Patron of Reading

In spring 2018 I was thrilled to accept an invitation to become the first ever Patron of Reading for Beechwood Park School, Markyate, Hertfordshire, UK.

During 2018 I will be going in to the school regularly. My activities will include author talks, creative writing workshops, judging writing competitions, suggesting reading lists, presenting awards to Year 6 pupils at the school's summer Booker Prize Awards ceremony and much more.

Books are a vital part of every childhood – for the doors they open, for the worlds they unlock, for the new dreams and possibilities contained on every page. They send the imagination soaring and they help us forge an understanding of who we are.

During my patronage I hope to inspire Beechwood Park’s students to explore their own creativity, to give them writing tips and helpful feedback, and to join in a school-wide discussion about the books and authors that enthrall us all.

I will post reports about my Patronage and photos from the events on this site as well as on social media.

Pictured above: Jonathan with Edward Balfour, Headmaster of Beechwood Park School, and Liz Green, the school's Librarian.