APS Pupils Receive Expert Inspiration- April 2011

Comic book king Tim Quinn is helping young designers at Altrincham Preparatory School produce their own school magazine.

Liverpudlian Tim, 57, has drawn and developed all the major characters in the comic world from Superman and the X Men for Marvel to Beryl the Peril and Dennis the Menace for British publishing corporation DC Thompson.

Formerly the humour editor for America's multi million circulation giant The Saturday Evening Post, Tim is now working in schools to help develop writing, drawing and designing skills.

He said: "The media is currently undergoing radical change with internet technologies sitting side by side with traditional papers and magazines, but whatever format young journalists need writing, editing, drawing, comedy and cartoon skill plus the imagination to spot and develop great human interest stories. "

"As an editor for the Saturday Evening Post and for Marvel you do a bit of everything. You write, you design, you develop new characters and I want to pass on all that I have learned. "

He said: "I was inspired by what I saw on news stands as a boy, not only the great comics I loved and which I knew I would ultimately work for but the wonderful magazines of the day such as the Radio Times and She Magazines. "

Over a five week programme APS pupils will be developing their own stories, learning a host of production, editing, writing and design skills and sourcing human interest gems such as talking to grandparents and teachers to find out about their personal endeavours to complete their 24 page magazine.

Tim has even promised to line up a celebrity interview with two leading dancers from Strictly Come Dancing ready to talk to the young cub reporters.

Altrincham Preparatory School Headmaster Andrew Potts said: "Tim has been inspirational he has given the boys an insight into the world of publishing while enhancing their imaginative and creative powers. "

Tim is pictured with APS young editors Ben (left) and Mark .