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Local authors inspire Ipswich pupils at Red Hat Reading Festival

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Ipswich's only independent news website

We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Seven local authors visited primary school pupils across Ipswich during last week's Red Hat Reading Festival.

Why it matters: The festival aims to get authors into schools to inspire and engage with young people, "something which most schools do not have budget for these days," according to organisers.

The big picture: Following last year's successful inaugural event, Ipswich Children's Book Group secured new funding from The Rope Trust and Let's Talk Reading Ipswich to continue the initiative.

Pupils at Ranelagh Primary School thoroughly enjoyed the visit from Tonka Uzu
Pupils at Ranelagh Primary School thoroughly enjoyed the visit from Tonka UzuRed Hat Reading Festival

By the numbers: Seven Ipswich primary schools participated:

  • Castle Hill Primary

  • Hillside Primary

  • Murrayfield Primary

  • Ranelagh Primary

  • Ravenswood Primary

  • The Beeches Primary

  • Whitehouse Primary

The details: The schools selected from seven participating authors and illustrators, with most authors based in East Anglia.

Tonka Uzu, who recently collaborated with Elena Arevalo-Melville on the picture book "Elki Is Not My Dog", visited Ranelagh Primary School on Wednesday 12 February.

Tonka Uzu at Ranelagh Primary School in Ipswich
Tonka Uzu at Ranelagh Primary School in IpswichRed Hat Reading Festival

What they're saying: "Without the reading festival, an author visit would not have been possible so we really value this opportunity to get our children interested in reading books, publishing and illustrating," said April Hyam, Literacy Lead at Ranelagh Primary School.

"The children thoroughly enjoyed the visit from Tonka and were really engaged in the assembly, her story and linked activity," she added.

Other authors to visit local schools included:

  • James Mayhew

  • Kate Rolfe

  • Cat Weldon

  • Elena Arevalo-Melville

  • Rob Ramsden

  • Mitch Johnson

The bottom line: The festival has successfully continued its mission of bringing authors into schools that could not otherwise afford such opportunities, engaging young readers across Ipswich.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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Mountain bike stolen from outside Anglia Retail Park restaurant

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

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We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Police are appealing for witnesses after a blue Boardman mountain bike was stolen from outside Tim Hortons in Ipswich.

The bicycle was taken between 10.20 and 10.30 on Thursday 6 March from outside the restaurant at Anglia Retail Park.

The blue Boardman mountain bike was stolen
Police are appealing for witnesses after a blue Boardman mountain bike was stolen from outside Tim Hortons in IpswichSuffolk Constabulary

Ipswich Police shared the appeal on social media, asking anyone with information to come forward.

Officers have assigned the crime reference number 37/12273/25 to the case.

Anyone who witnessed the theft or has information about the stolen blue Boardman mountain bike is asked to contact police via their online reporting system at https://orlo.uk/2zoxs or by calling 101, quoting the crime reference number.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

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