Reading school pupils get a taste of the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival

Leading school meals provider Chartwells is in the good books of Reading school pupils after organising a fun day out to the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival.

News
Compass Group news team
Wednesday 18 April 2012

On Wednesday 28 March, 14 school children from Manor Primary and Emmer Green Primary school visited the annual festival, packed with events, sessions with world-class authors and speakers and creative writing courses. The children attended a private reading and interactive session with author and historian Christopher Lloyd at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival.

The reading was based on the wallbook What on Earth Happened?, a beautifully illustrated, entertaining and eye opening insight into the story of our planet, life and people from the big bang to present day. As an extra treat, each pupil was given a signed copy of the book.

Sally Windmill, Regional Manager for Chartwells in Reading said; "For the past two years Chartwells has joined forces with the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival to hold a nationwide letter writing competition - The Write Stuff - for children and young adults, encouraging passionate creative and imaginative writing around as aspect of food that inspires them. 

"We were delighted to bring Reading pupils to the festival for such a fantastic experience and Christopher Lloyd really engaged the children with his storytelling."

Fiona Swain, Headteacher at Manor Primary School, said; "We had a lovely day and the pupils loved the session with Chris; they didn’t stop talking about it on the way home and were absorbed by the book." 

The Write Stuff competition was created to celebrate the neglected art of letter writing.  Now in its second year, this competition is divided into four categories: ages 5-11; 12-15; 16-19; and 19-21. For each of these categories there is a winner and two runners-up with the winners receiving the opportunity to attend a leading cultural or sporting event as a guest of Chartwells.

This year, Chartwells received hundreds of entries from young people all over the country, enthusing about meals they had eaten and fantasy feasts, displaying a real passion for writing creative, imaginative letters. 

Chartwells has provided food services to 47 schools in Reading since 2006 and was awarded a new four-year contract with Reading Borough Council last year.

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For more information:
Tara Carroll, Compass Group UK & Ireland
Tel: 01895 554210 / 077 9856 6405
Email: tara.carroll@compass-group.co.uk