A new book has been launched showcasing the creative talents of local children and university students, and building excitement towards the Mayflower 400 commemorations.
Mayflower: The Journey Begins, Anthology of Young People’s Writing 2018 was launched at an event attended by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Sam Davey, in Plymouth’s Guildhall.
Children from the following Plymouth schools were involved in the project: Widey Court Primary School, Stoke Damerel Community College, Cathedral School of St Mary, St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, Plympton St Maurice Primary School, St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School, Manadon Vale Primary School, Laira Green Primary School, Devonport High School for Girls, Oakwood Primary Academy, Woodford Primary Academy and Goosewell Academy.
The anthology is the first in a special Mayflower-themed series of three leading up to 2020. The series, with themes mirroring the Pilgrims’ journey from beginning, through the voyage to arrival, has come about thanks to a new partnership between the University of Plymouth and Plymouth City Council, which publishes an anthology of young people’s writing each year.
Students and academics from the university are providing support by editing and illustrating the books, while the University of Plymouth Press is publishing them.
At the launch the Lord Mayor presented copies of the anthology to the 80 children whose work was featured.
They were then treated to a performance by guest speaker and storyteller Katy Cawkwell, followed by a talk on how she draws from historical events to create her shows.
The pieces selected for the anthology were chosen from more than 300 submissions by children from Plymouth, UK, as well as youngsters from Plymouth, Massachusetts in the USA.
Students from the University’s BA English with Publishing degree course visited local schools to talk to them about Mayflower 400, and encouraged them to think of stories around this year’s theme, ‘The Journey Begins’. The anthology was edited by MA publishing student Nathalie Denzey, who had overall responsibility as project manager, with Illustration and Fine Art students lending their skills to make the work as visually striking as possible.
Deputy Council Leader Pete Smith said:
“The Mayflower 400 commemorations will be hugely important for both Plymouths and it’s fantastic to see collaborative working between the UK and the USA.”
Mayflower: The Journey Begins, Anthology of Young People’s Writing 2018 is available to buy from selected businesses on the Barbican, and is also on sale on Amazon.
