Author visit is another tick on Rainworth pupils’ bucket list

Tom Palmer is the man behind titles such as Armistice Runner, Real Cricket and Over the Line - and he paid a visit to Lake View Primary School, on Rainworth Water Road, to pass on some tips.

Vicky Shirtliffe, Year 5 teacher, said pupils in Years 5 and 6, aged nine-11, were learning about World War Two, and Tom had written books set at the time.

She said: “We decided to use these books and then invited Tom in.

“He came and did some workshops with Years 5 and 6.

“He’s also written books about football, so we gave them to Years 3 and 4 and he did workshops with them as well.”

She said Tom also led an assembly for the children, talking about how he got into writing, having not enjoyed reading or writing when he was at school.

Mrs Shirtliffe said: “He was amazing, the children were blown away by him. They were so excited by him, by his enthusiasm.”

And she said Tom’s visit was also a big tick on a special challenge the pupils have been set.

She said: “As part of Lake View’s 50th anniversary a couple of years ago, we set launched a ‘50 things to do before you leave Lake View’ for the pupils.

“One was to meet a famous author and now we have four classes that have done that.”