Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare invited guests to the first of what is intended to be a series of literary lunches at Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill at The Savoy in London.
Carol Hughes read three poems by Ted Hughes, and Natalie Walter read the first chapter of Michael Morpurgo’s Kaspar: Prince of Cats, inspired during his stint as writer in residence by the hotel’s statue of Kaspar.
Michael Foreman read his Christmas picture book Cat in a Manger. And Virginia McKenna read William Blake’s The Tyger and Edward Lear’s The Owl and the Pussycat.
Proceeds from the lunch went to Farms for City Children, the Morpurgos’ charity.
Other guests included author Judith Kerr, Quentin Blake, Emma Chichester Clark, William Nicholson, John Lloyd, and Savoy MD Kiaran MacDonald.
The next literary lunch with Michael Morpurgo will take place on Saturday 6 July, with young guests welcome.
Photo: Michael and Clare Morpurgo with Judith Kerr (centre); Kaspar is in the background.
