It was a glorious day to film on Windermere. Conditions were perfect. My father had been asked to appear as a Extra in the scene in the film of Swallows and Amazons when the the crew of Swallow narrowly miss colliding with a steamer, that transports tourists up and down the lake, on their voyage to Wildcat Island. He was the tall dark native in a blazer and white flannels aboard the very elegant Lakeland steamer, The Tern. A lovely way to spend a sunny morning in the Lake District.
Simon West, Suzanna Hamilton, Stephen Grendon and I were in the Swallow, which at the start of the day was attached to the camera pontoon so that Claude Whatham, our Director could capture the dialogue on film. In the script Roger is down to say, ‘Steamship on the port bow’. I think what came out was, ‘Look John! Over there – Steamer ahead!’
My mother had been obliged to go to Bristol as she presented a weekly programme for HTV with Jan Leeming in those days, so Dad must have been in the dual role of chaperone. A sailor with years of experience racing on the Solent he took a keen interest in all our sailing scenes.
And the next day… 
…‘Carry on Matron’. I wonder what near disasters they had on that film.
You can read more in the ebook ‘The Secrets of Filming Swallows and Amazons (1974)’ available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo, iTunes and all other online retailers:
Sophie Neville 
This episode must have been terrifying at the time. Every credit to everyone aboard for keeping their cool.
My father was very upset. He threatened to take me home.
I can understand it. I’m very glad he didn’t though!
Poor Dad! He’d been having such a lovely time on the Tern. He loved boats of that vintage.
Sounds like a man after my own heart!
He learnt a lot about steam boats.
I love steam boats, and traction engines, and steam railways. I used to go to all the traction engine rallies up here; and my poetry reciting grandfather started off on the Midland Railway in steam days and eventually became an engine driver.
My father maintained that steam engineering would have advanced to more efficient realms if it hadn’t been for the combustion engine. It’s so powerful and extraordinary.
I think he was quite right. The steam engine is much simpler and easier to maintain, as well.
The boilers need checking and certifying.
They do, usually annually. But mechanically it’s a much simpler engine, and the rest of the maintenance is nothing like what a petrol or diesel engines needs.
Controlled with a tap
Exactly so!