Back of the Net for Author Visit

Boys in the Prep School welcomed award-winning children’s author, Tom Palmer, to learn about his love of writing and history, and how he turned this into a successful career.

Author of over 60 children’s books,  including six award-winning historical fiction titles and three Puffin football series including Football Academy and Foul Play, much-loved author Tom Palmer visited Davenies for the afternoon. Tom engaged the boys by chatting to them about his background; how he did not enjoy reading as a child, how he always wanted to be a footballer when he grew up and how he eventually discovered his love of writing and of history, successfully translated this into becoming an award-winning children’s author.

The boys had an opportunity to ask questions and really enjoyed discovering how he researches his books. Tom treated them to stories about camping alone on the Fells in the Lake District, about spending a night alone in a football stadium and, most movingly, about meeting holocaust survivors.  The visit ended with a goal shoot-out (!), and a book signing session with Tom taking the time to speak to all of the boys as he personalised their treasured copies of his wonderful books.