Lickswishy and delumptious – it’s Roald Dahl day!
One of the nation’s best-loved children’s authors, Roald Dahl, would have been 100 years old on 13 September 2016, and there will be celebrations up and down the country on that day.
Roald Dahl died in 1990, but his legacy certainly lives on in our collective imagination. Where would we be without James and the Giant Peach, or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? But did you know that Roald Dahl was an RAF fighter ace in WWII or that he wrote the screenplay for a Bond film? Here are a few other things you might not know about him:
- He loved chocolate, but not chocolate cake or chocolate ice cream
- He co-wrote the script for the classic children’s film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- He also co-wrote the screenplay for the 1967 James Bond Film, You Only Live Twice
- He wrote many of his books in a shed in his garden
- His stories are available in 59 languages, with global sales of around 200 million
- He created more than 250 new words – many of which appear in his book, The BFG
- The BFG (short for Big Friendly Giant) was dedicated to Dahl’s late daughter, Olivia, who died of measles encephalitis aged seven in 1962
- One of his legacies is the Roald Dahl Marvellous Children’s Charity, which helps make life better for seriously ill children in the UK
- He has been named by The Times as one of the greatest British writers since 1945
- The cult British TV series, Tales of the Unexpected (1979-1988) was initially based on Dahl’s stories
If you feel inspired to write, draw, read or otherwise mark Roald Dahl’s centenary, there are plenty of events around the country to get you on your way, culminating in a worldwide celebration on 13 September – Roald Dahl Day. Find out more and get your party pack here.
And remember, if you fancy inviting a lifesize BFG (or other Roald Dahl character) to your party, we’ll be delighted to provide a standee or two! www.mbe.co.uk