By Jonathan White
Rob Richardson, a Primary School Supply Teacher from Wistaston, has been helping parents during the coronavirus lockdown by reading children's stories whilst broadcasting live over the internet.
Rob has been reading the stories during his ‘Mr Rich's Storytime' via Facebook Live every weekday afternoon at 3pm since UK lockdown in late-March 2020.
Rob said: "The biggest thing I missed about being in school was my story time at the end of the day. No matter what year group I would always make time for a story, as some kids just do not read at home and some parents either do not have the time or simply don't see the need for it.
"I asked a few teacher friends and they said it wasn't such a crazy idea, and from those conversations I started my Storytime at 3pm live on Facebook every weekday. I broadcast most of it from the back garden, which has included contributions from various wildlife including magpies, squirrels to Polly the cat!
"Books I have read include Room 13 by Robert Swindells, Viking in my bed by Jeremy Strong, Gangsta Granny and Mr Stink by David Walliams, Tumbleweed by Dick King-Smith, a trio of stories by Simon Weston about a horse called "Nelson", and six Shakespeare stories including A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth!
"I've had up to 45 people viewing every day, and these are adults who play this for their children before bedtime. The parents are from local primary schools and I have had kids listening to the stories in Dubai, Holland, France, Belgium, Gibraltar, and the United States!"