Howell’s school welcomes VIPs for a Dahl-icious day

Howell’s School, Llandaff was honoured to receive a visit from a Norwegian VIP on 12th September. To mark 100 years since the birth of Roald Dahl, Minister Ms Ragnhild Imerslund, Head of the Political and Economic Section of the Royal Norwegian Embassy was at Howell’s to unveil a plaque on Cumberland Lodge, the Edwardian house which was Dahl’s childhood home and is now home to the Nursery at Howell’s.

Following the unveiling ceremony, invited guests —including Willy Wonka himself!—were treated to a Dahl-icious lunch of sausage and mash with a lollipop garnish served by Howell’s own Oompa Loompas, and entertainment was provided by the Year 2 Choir, who sang songs from the musical adaptation of Matilda. The unveiling ceremony took place as part of a day of celebrations arranged by local historical group The Llandaff Society, in partnership with the Welsh Norwegian Society. Several plaques have been placed on buildings around Llandaff—including the High Street sweetshop, location of the famous ‘Great Mouse Plot’ and home of the hideous Mrs Pratchett—to celebrate the author’s strong links with the Cardiff suburb.

Roald Dahl’s Norwegian parents moved to Cardiff when his father set up a ship broking business, with offices based in Cardiff Bay, and Dahl was born in Llandaff on 13 September 1916. The family moved to Cumberland Lodge from a larger house in Radyr in 1921, after his father Harald died, and Dahl attended Elmtree House School, just around the corner from Howell’s.