TAKING Gothic and Vampire Literature as the theme for World Book Day on Thursday, March 2, Queen Elizabeth’s School in Crediton, celebrated the appeal and history of these genres of writing.

Starting the day with an assembly, Professor Alexandra Van Blagden introduced the students at the Barnfield Campus to the subject of haematophagy… it’s a bit of a mouthful to say…but they marvelled at the chewing jaws of a leech and the blood-letting manners of vampire bats.

This was followed by some Literature readings delivered by the School’s Sixth Formers, and the rich and varied takes on the original folkloric vampyr tales.

At Break and Lunchtime, the students were turned into vampires, not by blood transfusions, but by the judicial use of face paint. Students and staff had their photograph taken in front of a Gothic Ruin backdrop that was achieved with some great skill by Mr Crooks, as we all know vampires do not appear in mirrors or photographs.

There were also competitions for the best dressed vampires and a quiz. The lucky winners were awarded with sumptuous editions of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”.

In the afternoon lessons, students and staff were subjected to readings and poems, as the Sixth Formers performed to them in their classrooms.

Robert Logan, QE’s Librarian, said: “These events take a lot of organising and they simply wouldn’t work if the School Community did not engage, so we should be proud that even with the pressures of a busy school we can still stop and celebrate Literature, whilst at the same time having fun!”

Alan Quick