THE Fun Palaces week in Launceston started on Thursday, October 3 with the National Poetry Day celebration in the town hall, where incredibly talented poets took to the stage to share their work.

The Charles Causley Trust evening appealed to a range of ages, a couple still in their school uniforms from the day.

One of the speakers started by telling the audience that this was the first time she had ever read her work in front of an audience. Before the evening started a number of people painted and drew Causley related images, as part of a project to create bunting. These were then hung in front of Charles Causley’s portrait in the town hall entrance for everyone to enjoy.

The Saturday Fun Palaces had a busy start with steam engines and model railways. Children met at the library to build Lego models and coloured in pictures. Les Whaley’s model engine in a case was set up in the children’s section of the library, as were the models that Mr and Mrs Noakes brought to show everyone. They explained the different track sizes and train speeds as technology developed.

Families then went on to the Red Cow craft shop where Jeanette showed children the different kinds of animal feed, and explained farming processes with lots of pictures and model farms. Library staff popped in at each Fun Palace to see how they were doing, and met people who had visited all three! Lawrence House was really busy in the afternoon, with a whole table set up with crafts. There were astronauts, planets and space ship shapes to decorate. Strung across the room which houses the John Couch Adams display were replica planets, to help explain their ordering and to help point out Neptune. Visitors went on to complete the museum quiz and visit all the other rooms, with the toy room being many people’s favourite.

Sunday Fun Palaces started with breakfast at Launceston Central Methodist Church where children completed four activities, leaf rubbings, a mural, watercolour painting and autumn light jars. A parent commented that it was nice that even though they were all working with the same materials, the outcomes were all so different, and good that there was something for each age range.

The leisure centre was great fun after that with their sea adventure theme. There were sharks, jelly fish and pirates to paint and decorate. Some children created ‘Plastic Free’ posters and ‘Save the Planet’ pictures. Some children swam first, with the special £2 swim deal for that day, and then joined in after to make underwater goggle masks, mermaid pictures, and added to the long painted banner that was started that morning.

Many parents said their children really enjoyed the arts and crafts, especially if they were waiting for a sibling who was still swimming or trampolining.

‘It was a lovely atmosphere’, said one mum, who chatted to another while their children were drawing.

Library staff had a chance to ask a couple of families they recognised from Saturday’s events, who had decided to come along to the next day’s events. They all said they enjoyed both days.

Twin sisters from St Stephen’s school proudly told staff that they had now visited four of the seven Fun Palaces that weekend.

The day ended with Oriental knot work at the Red Chair Cafe, which had been serving lunches and coffees on the day. Deborah was showing a young lad how to knot and loop the cord around to complete a dragonfly key ring.

Andi Snook from Launceston Library said: “All in all a really busy weekend for everyone who took part, and one we are looking forward to doing again next year.

“Hopefully more businesses and crafters will come forward to share their premises and skills, and we stretch the number from seven and add to the list of events next year.”