I would like to thank Linda Sargent for her unfailing encouragement and friendship over more years than I care to name, and David Fickling, Bella Pearson and Ben Sharpe, who between them helped me make this a better story than I would have made of it alone.
This story was begun for the children of Wells Central Junior School, Somerset, in the school year 2005 to 2006. My thanks go to them and also to Jane Murray, whose idea it was that I should come to the school, and to Mike Rossiter, my friend and supporter while I was there.