Roald Dahl, 110 anniversary of birthday 📚 13 September
Roald Dahl at 110; Stories, Imagination and Cardiff Connections
The 110th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth offers a wonderful opportunity to revisit the stories, characters and magical worlds that have delighted generations of readers.
Born in Llandaff, Cardiff, on 13 September 1916, Dahl retained strong connections with the city and his Norwegian heritage. He and his sisters were baptised at the Norwegian Church, where the family worshipped. Many years later, he helped campaign to save the threatened building and became the first president of its Preservation Trust.
The activities begin by exploring Dahl’s remarkable life - from his Cardiff childhood and Norwegian family to his wartime service as an RAF fighter pilot and his unusual writing routine involving sharpened pencils and yellow paper.
Participants can discover how his stories became an international success, with more than 300 million books sold around the world. A picture quiz invites everyone to recognise familiar characters and match them to books including Matilda, The BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Dahl’s Cardiff connections lead naturally into another picture challenge featuring familiar landmarks such as Cardiff Castle, Llandaff Cathedral, Castell Coch, the Principality Stadium, the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre.
Music brings the session to a gentle and uplifting conclusion with Gene Wilder singing Pure Imagination and Sammy Davis Jr. singing Candy Man. The songs provides an opportunity to talk about imagination, childhood reading and the stories that have remained with us throughout our lives.
The slides can be used as a complete session or selected individually. Encourage conversation, shared memories and enjoyment - there is no need for anyone to have read every book or know every answer.
Above all, this is a celebration of storytelling and of the remarkable places our imaginations can take us.
Simon’s CST Activities — Boosting brain power together to benefit quality of life.
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