PUPILS at a Calne school took a giant leap into the world of Roald Dahl when they joined in celebrations to mark 100 years since the author’s birth.

Children at St Margaret’s Preparatory School took part in Roald Dahl Day last week as they found out more about the man whose most famous works include Matilda, The BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Older children participated in the Puffin Virtually Live broadcast from The Cambridge Theatre, London, where the musical of Matilda is playing to sell-out audiences. They were able to see the cast perform, and to draw along with Quentin Blake to create an Oompa Loompa.

They were also able to watch the naming of Dahl’s most villainous of villains and were inspired to be more adventurous in their own writing by learning how Dahl created his own words such as gloriumptious and squiffling.

After the broadcast, pupils in Years 3 to 6 continued to draw in the style of illustrator Quentin Blake, while those in Year 2 created a collage of their favourite Dahl characters. Children in Year 1 discussed his stories and read George’s Marvellous Medicine together. Reception pupils enjoyed re-enacting the Enormous Crocodile around the school grounds.

Headmistress Karen Cordon said: “The anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl was a wonderful opportunity for our children to explore the many different aspects of his work and to be inspired to create their own magical stories and pictures.”