Our blogs

Regular news and insight from our many poets, writers, educators and facilitators

09 May 2026

Posted by Amelia Simpson

There's been a murder!

Ali started us off with a fill-in fun: What happened to the detective?

From childhood friends to the murder of a farmer from Salisbury, our fill-in funs always take us to unexpected places.

A letter on the table read, ‘THERE'S BEEN A MURDER!’ Ali then set us on a hunt for some of the clues. Around the room, we found:

  • Magnifying glass

  • Books

  • Cipher message

  • Star tiara

  • Key (with Joe VI VI written on it)

  • Enormous underpants

Detective Inspector Ali Sparkes asks the participants to write up a report on what they think the crime was if it involved all these clues.

What were the theories?

Joe VI VI (as written on the bag which held the key)

Who is he? Did he commit the crime?

At this time, we have no perpetrator even to commit this crime. Huge underpants hang over the table in defeat. The children sit in the windows.

Police incident room:

Younger groups' theories:

The detectives must report to Superintendent Sparkes on their theories.

Pippa: Breaking news, a dead body has been located in the theatre. There is a murderer on the loose. A detective finds a body at a showing of the play Matilda, next to a bottle of poison with Joe VI VI on it. After questioning, it was Jo Thingimidbob. Jo VI VI stole a tiara’s diamonds decades ago.

Sophie: School is invited to a fancy dress party, wherein the murder takes place!

Jem: Waiter Joe VI VI serves Bob Window a poisonous pufferfish. He also stole all the gems out of a tiara. Our suspect dies from eating bad mussels.

Milo: Prince James (Jo VI VI is James of England) was kidnapped with the underpants. The kidnapper grabbed six diamonds and put them into the star. The true killer is Jem, with nine suspicion points according to Milo)

Older groups’ theories:

Nancy: Last week in Southampton, Alfie was murdered. The weapon is a magnifying glass. Jo VI VI is the prime suspect. The magnifying glass was torture, whereas the actual method of killing was poisoning fish.

Max: 9th 4th 2012, Logan is found dead by Mathilda in a shop. Body found mangled with burns. Evidence: keys. Prediction: Logan Baker is killed by a rogue shopkeeper.

Isabelle: Detective Rowley, after much thinking … Joe VIVI was murdered one night in June. Asleep in bed, when an intruder broke into his house. Once in the room, he knocked over JOVI VI’s goldfish. A magnifying glass was used to extract diamonds from the tiara.

Florence: Joseph Victory Victory. Jo VI VI moves out, falls out with family, and tries to impress a girl with a tiara. Mum removes the diamonds for all the times he’s run away. His mum tortures him for being a crap son. Eventually, he gets killed by suffocation from underwear.

Ali then asked us to give a one-line taunt to the police.

Edie: “You know my motive, you know mine too, you can’t catch me, you fool!”

Zena: “When I was young, I tried to eat my sister.”

Quote of the session: ‘I've just made my name out of pretzels’ - Jem

Writers of the week were:

Junior: George

Young: Isabelle 


PreviousNext

Archive

Back to blog

What's on

Find out more

Our projects

Find out more

Our films

Watch now

Headlight Press

Find out more

Latest news

09 July 2026

Newsletter July 2026

News and Opportunities for Solent Writers and WritingPlay on Words Festival 22 - 28 October 2026                                                        SAVE THE...

Read more

Our blogs

Regular news and insight from our many poets, writers, educators and facilitators

Find out more

Resources


Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the New Forest

Why not get in touch?