I’ve been asked to post the hand-written letters that my mother wrote on location while we were making the original film of ‘Swallows and Amazons’. It is amazing they have survived. This was sent to my great aunt who lived on the Solent and knew Buckler’s Hard where Arthur Ransome once moored.
Mum mentions Claude Whatham, the director, David Blagden our ‘sailing teacher’ who played Sammy the Policeman and Dame Virginia McKenna, the star of the movie who played my mother, Mary Walker.
This must be the cutting from the Daily Mail that I hadn’t seen for more than fifty years and yet remember the photos as being over-exposed. Mum marked me with an X, as in ‘X marks the spot.’
You can find other letters on my previous post.
‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’, narrated by Sophie Neville, is now available as an audiobook on all platforms, along with Audible where you can listen to a free sample.
Sophie Neville 
Absolute treasures to have
Hand written letters are going extinct!
Absolute treasures to have
I’ll see if I can find some more!
hello Sophie, very sorry to read in your blog that your mum was no longer with us. I rang but got no answer about december time. WE never met but I spent a few days with her taking otter photographs, and other visits, and i can honestly say being her aquaintance was a highlight of my life. about 1991. No need to respond unless you want to, best wishes
John Hudson 07917 565320
Dear John, My father sadly died in 2015, as has our last tame otter, but my mother Daphne is still living at Bakers Mill. She is now aged 88, and has a very weak heart so can’t do much but is living in the care of her grandson. She collapsed in November and spent about 9 weeks recovering in Cheltenham, which is why no one answered her phone. I keep a website going for her at DaphneNeville.com Wild otters have now been spotted in the valley where seven signets have just arrived.
Are you still taking photographs?
Dear Sophie,. thanks for reply. Just found your reply. so glad to hear your mum is still with us. I might ring at weekend if you think it wont stress her. I still snap with phone camera but I now have Parkinsons and legs are wobbly.
thanks for all your various updates, its an interesting and entertaining read. believe I read and enjoyed all the Ransome books.
John Hudson
ahah95@gmail.com
07917 565320
You must think of joining The Arthur Ransome Society or Arthur Ransome Group on Facebook. Do ring Mum but she can’t hear much on the phone.