I clearly remember my mother winding carbon paper into the roller of her portable typewriter and bashing out articles. Ping! the bell would ring as she reached the end of a line. She would then pull left on a shiny paddle, with relish, to begin a new paragraph. She seemed to type like the wind, it was only a pity she didn’t write more. Was it more time-consuming when making changes was so laborious and a dictionary needed to be flicked through to check spelling? I was forever pouring through a thesaurus and looking for reference books in libraries as a child in the ‘seventies but find computers seems to steal more time.
~The photograph that illustrated an article in Woman magazine taken at the Commonwealth Institute in 1974~
Here is the second part of the article Mum wrote for Woman magazine when the original film of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ was screened in cinemas around the country in April 1974. Earlier pages can be read in a previous post here and there is also a programme she wrote for BBC Radio Bristol on the same subject here.
I’d forgotton that Kit was sent half a Birthday cake but do remember Ronnie Fraser arrived at her party quite tiddly. I am amused to learn we finally left Oaklands Guest House with fifty peices of luggage but I still have a hazel bow and arrow set, which I don’t expect ever fitted into a suitcase.
Please let me know if you would like to see old scripts and letters relating to the original publicity for the film, kept in my mother’s archives.
To read more about Daphne Neville’s adventures in film and television please click here
Sophie Neville 
Yay, more lovely details! What struck me particularly was the ‘second breakfasts’ that your mother mentions: they are legendary on digs in the Middle East, where we work (on a quick bite of stale bread) from c.5 a.m. and then at about 8.30 a.m. feast on lovely eggs, bread, olives, fruit etc etc, very well-earned. It’s one of the best moments – we’re all talkative and fired up for the rest of the day. Just love all the filmiing details – thanks!
It is interesting to have different perspectives. I have just interviewed Nick Newby who supplied a number of boats and worked with the crew, so can publish his memories next.
What an excellent article – just what we need as an `extra` to accompany your book . As an ex teacher ( 25+ years in the classroom ) I certainly do not envy the pressures your mother must have endured as chaperone . I also remember worrying about our two daughters going to camp for a week as teenagers ( and that was a Christian camp in mid Wales !! ) It must have been OK – Louise , her husband and two daughters now go each year as camp officers .
Martin
Oh, a tremendous responsibility! I worked as a chaperone myself ten years later and it was 24/7.
What a brilliant article, and what a wonderful set of memories, thank you Daphne and Sophie.
Amazing it was kept – amazing we found it.