Meet the Staff

When growing up, I always remember being read The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. Each night, I was so excited to hear the next chapter and to find out what magical land was above the tree next. I also remember reading Holes by Louis Sacher in Year 6. I thought the characters were fantastic and I enjoyed how the book flicked between the past and present. It kept me guessing right up until the final chapter too!

I have always loved reading and being completely immersed into a different world or way of life that feels very real when you are reading it. When I was growing up I loved to read books by Roald Dahl. His books were always so imaginative and funny. My favourite story was Charlie and the Chocolate factory and I use to hope that one day someone would create a real life chocolate river! My children are now reading Roald Dahl and I still love listening to the stories.

My favourite book from when I was a child is The Wind in the Willows written by Kenneth Grahame. The story captured my imagination with the wonderful characters and I just loved the riverbank, wild wood and toad hall. The way in which all their friendships were formed and how they lived in their little homes and the mystical wild wood. I used to love walking along the riverbank looking out for a glimpse of Ratty and Mole! Probably why I love the great outdoors today. I have read this book every Christmas since I was little and still do today, it’s become a tradition of mine.

I loved the series of The Borrowers by Mary Norton. It followed the adventures of a family of miniature people. I was fascinated by the beautiful illustrations showing their ingenious use of everyday objects such as clothes pegs and matchboxes. The books sparked my 7 year old imagination to make a miniature world using things I found at home, my greatest creation being a complete teaset made from acorn cups and buttons. I enjoyed the film which was produced some years later but it couldn’t replace the magic of the original book.

My favourite childhood book was The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck by Beatrix Potter. I enjoyed animal stories, especially stories with animals that could be found in the area where I grew up. I loved the excitement of stories with heroes and villains! I also loved all the beautiful illustrations.

My favourite book as a child was The Worst Witch series by Jill Murphy. I loved the theme of unbreakable friendship, and the excitement of magic and adventure. I also liked that the main character was truly believable, because she was extremely clumsy – just like me!

My favourite childhood story was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl because it is full of fun, and colourful imaginative details. I often thought that I wouldn’t have minded getting the chance to go to that kind of chocolate factory to have some fun!

Miffy and Babar the Elephant were my favourite books when I was very young. I loved the illustrations and have very fond memories of special individual time spent listening to my mum or dad read them to me. Although I continued to enjoy reading I didn’t get the ‘reading bug’ properly until I read a book from an episode of the television series ‘Saphire and Steel’. It was a supernatural sci-fi/fantasy story and reading it was far more exciting and evocative than watching the television programme. I can still remember the thrill I felt and anticipation of turning each page. I was totally captivated. It made me realise how enthralling and interesting reading could be and it set me off on a lifetime of reading for pleasure.

My favourite childhood books were the Famous 5 books by Enid Blyton. I loved reading about all their exciting and mysterious adventures! My children read these books too – and I still have them at home, so maybe my Grandchildren will also enjoy them!