Year 2 had a fantastic morning at Kirkham Grammar School being lucky enough to attend an author event with Clare Balding. Clare was very interesting and captivated our children for over an hour talking to us about the events that inspire and are featured in her books. 

Clare asked us all about our families and animals answering many questions along the way. She gave lots of great advice such as "be fun to be around and be positive", "have a discussion, work as a team, don't have an argument (team sport means fun and success)" and  "you get better at writing the more you do" telling us she wrote her latest book 'The Racehorse Who Learned To Dance' four times before she was happy with it. 

Clare is an ambassador for the Riding For The Disabled Association and discussed how this and the rider Natasha Baker (who has won 5 gold medals in total at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympics in the dressage competition) inspired events in her latest book.

When we got back to school in the afternoon, Year 2 decided they would like to start writing their own stories based on their pets and real events in their lives, so that's just what they did (with their signed copies of Clare's books all around them!). The event definitely inspired some young authors to write!

Thank you very much to Cathy Halsall, Michelle Tickle and all the staff at Kirkham Grammar School and to Elaine Silverwood from Silverwood Events for organising and inviting us to this special event. We really had a wonderful time. 

(Cover photo of Claire meeting Clare was taken by Michelle Tickle at KGS)

Author visit to see Clare Balding