Iconic poet Ted helps inspire writers of the future

Mexborough Business Centre, located in the old grammar school on College Road, is the home of a giant mural of the iconic Iron Man, the children’s book character created by school old boy Hughes.

And Philip Sheppard, a project manager for National Literacy Trust, said activities were being organised to help children fall in love with books and poems.

He said: “We work with schools and communities in order to get children reading, writing, speaking and listening.

“Ted Hughes was a world-famous writer who wrote children’s books and poems.

“The Iron Man is used in most primary schools in the country — it’s a really good hook to get children into reading.

“We use the hook to work with children and make literacy fun and inspiring.

“We explore the work of Ted Hughes but we also have workshops and drama in this building.

“Children find the fact that this world-famous writer came from their town to really inspirationational.

“The book is very popular.

“It’s mysterious, it’s an adventure with a very relatable central character, in this young boy who finds the Iron Man.”

Philip said getting more people and schools involved as reading was “the key” to children’s success.

He said: “Reading has been proven to be the one key factor in a child’s success.

“So we’re here to get them to read and it opens up so many opportunities.

“Reading is a personal choice.

“We believe there’s a book out there for everybody.”

A Blue Plaque Trail previewed in last week’s Weekender, which was due to culminate in an unveiling of a new plaque for Ted Hughes outside the business centre, was postponed due following the death of the Queen.

It is being rearranged by the organisers, with a new date to be announced shortly.