On Monday 6 October, OKS Sir Michael Morpurgo (GL 1957-62) returned to King’s for a truly special evening, bringing his cherished stories to life beside a glowing fire pit. 

As part of the Morpurgo Society and Running Wild co-curricular programme at King’s, Michael was invited to read to pupils, including sixth formers studying English. The event took place in the Mint Yard Quad, in front of Galpin’s House, where Michael once boarded. The area was transformed into a relaxed outdoor setting, complete with a small stage, glowing campfires, and clusters of deck chairs, bean bags, and picnic blankets spread across the grass - a scene reminiscent of King’s Week. 

From a cosy armchair on stage, Michael read excerpts from his books, including Meeting Cezanne, and welcomed questions from pupils. He went on to explain that he drew on stories from the various people he met and how these experiences influenced his characters and plots. He read the first line of Kensuke’s Kingdom and encouraged pupils not only to read the rest of the book but also to watch the recent film adaptation. 

The evening ended with Compline, led by School Chaplain Mother Lucy, bringing a calm and reflective close to a memorable night of storytelling.  

Running Wild is a recently developed activity at King’s that encourages leadership, community engagement, and personal growth through hands-on experiences such as volunteering and partnerships with local organisations. The initiative was inspired by an online talk Michael gave to King’s during the pandemic, in which he reflected on his life - from Captain of School at King’s to becoming an acclaimed writer. 

In that talk, he said: 

“Teaching is not enough; children need more than the four walls of a school. All the things that can make you feel alive are outside the classroom - music, sport, countryside.” 

Now entering its third year, Running Wild involves more than 100 pupils, which made Michael’s return especially fitting.  

King’s would like to thank Sir Michael for returning to share his stories in such a special way. It was a night to remember and proof that the best stories are those told by the fireside.