PUPILS finishing their final year at Green Lane Primary School, in Barnard Castle, have been given words of encouragement by a historical author.
Writer Alex Marchant, who recently published The Order Of The White Boar, spoke to the youngsters about how difficult it was for her to make the transition from primary school to secondary school.
Holding up her book she said: “This book is partly about the transition you are all about to make.
“The main character, Matthew, is 12-years-old. He is sent to Middleham Castle to be a page boy and is scared and lonely. At first he doesn’t know anyone when he arrives.”
She added that the book is set in the time that King Richard III was the Duke of Gloucester.
Kim Harding, of the Northern Dales Richard III Group, told the children that she became interested in the king when she began to read up about him.
She added: “What I read about this king seemed really unfair.
“People have said mean things about this king, but he did a lot of good things.”
Mrs Harding added that Richard III was an important figure in Barnard Castle and his emblem, the boar, can be seen on both the castle and St Mary’s Church.
The youngsters were later given copies of the book and were given an opportunity to quiz the author about her craft and why she became interested in writing.
