LOUGHTON: John Hegley visits school (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LOUGHTON: John Hegley visits school

2:43pm Thursday 7th October 2010 in Epping Forest News By Edmund Tobin

RENOWNED poet John Hegley delighted a young audience at Debden Park High School with his unique performance style.

Mr Hegley, who has published many best-selling volumes of verse, attended the school, in Willingale Road, Loughton, as part of National Poetry Day.

As well as taking part in the school assembly, he headed several workshops with students to perform many of his best-known poems complete with musical accompaniment from his mandolin 'Steve'.

Mr Hegley is well-known throughout the country having sold-out many venues with his performance poetry, and is a regular at the Edinburgh Festival.

Debden Park head of English and media studies Sharon Palmer said: “We were delighted that John agreed to come to our school. Our students were excited and inspired by his unique approach to poetry. As a school with a Performing Arts specialism and rated as Outstanding by Ofsted, this just underlines how vibrant and innovative our school is.”