At last! We have the clip from Country Tracks presented by Ben Fogle, that includes interviews with Director Claude Whatham, Lucy Batty of Bank Ground Farm, Suzanna Hamilton and myself discussing the swimming scenes, with the unique behind-the-scenes footage my father shot on 16mm film, with his Bolex camera back in 1973. You might have seen a longer version of this on Countryfile and Big Screen Britain. I am yet to receive residuals.
If you would like to read about ‘The Secrets of Filming Swallows and Amazons (1974) in detail, the illustrated, multi-media ebook is available on Kindle and from other ebook retailers.
Sophie Neville 
Lovely clip Sophie and great photo of dad x
I have more clips of the 16mm footage to come. I think Brian appears in one shot at Houseboat Bay. We’ll get there soon.
🙂 🙂 🙂 !
What a wonderful treasure trove this blog is, Sophie! I was 9 when you made the film and going to see it with my parents introduced me to Ransome’s world. I read all the books and now my son has too. I watched the film again today when stumbling across it on TV. It still stands up as such a charming piece of work. A genuine labour of love on the part of Whatham in the way he painstakingly re-creates the period detail and uses authentic locstions. It certainly pays off, even nearly 40 yesrs down the line.
Your’s and all the other children’s images stayed in my mind as I read the books and I still find watching the film quite moving. Especially the scene with you and McKenna on the island as ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and her Man Friday. I look at it now as a parent and the image of her seen through your telescope whilst rowing away had me in tears! You all did a wonderful job and the enthusiasm and sense of adventure that you were experiencing in the shoot clearly runs in parallel to that captured in the book.
Thank you so much for putting all this material online. I’m delighted to be able to re-connect with such a warm, happy part of my childhood. I’m sure there are many more out there too who feel the same. You honour our memories.
Andy Head
About time you joined the Nancy Blackett Trust, then, Andy (and/or the Arthur Ransome Society).
What a wonderful treasure trove this blog is, Sophie! I was 9 when you made the film and going to see it with my parents introduced me to Ransome’s world. I read all the books and now my son has too. I watched the film again today when stumbling across it on TV. It still stands up as such a charming piece of work. A genuine labour of love on the part of Whatham in the way he painstakingly re-creates the period detail and uses authentic locstions. It certainly pays off, even nearly 40 yesrs down the line.
Your’s and all the other children’s images stayed in my mind as I read the books and I still find watching the film quite moving. Especially the scene with you and McKenna on the island as ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and her Man Friday. I look at it now as a parent and the image of her seen through your telescope whilst rowing away had me in tears! You all did a wonderful job and the enthusiasm and sense of adventure that you were experiencing in the shoot clearly runs in parallel to that captured in the book.
Thank you so much for putting all this material online. I’m delighted to be able to re-connect with such a warm, happy part of my childhood. I’m sure there are many more out there too who feel the same. You honour our memories.
Andy Head
What a wonderful programme. I loved the interview with you and Suzanna Hamilton, and great to hear Claude Whatham talking about his work. Thank you so much for posting it, Sophie.
I’d love to see another series of Big Screen Britain now. I’ve thought of so much more that we could say.
I’m doing my best to come up with an inspiring proposal!
Brilliant!