INSPIRING: Sir Michael Morpurgo greets pupils and staff at the Barony Campus (Image: East Ayrshire Council)
A BEST-SELLING British author visited an Ayrshire school last week to promote his new book to pupils, as part of an annual literature event.
Sir Michael Morpurgo made an appearance at Cumnock’s Barony Campus to meet with Primary 7 at Lochnorris Primary School and S1 at The Robert Burns Academy to discuss his latest work, Black Beauty – A Retelling.
The War-Horse author’s school visit coincided with the Boswell Book Festival held at nearby Dumfries House.
In welcoming Morpurgo, Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People, described him as an “incredible storyteller”.
Recapping his visit, she said: “I was delighted to meet Sir Michael Morpurgo and welcome him to East Ayrshire with our children and young people.
“Sir Michael has inspired generations of children and young people through his powerful and moving stories.
“To hear him speak about a story championing kindness, compassion and humanity, was very inspiring and the young people really engaged, listening intently. What an incredible experience for young people.”
Auchinleck and St Patrick’s Primary Schools carried on the excitement with Oliver’s Vegetables author, Vivian French MBE, and illustrator Helen Kellock leading story-telling workshops.
The Boswell Book Festival is the world’s only festival with memoir and biography which includes Education events for local children, and is funded by East Ayrshire Council.
Morpurgo makes his first visit to a Scottish school since March 2024 when he greeted pupils at Belhaven Hill School in East Lothian to promote Tales of Shakespeare.
The St Albans-born writer is also known for other works such as The Dancing Bear and The Butterfly Lion which became popular reads throughout the 1990s.
