A dream date with Jacqueline

by Adele Chadwick, Andrew Walker, Katie Chute and Lee Rourke

Last year, while they were at St. Raymond’s Primary School, Lee Rourke, Katie Chute and Andrew Walker made it known that a visit from Jacqueline would really make their day. In October, though they had now moved onto secondary school, the three got their wish.

The chart-topping author and winner of countless young fiction prizes spent two days in Netherton, visiting St. Raymond’s and also St. Ambrose Barlow, where Lee, Katie and Andrew got the chance to meet her.

During Jacqueline’s rare classroom visits, she helped and encouraged pupils of both schools to write their own stories. She also had groups developing a sequel to one of her most popular books, "Tracy Beaker".

On 14th October 1997, leading children’s writer Jacqueline Wilson came to Netherton to visit the pupils of two schools, St Raymond’s and St. Ambrose Barlow.

She spoke to the pupils about her past experiences and her future ambitions.

Jacqueline has written a number of excellent books but she is best known for ‘Tracy Beaker’, the story of a young orphan girl with a very adventurous mind and not the best of lives.

The first book that Jacqueline had published was entitled ‘Hide and Seek’. She says she cannot describe a more exciting feeling than the one she felt when she first saw one of her books in a book shop.

Jacqueline seems to lead a very extraordinary life. When she is not writing books she enjoys swimming and reading. She has a collection of over 10,000 books at her home in Kingston-Upon- Thames.

Music is another love of Jacqueline’s as it helps her relax. Her favourite singer is the late Freddie Mercury from Queen, who she is ‘quite dotty’ about.

As well as writing books, Jacqueline has written plays for Radio 4 and has recently finished a television serialisation of her book, ‘Cliffhanger’. She says she would like more of her books to be adapted for television, or even be made into a film.

When asked about all the ‘wacky’ jewellery that she wears, Jacqueline explained that as a young girl she adored jewellery but could not afford to buy any. Now she enjoys spending any spare money on the most unusual and extraordinary jewellery that she can find. As a treat to herself she bought a beautiful garnet on a silver chain when she won a big prize for her book ‘Double Act’. This was because the twins in the book are called Garnet and Ruby.

Jacqueline enjoys travelling. She was in her 20s when she first went abroad. Since then she has been to many places including New York, Cape Cod and Boston. Her favourite place is Boston, as it is well-known for its amazing book shops. Jacqueline is an extremely nice and funny person and was a pleasure to interview.

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