Croydon teacher who wants to inspire kids toasts successful book signings

By Aline Nassif

aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk

An outspoken teacher and published author from Croydon is celebrating after two successful book signings in the Whitgift Centre last month.

Christian Ainley, who has openly criticised Croydon's resources for budding young writers, sold dozens of copies of his fantasy adventure, The Enchanted Amulet, in just two days.

The 35-year-old Riddlesdown Collegiate teacher, of Fawcett Road, Croydon, is campaigning for the council to put on more literary initiatives.

He said: "If I can raise the profile of writers in Croydon, this might help create a shift in focus from the well-funded domains of comedy, pop-music and football to the literary arts and other cultural fields.

"I have some brilliant pupils at my school and I know many of them could go on and develop into fantastic writers if they knew how to turn this passion into a career."

The book signings took place in WHSmith and Waterstones.