Arriva Trains Wales | TRANSATLANTIC TALES FOR BARRY SCHOOL CHILDREN

TRANSATLANTIC TALES FOR BARRY SCHOOL CHILDREN

Twenty one children from Romilly Primary School have been treated to a storytelling journey by train through the Vale of Glamorgan.

Romilly Primary with Dan Yashinsky As part of the ‘Beyond The Border’ International Storytelling Festival held at the St Donat’s Castle, the children listened to a series of traditional tales from Canadian storyteller Dan Yashinsky as they travelled between Barry and Bridgend.

Dan – who hails from Toronto, is the founder of the Toronto International Storytelling Festival and travelled to Wales especially for the event. During the journey, he told stories to the pupils aged five and six years old. On the return journey from Bridgend, the children entertained passengers by telling their own story and singing the school song.

David Ambrose, director of the Festival, said: “The whole thing was great fun for all, and we are delighted that Arriva Trains Wales was able to sponsor the Festival in this way. It meant that part of the Beyond The Border programme was made accessible to a new, young audience, and that one of our overseas visitors returned home with an unforgettable memory of a day out in the rural Vale of Glamorgan."

Geraint Morgan, community affairs manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “The children and teachers thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon out on the train. In combining the storytelling with the train ride, we were able to give the children a new and exciting experience whilst taking in the beautiful scenery to be scene from the train.”

Beyond The Border is Wales’ leading International Storytelling Festival. The spectacular three day celebration of oral traditions from around the world saw leading performers from the British Isles join tellers, authors, musicians, puppeteers and visual artists representing traditions from Greece, Spain, the Caribbean, Alaska, Brittany, Ireland, France, Germany, Norway, Canada and Native North America.