Pocklington School welcomes renowned author Tom Palmer | News And Newsletters | Pocklington School | Inspections | Private Day & Boarding School for girls and boys In East Yorkshire

Palmer is the acclaimed author of over sixty books covering themes of history, spies, and sport. He spoke to students about his own writing, what has inspired his work, and revealed some of his techniques for gathering and synthesising information. He engaged the students in a lively penalty shoot-out before leading them in creative writing workshops in the afternoon. 

Natalia Ward, School Librarian, noted,

Tom’s lively talk sparked genuine excitement around books reading, and writing. He shared the inspiration for his stories, some behind-the-scenes snippets of his own life, and a few gentle nudges to pick up a pen and start dreaming.  One particularly moving moment for me was sharing a piece of the School’s history with the children; a near century-old mirror damaged by Nazi shrapnel during the Blitz in September 1941. Once hanging above the bed of the School’s Head Prefect, the mirror became a creative springboard for pupils who were encouraged to imagine its story through fiction.” 

First Year pupil, Kitty said, 

It was a very inspirational event. The best bit was hearing about what influenced his writing; for example, he used his daughter as inspiration. Also, it was great to hear that despite a few setbacks in his life, even when people doubted him – when he didn’t pass his tests in school, he still pushed through and got into the career he dreamed of.”

Second Year pupil,  Esme echoed her comments by saying, 

Tom Palmer is a wonderful author. I loved reading his books and I loved the event! He made it all so much fun and interactive for everyone: there were ball games, he told us lots of interesting facts and gave us lots of good ideas during the creative writing workshops. It was phenomenal!”

To celebrate the pupils’ dedication to reading, Palmer presented signed certificates to a few of those who  completed the entire series of his books. This gesture not only recognised their efforts but also motivated them to continue their literary pursuits. 

Second Year pupil, Joseph said, 

I liked the interactive bits, like the quizzes at the end and his use of real-life objects to put his point across. He mentioned things that resonate highly with me, like how to start a story and how it’s usually very difficult. His creative writing lesson, in particular, helped me with how to get a starting point for a story.”

Natalia Ward continued,

The event was a resounding success seamlessly blending fun with inspiration for learning and making a lasting impact on both the pupils and the school community.  The visit gave pupils a rare opportunity to meet a published author, ask questions, have books signed and even discover a few ideas behind how great stories are made. We’re all looking forward to seeing where their imaginations take them next.”