Liz Whincop Head of Walker Primary School  is full of praise for her pupils publishing a book. Liz Whincop was born in London her parents from Khirokitia in Cyprus.

Pupils from two Enfield primary schools have published an inspiring book about their heroes. Children aged from five to 11 at Walker Primary School and Garfield Primary School have spent the last couple of months writing about the sports stars, celebrities, authors, family members,and superheroes who they look up to.

Headteachers Karen Khwaja and Liz Whincop came up with the idea for the book in September, and brought in author Antony Lishak to give the children ideas and enthusiasm for their writing. Ms Khwaja said: “The children will see their writing in the book and hopefully will catch the writing bug and want to do more. “It has encouraged them to think about who is important to them, who their heroes are, and some of the stories are very personal.” Ms Whincop added: “There is a high standard of writing, Antony inspired the children by coming in a telling them who his heroes were and holding a series of workshops. “We hope people will read it and can’t help but think if they had to do it, who their heroes would be.”

The two schools came together for a launch party this morning with special guest David Burrowes, MP for Enfield Southgate and Mayor of Enfield Councillor Christiana During, who both shared memories of their personal heroes. Mr Lishak told the pupils: “I had to prise this book away from my wife this morning, it’s her bedside reading. She cries, she laughs, she thinks it is brilliant. “I know how much work you have put into this, and I know how much effort the teachers have gone to make sure the work is put together, collated, and checked thoroughly.”

 Walker pupil Imogen Garfinkle, 11, was among those chosen to read out her entry in the book this morning, in which she named author Jacqueline Wilson as her hero. She said: “I enjoy reading and she is one of my favourite authors, I like the way she writes and it inspires me to do the same thing. “I showed my parents what I had written and they thought I had made the right choice.” A thousand copies of the book will be on sale at the schools in Springfield Road, New Southgate, and The Green, Southgate, for £4, with £1 from every sale going to charity Help for Heroes. Ms Whincop added the schools are now thinking about further work they can do together, perhaps around science next term.