Author has great time visiting school

Students at Old Buckenham High School were treated to a visit from author Alex Scarrow.

Mr Scarrow, who wrote the bestselling young adult science fiction novel series, Timeriders, gave a presentation of his life before he became an author and then spent time signing books and taking selfies with the year seven, eight and nine pupils.

Andrea Hassan, librarian at Old Buckenham High School, said: 'It was a fantastic day. Alex was really entertaining, it was like a stand up comedy act.'

The author, who lives in Norwich with his wife and daughter, gave an hour presentation where he discussed how he only wanted to be a rock guitarist when he left school. He told students that after struggling financially he realised he should have thought more about life after school.

'It was quite moral and he didn't have a plan when he left school,' said Ms Hassan.

'He said it was the wrong thing, that it is better to have options and he realised he should have had a plan B.'

After the presentation, which was attended by 500 Old Buckenham students in addition to 100 students from Broadland High School, Hobart High School, Open Academy and Thetford Academy, the author signed books and posed for photos.

Ms Hassan said: 'Not a lot of the students had read the books but we sold £500 worth of books and a lot of them were asking for selfies with him.

'Reading is something important to our school and we encourage every year seven pupil to read 20 books a year and year eight students 40.'

Mr Scarrow, who has also worked in computer games design, said: 'It was one of the best gigs I have done this year and the students were great.

'I love visiting schools and it is nice to see books in people's hands.'

Do you have a story to tell us? Email dma.news@archant.co.uk