Once again we were very busy during the summer term, visiting over 30 schools and talking to THOUSANDS of staff and students!
We began the term with an iHero show at Glebelands Junior School in Leicester, before heading to our old friends at St Thomas More School in Willenhall.
Then it was a quick nip down the M1 to Milton Keynes and a return visit to Hazeley Academy in Milton Keynes.
Old friends were also visited in May – we had a lovely day and evening show at Howe Dell – the most eco friendly school we have ever been to. Great to see you Debs!
Then we were back in Leicestershire for a visit to Highgate School, Sileby – enjoy the retirement Dave!
The following week saw us in North Wales – we visited Ysgol Plas Coch in Wrexham and then headed to Ysgol Clawdd Offa – a fantastic school in Prestatyn. Despite the seagulls peppering Steve S’s car, we had a great visit – the Win Lunch with the 2 Steves Competition was ace!
The table settings and food took this to new heights! The table was decorated with party poppers/balloons and even placemats made from the covers of our books! We loved it so much that we are going to become their Reading Champions and look forward to visiting you again very soon!
We then had a great day at Everton FC’s ground, Goodison Park with the Literacy Trust and their Premier League All Stars Reading programme – that was a joy!
The following week saw us at the John Roan School in Greenwich, where we met up with a very good friend – Angie Smith who we hadn’t seen in ages!
Next day saw us visiting Churchill School in Thurmaston where we met up with another old friend – good to see you Jo. We obviously went down a storm! As this email can testify!
Hi Steves
Just to say …Â The buzz around the school after your visit is a joy to feel and see.
All your books instantly flew off the library shelves, and IÂ have been congratulated by children, staff and parents on my fabulous choice of authors!
Comments I’ve had:
“I’ve died five times. It’s really good. I’m reading it from the start … again.” (10 year old boy, loving his new Ihero book)
“Nan, I nearly wet myself, they were that funny!” (8 year old girl, who couldn’t believe authors could be so cool)
“They signed my book! They are real authors! I had lunch with them! They were dead nice!” (9 year old girl, thrilled with an autograph)
Ahhh – doesn’t that warm the cockles of your heart!
We then had a break! What!!! Yes a real holiday, not writing or visiting schools…
Steve B headed to lie on a Corfu beach and Steve S explored the Eternal City – no, not Coventry – Rome!
Back and refreshed, June was a BIG month for visits.
We headed down South to Gosport and Haselworth Primary before a couple of days with Orchard Junior School and Hythe Primary in Hampshire.
We were very pleased to be asked to speak at The SLA conference – we ended the weekend’s proceedings with a “Best of 2 Steves’ Presentation” which went down well!
Have a look at this video – embarrassing or what?! Our version of Shakespearean Tragedy!
The following week we were central! We headed to St Mary’s C of E school in Cheshunt where the Librarian said of our visit:-
“In my (too) many years inside schools I can honestly say that you guys were head and shoulders above any visiting speakers I’ve seen before. Very entertaining, informative, inspirational and I was astounded at how generous you are with the writing tips! You put it in such a way that made ME feel I could go home a write a book!”
Aww, shucks and blushes all round…
Next day saw us at Bedford School (Nick Cook, the England Cricket Captain went to school there!), before we headed to Parkfield Primary School in Birmingham where Steve S bumped into one of his ex pupils – she’s now a deputy head. Made him feel old!
Ended the week with a brilliant day at Leicester Racecourse – no, we weren’t gambling, we were working with the brilliant Whatever It takes Organisation and their Leicester Record Breakers Day.
We met up with two other brilliant writers – our old mate and poet, Dave Harmer and Joe Craig.
For more info about this brilliant day, click here
The following week was a Welsh one!
We began with a day at the fabulous Monmouth Literary Festival, before we headed North to our friends at Ysgol Caer Drewyn in Corwen. It is a beautiful location and the staff and students are great fun! We launched the Summer Reading Challenge with Denbigh Libraries. Get reading kids!
It was another trip to the Wonderful Cystennin School where we are Patrons of Reading. We had a fab day and they upped the game with the Win Lunch with the 2 Steves Competition – we not only had our book themed placemats but also our own tablecloth!
We then headed to Bodnant Community School – where we presented the awards for the 2 Steves’ Reading Challenge. The winning class read an amazing 42,000 pages in less than 3 months! The student who read the most pages managed to complete 18,000! Incredible stuff and glad we can promote such a great scheme.
The following week saw us in South Wales and in Pembrokeshire: we visited Pennar School, Glannau Gwaun, Fenton, Pembroke Dock and St Aidans. They were all lovely visits and we liaised with Pembrokeshire Libraries to help launch the Summer Reading Challenge – thanks to them for helping us to promote reading for fun!
The final week of travelling took us to Cornwall where we visited Redruth, Cape Cornwall, Humphrey Davy and Wadebridge.
We were honoured to meet Ian Oliver at Redruth – he had been an actor in Blake’s Seven in the 80s!
We then ended our academic year’s visits with a trip to Ebbw Vale and Tredegar, where we launched the Summer Reading Challenge for Blaenau Gwent. Thanks for asking us back, Donna!
A MASSIVE thanks to all those who have looked after us/organised us/booked us/listened to us/written to us – we really do love visiting you all and look forward to seeing you again in the very near future.
