Hi °C | Lo °C An Ulster grammar school has hosted a very special reception for two stars of one of the most successful series of children's films.
Better known as The Weasley Twins from the Harry Potter movies, James and Oliver Phelps paid a visit to St Patrick's Grammar School in Armagh yesterday to congratulate the pupils for their success at Mencap's Spellathon.
The school was the top fundraising one in Northern Ireland from the charity's competition, raising over £1,300 for Mencap through the sponsored spelling test.
Fresh from two months of promoting the latest Harry Potter smash, Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix, James Phelps, who plays one half of the hair raising Weasley Twins, Fred, said he was delighted to be in Northern Ireland to meet the pupils at St Patrick's Grammar School.
"We were keen to get involved in the Spellathon because we weren't such good spellers at school, so it is great to help a project that is encouraging children to improve their spelling," he said.
This is the first time the pair have travelled to Northern Ireland and the visit comes at a particularly busy time for the twins.
James explained: "We're enjoying being in Northern Ireland and we have got to see some of the things you see on the television, such as where the Titanic was built."
Now in its fifth year in Northern Ireland, 125 pupils at St Patricks took part in the Spellathon and were sponsored for every word that they spelt correctly.
Shauna Clements, literacy co-ordinator at St Patrick's, said: "The pupils decorated our assembly hall for our special assembly with Harry Potter themed pictures so that the twins would feel especially welcome. The pupils have also been particularly looking forward to getting the chance to quiz the Phelps on their roles as Fred and George Weasley."
Any school in Northern Ireland can take part in Spellathon or fundraise for Mencap at any time of the year.
To register for a free Spellathon Teacher Resource pack contact Catherine Knox on 028 9069 0166, email catherine.knox@mencap.org.ukor download a pack on www.mencap.org.uk/spellathon .
