Hundreds of schoolchildren in Meltham and Kirkheaton were treated to live storytelling and new books, thanks to support from local family business D Haigh & Co.

Award-winning storyteller and author Chip Colquhoun visited Meltham CE Primary School and Kirkheaton Primary School after Haigh donated 60 copies of his latest children’s novel.

At Meltham, Chip worked with Year 3 pupils as well as entertaining the whole school in an assembly.

He then travelled to Kirkheaton, where Years 5 and 6 took part in his storytelling session alongside a second whole-school assembly.

Gill Turner, headteacher at Meltham CE Primary School, said the visit was “thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, staff and children alike.”

At Kirkheaton, English lead Jenny McBride said: “Even the teachers learned a lot. In these days of school budgets being squeezed and squeezed, it’s fantastic that local companies like Haigh are supporting their communities in this way.”

Chip’s novel, The Bestest Story in the World… Ever!, is based on the true story of an almost non-verbal boy who began telling stories in public himself after hearing Chip.

Chip said: “Books do an enormous amount themselves but it’s especially powerful when children encounter stories as a shared experience first.

“Haigh & Co haven’t simply put new books onto school shelves: their support has allowed hundreds of children to begin exploring the joy of stories together.”

Each school also received copies of All the Better to Read You With: Stories & Lessons to Inspire Reading for Pleasure, which is currently shortlisted in the 2026 Teach Primary Awards, leaving the schools with resources to continue the work long after Chip’s visits.

Both this and Chip’s children’s book are published by Epic Tales.

Chip has been a professional storyteller for 20 years, visiting thousands of schools as well as events including Glastonbury Festival.

In 2025 he was among the storytellers at Marrakech International Storytelling Festival whose 80-hour continuous storytelling event achieved a Guinness World Record.

D Haigh & Co Ltd is a fourth-generation family business in Meltham specialising in road surfacing, tarmacadam and groundworks.

Image: Chip pictured with youngsters at Kirkheaton Primary School