One of the world’s best storytellers: Lord Archer’s Weston legacy lives on as Jill Dando project goes global

Tribute to the author and former politician who backed a project now celebrating its 10th year and inspired by his friend Jill Dando

A good news project which began in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and was backed by one of the town’s most famous sons is now taking its message to children across Britain – and around the world.

Lord Jeffrey Archer, Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare, who has died aged 86, was a passionate supporter of the Good News Post’s Jill Dando News project and took a personal interest in the young reporters following in the footsteps of his friend.

In 2018, Lord Archer opened a Good News Room at Priory School in Weston-super-Mare and told the children that he had known Jill Dando extremely well – and that he had danced with the much-loved BBC presenter just a few days before she was tragically murdered in 1999.

He encouraged them to go for their dreams – and in just over a year they were interviewing Prime Minister Boris Johnson inside Downing Street in front of television cameras.

In 2024, Lord Archer sponsored an event to celebrate 25 years since Jill’s death, hosted by Mr Speaker in Parliament, bringing more than 50 people – mostly children – into the Speaker’s rooms.

Lord Archer sold more than 300 million books worldwide, becoming one of the world’s best-known storytellers.

Sarah O’Gorman, who leads the Good News Room at Priory and another in Malawi, said:

“Jeffrey understood the power of a good story.

“He was one of the world’s great storytellers, but he also understood the importance of giving young people a voice. He believed in what we were trying to do.

“And the fact that this project started here in Weston – a town he was so closely connected with – and is now spreading across the UK and into the world makes his support even more special.”

The seeds of the good news movement were planted inside headteacher Neville Coles’ office at Priory School in Weston in 2011, before the project officially began at Worle School, Jill Dando’s former school, in 2016 and quickly went to other schools across the area.

It has since grown into Good News Rooms, where children and young people are trained as reporters to find and tell positive stories from their schools and communities.

The project is inspired by Jill’s enthusiastic, positive and humble approach to life and journalism ’with a smile’.

From its roots in Weston, Good News Rooms are now being established in schools across the UK, with the programme already reaching Malawi, Africa.

The aim is to take the idea into hundreds of schools and ultimately create a global Jill Dando News network of young reporters.

One of the reporters who met Lord Archer was Alex Crowther, who was 18 at the time. Now 26, he is operations director at Weston-super-Mare AFC.

“I was only 13 when I first became part of this project, and we were told many times about Jeffrey Archer and his inspirational art of storytelling.

“It was an absolute pleasure to meet him and he had lots of tips on writing stories. With his huge career, we were also encouraged that we could take this simple project worldwide.”

Rosie, 13, of Priory School, began as a news reporter aged eight at Castle Batch Primary School and has interviewed Mr Speaker and many others.

She said: “We are so grateful for all Lord Archer did for us.

“The opportunities we have been given and the experience have been life-changing. I’ve already had five years of real-life journalism experience. We are all passionate about taking this right across the world.”

The young reporters have gone on to interview MPs, prime ministers, broadcasters and other high-profile figures, while also shining a light on people doing positive things in their own communities.

The project is also helping children develop confidence, communication skills, literacy, mental wellbeing, digital awareness and the belief that their life and their voice matters.

Good News Rooms are now across Somerset, Bristol and in Yorkshire as it expands out.

And Lord Archer’s support was not simply words.

His sponsorship of the Jill Dando 25-year celebration helped bring nearly over 50 people, mostly children, into the rooms of Mr Speaker in Parliament.

A special cake, baked and sponsored by Revo’s and the Grand Pier in Weston, was carried on a bus taking the children from Weston to London.

The Grand Pier has also been a massive supporter of Jill Dando News, the Good News Post and Good News Rooms, giving experiences and sponsorship, and even bringing their mascot Donkey to Parliament along with the children.

There was also a remarkable link back to Lord Archer when his good friend Nadhim Zahawi – the Iraqi-born former Conservative Chancellor who went on to lead the UK’s Covid vaccine rollout – met the young reporters outside Parliament and posed for photographs with them and the cake.

Zahawi had known Lord Archer for decades, having worked with him early in his career.

Patrons include Nigel Dando, Nick Ross, Olivia Finch who was the first ever graduate, former headteacher Dan Milford, Jill’s former friend and Weston mayor John Crockford-Hawley and Mr Speaker.

For more information and to enquire about hosting a Good News Room to your school visit www.goodnewspost.org or email pippa@goodnewspost.co.uk