Sophie Neville writer – Sophie Neville

Author Sophie Neville is interviewed on her time at the University of Durham

Why did you choose to study at Durham?

The University of Durham was riding at number three on the UK leaderboard when I was taking my A’ levels. I wanted to read Anthropology, looked around Durham Cathedral and immediately felt at home. It contained effigies of my forefathers: Nevilles with their noses cut off by marauding Scotts. My own father had read PPE at Durham in the late 1940s and I was keen on the idea of living in the north east, even though it proved a long drive from where I grew up in Gloucestershire.

What was it like to be a student at Durham? Tell us about college life, the city, your course and any sports or societies you were involved in.

I immediately made great friends at Collingwood College and with others reading Anthropology. Instead of ‘Wednesday Sport’, I took lessons in water-colour painting which stood me in good stead when I turned professional as a wildlife artist in 1993. Although team sports were not my thing, I served as secretary of the Ice Skating Society and rowed in the Collingwood Ladies’ Four under Simon Pelly’s tutorledge, which was fun.

Sophie Neville rowing in the Netherlands 2018 — Sophie Neville rowing in the Netherlands

This equipped me to later join the crew of the Drapers Shallop, rowing the Voga Longa in Venice with the Olympic Gold Medalist Ed Coode and for HM Queen Elizabeth at Henley. I have taken part in other long rows and became a long-distance rider crossing the Namib desert and continent of South America on horses.

Sophie Neville riding across South America to raise funds for charity

What are your fondest memories of your time here?

I joined the operatic society in my first term and enjoyed acting in DUT’s ‘The Three Sisters’, which with took to the National Student Drama Festival in Hull. I then began directing my own productions: a male beauty contest held in the Union Rooms, the pantomime, ‘Aladdin’, ‘Cold Comfort Farm’, and the musical ‘Oklahoma!’ which launched Charles Johnston’s career as an opera singer. Putting on these comedies was hugely enjoyable and firm friendships were made.

Sophie Neville, Alastair Fothergill and Juliet Maddan who helped me put on plays at university

What have you been up to since you left Durham?

Thanks to grabbing the chance to direct plays at Durham, taking time to write programme ideas, and helping Alastair Fothergill make a couple of wildlife films for Look North, I gained a 6-month contract as a researcher on the BBC’s sought-after Graduate Trainee Scheme. After gaining experience on ‘The Book Show’ and the live chat show ‘Russell Harty’, I began casting children for an adaptation of the Arthur Ransome books set on the Norfolk Broads. I found Henry Dimbleby, then aged 13, to play the hero opposite Julian Fellows, Colin Baker and Rosemary Leach and spent three happy months filming in East Anglia. I remained in BBC Drama working on serials such as ‘Doctor Who’, ‘My Family and Other Animals’, and ‘Eastenders‘ while taking a sabbatical to make a documentary for Channel 4 when driving from London to Johannesburg on an expedition led by Charles Mayhew who later set up TUSK.

Alex Ruben and Sophie Neville on Lake Nakuru with a Kenyan film crew — Alex Ruben and Sophie Neville on Lake Nakuru with our Kenyan cameraman

I moved to BBC Schools Television where I worked at Ealing Studios on ‘Through the Dragon’s Eye’, and produced an ‘INSET’ series before directing comedy dramas starring Patsy Byrne.

Sophie Neville not at 10 Downing Street but on the lot at Elstree Studios — Not at 10 Downing Street but on the Lot at Elstree Studios for the BBC Drama Directors’ studio course.

Disaster struck when I collapsed in the office suffering from a mixture of tick bite fever and Asian ‘flu. It took me ten months to recover but I wrote the basis for my first book, ‘Funnily Enough’ while in bed and recovered in South Africa where I brought out a second illustrated memoir about running horseback safaris whilst setting up wildlife films for the BBC Natural History Unit and a ‘Blue Peter Summer Special’.

Whilst at Durham, I spent Friday afternoons learning cartography. I used the skills to create more then forty decorative maps of game reserves in Botswana, Namiba, Zimbabwe and South Africa, which I used to illustrate my travel memoir ‘Ride The Wings of Morning’.

After twelve years in southern Africa, I met my husband at an archery match in the Worcestershire village where I was born and started publishing non-fiction books in the UK. I had appeared in movies as a girl, and having played Titty in the original movie Swallows and Amazons, I have been giving talks, tv and radio interviews on my filmography on ‘The making of Swallows and Amazons’ and other topics. I’ve spoken at numerous literary weekends, book festivals and a massive Doctor Who convention at Riverside Studios in London.

