VIDEO: Josephine Cox visits Beardwood School

4:34pm Friday 7th March 2008

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JOSEPHINE Cox urged Blackburn school pupils to follow their dreams and "just go for it."

As part of her two-day visit to her hometown, Jo visited Beardwood Humanities College in Preston New Road today, to do a storytelling masterclass.

More than 60 children from Beardwood, St Bede's RC HIgh School and primaries Lammack, St Barnabas, St Paul's and Wensley Fold took part.

The Blackburn author spoke to the youngsters about how to create characters, and bring them to life with emotions, before taking part in a question and answer session with over 150 year seven pupils.

On being asked how she first got into writing books and why, she said: "It was in my blood, ever since I was a child, and I believe that all of us can achieve something if we want it badly enough, you should just go for it!"

Coming from Blackburn is as much a part of Jo as being a writer.

In response to being asked why Blackburn features in all of her books, she said: "Because it's my Blackburn, it's where I was born and grew up and it gave me all I needed to be a writer.

"I used to sit on my front step and see life unfold around me on Derwent Street, I'd see the arguments, the laughter, and the love - there is a story in every house on every street."

Former teacher Jo said: "I taught for 14 years and I love being around children, there's nobody in the world like them, it's so gratifying to talk to them because their opinions are still forming and they're open to so much. "

Pupil Mohammed Saftar, 14, said: "It was good to meet her, and a really different experience, we learned a lot in a short time because hearing if from an expert is different to reading about it."

Reeasah Sidat, 12, added: "I was a bit nervous because she's famous, but it was really exciting and she's very nice. I'll be trying to do some of the things she talked about when I do some creative writing."