At the chalkface: ‘Go on sir, tell us a story!’

I am wandering down the Portobello when an alumna hails me.

She has recognised my dotard form.

“Hey! Story man! You were the story man.”

So long ago.

“The Three boys and Death.”

Ah, Chaucer. The Pardoner’s Tale. The best story ever told. A killer.

“Still remember it.”

We catch up on things. Lovely.

“Go on, sir. One more time...”

Story-telling is just about the most important thing you can ever do in English. It cuts across class, language, culture and even literacy. Children always want to hear (or tell) a good story. They think they’re not really working. Well, they’re so wrong.

We had story time every day in registration. All you need is silence, a sympathetic atmosphere and deep trust. If someone has the courage to tell her story, you shut up and listen. Attention must be paid. The classroom became Chaucer’s Tavern and I was the Host and we sat on cushions in a circle.