A Children’s Laureate, one of the most widely read authors of his generation, writer of WarHorse and recently Knighted, Sir Michael Morpurgo has become Patron of the new Derbyshire creative initiative, Drystone.

With the aim of building and re-building community through creativity throughout Derbyshire and beyond, Drystone was formed in March by four friends, all Derbyshire born, with far-reaching and established reputations in music, film, television, theatre and radio across every platform in the UK, Europe and around the world.

Mick Peat, President of Drystone says: “To have Sir Michael at our head is a great honour and drives us on to bring communities together, sharing our experience, learning from others and making good what has been so badly missed in this current crisis, a stone at a time.”

Future work will include “A Drystone Christmas” and in the new year “Drystone - Little Stones” – children’s songs, music and party dances. Drystone is a not-for-profit initiative.