Our theme for World Book Day this year was Writing About Sport.
Broadcaster and journalist Emma John visited Downside to talk about her life as a sports journalist working for the Guardian, the Observer, the BBC and many others, followed up a few days later by Scyld Berry, chief cricket correspondent for the Daily Telegraph who explained how he put together his article on the visit of the Australian Ashes to Downside School Team in 1930. Other World Book Day events included the final of Book Champion in which pupils from shared their passion for books. Sofia won this year with an inspiring talk about A Darker Shade of Magic by V E Schwab. Meanwhile in the boarding houses events led by the library prefects included an elaborate escape room mystery and beautiful bookmark making. Our caterers joined in the fun at lunchtime with labels linking the food to top children’s books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and I Will Never Not Eat a Tomato. Finally, the second edition of the Downside Literary Magazine was published just in time for the big day.