Book launch for our 2022-23 First Story Group Anthology

In recognition of our pupils’ commitment and effort to the First Story project, we had a wonderful evening celebrating our immensely talented writers and illustrators who contributed to last year’s anthology.

From our brave pupils reading their poems and stories live on the night to our poetry workshop delivered by our 6th form ambassadors and the delicious catering by our very own Bake-off star, Sandy Doherty it was fantastic evening.

It was lovely to see how proud the pupils looked as they were presented with their copies of the book by our Headteacher Designate, Phil Temple and Writer-in-Residence, Andy Craven-Griffiths. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

Collaborative poems written on the night by all of the guests:
Summer
Heading to France on the cross-channel ferry
Makes me feel be excited (and not just because I’m a summer baby)
Golden hour on the Pembrokeshire Coast
Running through a flowery meadow with my dog, Bear.
How it always seems to rain all day on my birthday even though it’s REALLY SUNNY the day before.
Holiday to Slovenia and eating lots of cheese.
Chafing and sweating
The aesthetic summer lifestyles you see on Pinterest.
Local lads with their tops off and sunburn.

Winter
“wow, we’re still doing PE outside.”
Turning down the thermostat after my wife turns it up.
Long walks, all wrapped up, without the crowds and only the birds and the squirrels for company.
Long-johns and woollen mittens, and my golden retriever rubbing her snout in the snow.
Lobbing a snowball at a bystander and a toddler.
The frustration of de-icing the car in the morning then de-icing it again when you leave work.
Looking for the good Christmas CD but only finding the jumpy one that has “never do a tango with an eskimo”.
Warm log fire crackling in the night.
Frozen milk bottles.