YOUNG fans of children’s author Roald Dahl had a delightfully scrumdiddlyumptious day as they celebrated his birthday — and the 50th anniversary of the much-loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Children — and in some cases staff — at Gaskell Primary School in Bolton and St Andrew’s CE Primary in Over Hulton looked as if they had just stepped off the pages of one his books as they arrived for class in the morning to celebrate Roald Dahl Day.

Gaskell Primary themed the day around Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Helen Hewitson, deputy headteacher at the school, said: “Our Roald Dahl Day provided a fantastic opportunity for our children to deepen their understanding of one of their favourite authors. We’ve had a really exciting and memorable day celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

“It never fails to amaze me how creative and imaginative our children are — they looked amazing in their character costumes.

“We have all enjoyed a range of activities including creating life-size art, making a gigantic chocolate machine in the hall — which the children all had to work their way through —designing real chocolate bars, which they all took home to eat, and hunting for golden tickets.”

The theme continued at St Andrew’s CE where Charlie and the Oompa Loompas joined characters including from The Twits and even the mouse from The Witches made an appearance — while others dressed in yellow reflecting the author’s favourite colour.

Classes were themed around his books and characters took part in “hot seating” where they answered questions about who they are.

Head of the school, Simon Charnock said: “The children looked fantastic and we had a parade so they could showcase their costumes.

“Although Roald Dahl was the day after we wanted to celebrate it, the children took part in themed activities around reading and writing to develop a love of reading.

“They were able to talk about their character and they had a fun day.”

Pupils at Gaskell Primary said they loved the day.

Caden Atkinson, aged nine, said: “Today has been absolutely fantastic. We got to create and make our own chocolate bars — mine was called ‘The Marshmallow and Candy Cane Tree'.

“I decorated it with sprinkles, coloured icing sugar and edible glitter.

“We have had an amazing time celebrating Roald Dahl Day.”

Casey-Lea Cowley-Hamer, aged six, added: “I found the Golden Ticket behind the books and I won a golden chocolate bar.”

Olivia Topping, aged six, said: “I enjoyed climbing over Willy Wonka's chocolate river in the hall.”

Reem Alsir said: “I enjoyed writing about Esio Trot because Mr Hoppy loves Mrs Silver.”

And Liam Walmsley, aged seven, said: “I dressed up as Willy Wonka because he makes chocolate and I love chocolate.”

The Bolton News:

Aaisha Khan at Gaskell Primary

ABOUT THE AUTHOR...

  • CHARLIE and the Chocolate Factory was written in 1964 and it was published in America the same year and by George Allen & Unwin in 1967. It tells of the adventures of Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. 
  • The book has been adapted into two major motion pictures: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 1971, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2005. 
  • The book’s sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, was written by Roald Dahl in 1972. Dahl had also planned to write a third book in the series but never finished it. 
  • The story was inspired by Roald Dahl’s experience of chocolate companies during his schooldays. 
  • Cadbury would often send test packages to the schoolchildren in exchange for their opinions on the new products. 
  • At that time Cadbury and Rowntree’s were England’s two largest chocolate makers and both were highly protective of their chocolate-making processes. 
  • It was a combination of this secrecy and the elaborate, often gigantic, machines in the factory that is said to have inspired Dahl to write the story.