My Westindian Presence in an English School Day

Awarded a C. Day Lewis Fellowship, 1977–8, I became a writer-in-residence in a south London comprehensive school. I read and talked to hundreds of the children. I conducted writing workshops with altogether 82 of the 14–17-year-old girls. I gave two poetry reading sessions for teachers. I organised an evening's reading with pupils and myself at a local community hall. That Fellowship experience started me off and has kept me on the road to school again.