One time postman, gravedigger and teacher, Allan Ahlberg celebrated his 70th birthday at an event hosted jointly by Walker Books and Puffin at the Puffin offices in the Strand.

The creator of well-loved modern classics whose roll-call of honour includes: Burglar Bill, Funnybones, The Jolly Postman, Each Peach Pear Plum The Runaway Dinner and Please Mrs Butler treated partygoers to a moving rendition of poems from his newly published Collected Poems. The three poems he selected were bitter sweet reflections on the passage of life and served to remind everyone that even though his work might most often be classified as 'humorous', his poetry has a tremendous range of light and shade.

Speeches by Francesca Dow, Managing Director Puffin  and Jane Winterbotham, Publishing Director at Walker Books. He was then presented with a birthday cake and  70 gifts including a favourite Eric Ravilious print.

If you have a birthday wish for Allan Ahlberg please leave a comment.

Allan Ahlberg's five poetry books, written over a period of twenty-five years - "Please Mrs Butler", "Heard it in the Playground", "Friendly Matches", "The Mighty Slide" and "The Mysteries of Zigomar" - have delighted generations of children and received many accolades and prizes. Allan has sifted through them and chosen a collection to delight and entrance a new generation of readers and their parents. Here are all the trials and tribulations of childhood, embracing school, quarrels, friendships, football and storytelling from a much-loved author and poet. Charlotte Voake's black-and-white illustrations enchance the charm of this handsome and definitive collection.

Write Away highly recommends Allan Ahlberg's  Collected Poems -  a must have for the primary teacher's bookshelf.