnotic children to glowing animals with lots in between. Zanna Davidson talked about child-inventors and encouraged the children to come up with their own amazing inventions. Children joined author/performer Gareth P Jones in creating a brand new who-done-it where they created the story, played the suspects, discovered the clues and solved the mystery! Storm Horse author Jane Elson introduced the children to the Secret Horse Society and the audience was
Care home residents are flying high
T
hree residents at Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court, in Wokingham, travelled to Blackbushe Airport, in Surrey, for an experience they will never forget. Accompanied by Sharon Fletcher, one of the Home’s Activities Coordinators, each one enjoyed a life-changing 30-minute flight. Residents Tony Newman (80), Les Langley (84) and Bryan Adams (87), who is in a wheelchair, explored the local area from the skies, marvelling at the views of Surrey’s rolling hills and majestic woodlands. Asked about why he wanted to embark on this adventure, Les Langley said: “I like to try different things. However, I never thought that at this stage of my life, being 84 and with just one leg, I would be able to experience this.” He then added: “But, even though I have a disability, that will never hold me back!” Tony Newman remarked: “I just want-
ed to show my wife and my daughters that I am still an action man. Age will not stop me!” And Bryan Adams said: “Many years ago, I went up in a light aircraft flown by a colleague, who still visits me from time to time. I can’t wait to tell him about this. He added: “I also wanted to see the world from a different perspective.” Sharon Fletcher, determined to support the residents’ wellbeing at Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court, came up with this thrilling idea when she was walking with her grandson around the area where Blackbushe Airport is located. “My grandson is fascinated by aeroplanes, so we watched the planes taking off and landing. It then popped into my mind immediately, ‘What a fantastic experience a flight would be for the residents!’” The activities coordinator discussed the idea with the residents, who virtually
jumped at the chance. Sharon then applied for three flight scholarships at the local airfield and, miraculously, she was awarded all three. Aerobility, the organisation that grants flight scholarships, is always inundated with applications from people who have a disability, so the residents were naturally astonished when they received the good news. Sharon Fletcher said: “I am so delighted the residents had a fun day. I am extremely proud of them all, having the courage and determination to try something new, no matter the age or disability. They are true gents. Abigail Cranston, the home manager at Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court, added: “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for our residents who took part. We were absolutely thrilled to be able to experience this and are very grateful to Aerobility for organising this event. Up, up and away!”
sworn into becoming members while Iszi Lawrence took the audience on a swashbuckling adventure through history in her book Blackbeard’s Treasure. Fiona Barker introduced Fox’s Favourite Autumn, a funny and quirky story full of humour and heart and Clare Bevan was keen to pass on her love of poetry in an interactive session. She gave the children plenty of fun, using all sorts of sounds and strange characters. Nizrana Farook, best-selling author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant and The Boy Who Saved a Bear, gave the children the chance to create a poem as a group. And Rikin Parekh held a character drawing masterclass as he showed the audience how he draws human and animal characters from his books.
