On Tuesday 21st March, Francis Holland hosted a Freedom To Think event.

We welcomed Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, authors Jonathan Stroud and Lauren St John and entrepreneurs Affe-Adel Yearsley and Aldo Monteforte to form a panel for the event. Girls from Years 3 to 8, as well as students from local school St Barnabas, crowded to the front of the hall to see the panel. Jonathan Stroud, the evening’s host, led the introductions, whilst Chris Riddell retreated to a drawing board at the edge of the stage to draw them!

Once the students and parents had been shown amusing photos from our guests’ childhoods, and heard anecdotes of their own school days (which varied from drawing in Church to having a pet giraffe!), Jonathan opened up the floor to the girls as he asked them to help him compose a story, which Chris illustrated as it unfolded. It focused on a cow called Annabelle, who fled the fields for a life ice skating in Antarctica, all whilst wearing a pink hairband!

The students then had a chance to ask questions, which varied from ‘what’s your favourite animal?’ to ‘do you base your books on childhood experiences?’, before queuing up to have their books signed by the panel.

All in all it was a wonderful event. Many thanks to our wonderful panel for coming in and providing such a fantastic evening for students and parents alike.