L-R: Nayab Fatima, Demi Pendlebury, Jasmine Massey James Govan and Bilal Nadeem
A Mickleover schoolgirl who volunteers in a hedgehog sanctuary has described her joy after receiving a handwritten letter from national treasure David Attenborough.
Thirteen-year-old Jasmine Massey was among several children at Murray Park Community School to receive letters from their favourite people as part of a letter writing assignment in English lessons.
Sir David sent a letter and signed photograph to Jasmine and fellow year nine pupil James Govan, 13, who had also chosen to write to the naturalist and BBC wildlife presenter.
While Demi Pendlebury, 15, received a signed letter from David Walliams and 13-year-old Hannah Dewis was thrilled with a response from JK Rowling.
And 15-year-old Nayab Fatima got a letter back from The Childhood Trust charity, after she wrote to thank them for their hard work.
Jasmine said: “My whole life I have loved animals and so I told Sir David that I had watched all his programmes and that he was a really inspirational person.
“I told him about volunteering at a hedgehog sanctuary and I am currently rehoming a hedgehog I’ve called Winnie, who is going through a soft release back into the wild. I also told him about bake sales I have held to raise money for the RSPCA.
“I couldn’t believe he wrote back to me and sent a signed photograph – which I have pinned to my noticeboard at home. He even handwrote the envelope.”
Children at the school took part in the letter writing task to build on their persuasive writing skills and to embed the structure and language required in a formal letter.
Demi Pendlebury told author David Walliams how much she enjoyed his writing and asked when his next book might be published.
She said: “He told me to be patient because he has some books coming out soon. I was really surprised to get a reply because he must get so many letters.”
Earlier in the month, fellow Murray Park pupil Bilal Nadeem received a letter from the late Queen, making him one of the last children to receive a letter from Her Majesty.
English teacher Craig Lindley said: “It was a pleasure to see students using their writing skills in a context that connected with the wider world.
“Having the ability to write is something that should be cherished, and it was wonderful to see students experience the joy of receiving a letter in the post – especially from such inspirational people.”
