A visit to her old school took TV star Kim Tserkezie back in time when she met one of her teachers from more than three decades ago.
The actress was visiting The Drive Primary School in Felling to read her new book to Key Stage One pupils when she was reunited with a familiar face that helped her to appreciate her skills and accept her disability.
Kim, who played Penny Pocket in the hit CBeebies series, Balamory was delighted to meet up again with her old teacher Ann Spour who has worked at the school for more than 35 years.
“I’ve a lot to thank Miss Spour and other teachers from this school,” said Kim. “When I began my education, the inclusion of disabled children in mainstream schools was very rare. Miss Spour and The Drive Nursery played a huge part in developing my confidence as a young child, helping me to embrace my differences.”
Kim’s visit to her old school involved her reading from her first children’s book, “Toys for Tomorrow” to around 90 children. The beautifully illustrated book tells the story of young Millie, a wheelchair user who has a love for adventure and an amazing Grandad who helps her channel her energy into something positive and wonderful.
Millie’s story simply came into Kim’s head one morning and led her to question the lack of disabled lead characters in children’s books. That realisation made Kim even more determined to address the balance and give other disabled children a positive role model to look up to and learn from.
“The books are based on a young wheelchair-user, her little life and her little community, based on a little bit of my own experience. I’m hoping it’ll be something that children find fun and enjoy” said Kim.
The book is the first in a series entitled, “The Wheelie Wonderful Life of Millie Monroe” and Kim is now taking the time to talk to children about the book and her experiences of disability and how she became successful in her chosen career. The book is selling well and looks to be a firm favourite for Christmas.
As well as being a busy mum to her two children Stella and Jay, Kim’s acting credits have seen her working alongside Robson Green and gaining membership of the prestigious BAFTA organisation. She has also recently launched her own production company, Scattered Pictures and was voted in a national poll as ‘the best representation of a wheelchair user on screen’ and one of the ‘most influential disabled people in the UK.
Kim is currently working on a number of screen writing projects and has recently filmed a guest role in CBBC TV’s Wolfblood.
The Wheelie Wonderful Life of Millie Monroe – Toys For Tomorrow is now available from book retailers, in store and online ISBN: 9780957432642