Stephen Yardley, Sophie Neville and Forbes Collins talking about 'Doctor Who' — Stephen Yardley, Sophie Neville and Forbes Collins talking about ‘Doctor Who’

In 2004, I was commissioned to write a WWII feature film set in Tanganyika, Burma and Japan that has won a number of screenwriting awards. I am ready to publish the novel version of this story and the sequel, which is opens on Zanzibar in the heady days before the 1964 revolution. After spending three years researching this historical novel, I discovered the teenage Freddie Mercury was living on the island where his father must have been a prime target for the rebels. I have won ten screenwriting awards for this untold story, which I’m currently polishing.

Sophie Neville filming in the Cotswolds — Sophie filming for Channel 4

How has Durham inspired you to get where you are today? Tell us about any career highlights and achievements.

I used knowledge gained on anthropology and geography courses to establish myself as a horse safari guide in Southern Africa and have drawn on all I learned in ethnography to write my historical novels and screenplays. I began bringing out what I’d hoped were amusing articles at Durham for The Idler magazine, which was launched and edited by Nick Archer, Charles Stewart-Smith and Alastair Fothergill, who have all led stellar careers. They asked me to provide cover illustrations and to help Katie Hawkins with the manual layout. I’ve since had a number of articles in national publications such as the Daily Telegraph, Living, Country Life, and one book serialised in iBelieve magazine.

I became a committed Christian at Durham, am now a volunteer speaker for Bible Society, a member of the Association of Christian Writers and have taken on the PR for our parish church, which gets featured in national papers for its art installations.

What would be your top piece of advice for anyone considering studying at Durham?

A speaker at the Durham Union encouraged anyone wanting to work in television to specialise. I took his advice and specailised in working with children and animals, but should have narrowed this down to horses. My umpire’s certificate in polocrosse (gained at Morton Morrell College, part of WCUC) proved more useful than my Honours degree for gaining a South African visa ! and gave me a lot of fun. I was paid to to film a match for SABC and invited to play for the Northern Transvaal, albeit with the veterans. Aquire an umpire’s certificate – in any sport- whilst at Durham!

Sophie Neville in the Waterberg Polocrosse Team

Why is staying connected to your alumni community important to you? Tell us about anything you have gained from your alumni engagement with Durham.

I have kept up with friends made at Durham easily and naturally. They have been a continual blessing, and appear in my illustrated book Funnily Enough that is now available on audio, paperback and ebook platforms.

Funnily Enough – the paperback with black and white illustrations

David Blagden’s role in making the movie ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (1974)

David Blagden as Sammy the Policeman in ‘Swallows and Amazons’

I was interested to learn that David Blagden was born in New York in 1944 and went to school there. He had no hint of an American accent when we knew him in 1973.

Sophie Neville, Suzanna Hamilton, Stephen Grendon, Lesley Bennett and Kit Seymour with David Blagden on Peel Island on — Sophie Neville, Suzanna Hamilton, Stephen Grendon, Lesley Bennett and Kit Seymour with David Blagden on Peel Island Coniston

A young trans-Atlantic sailor, David handled boats with fluency and won the trust of the producer and director of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ who gave him the job of sailing director on the original film. Tall, good looking, and impervious to wet weather, he had an infectious enthusiasm for high adventure out on the water. We children all adored him.

Cormorant Island — Stephen Grendon and Sophie Neville in Swallow, wired to the camera pontoon with Richard Pilbrow, David Blagden, Calude Whatham, Dennis Lewiston, boatmen and other members of the filmcrew

I now realise that although he could splice a rope and was respected for his experience on high seas, David had never worked in film or television production. He claimed to have read the book of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ forty-two times, but evidently did not breakdown the script. As ‘sailing director’ he should have listed what was needed in each action scene, prepared methodically, and conducted what would now be deemed ‘risk assessments’. I look at the photo above and can only imagine what could have happened out on Derwentwater if we had been hit by a Lakeland squall. When my father eventually tested one of the old BOAC life vests we were equipped with, it failed.

As young actors, we only had two days on Windermere to get used to the boats. David concentrated on sailing with Captain John and Nancy, forgetting that Titty and Roger have quite a bit of tricky rowing in vision. They row back from the charcoal burners and row out to Cormorant Island in Swallow, while Titty needs to row Amazon out of the shelter of Secret Harbour into Coniston Water. It was madness not to have trained for a twelve year-old girl for this. I ended up with the precious 35mm Panavision movie camera onboard. We would have had plenty of time to practice as we were all hanging around at Brown Howe where we could have spent an afternoon rowing Swallow.

Contact sheet sailing Swallow & Amazon in 1973 — Contact sheet sailing Swallows & Amazon in 1973

One climax of the story is when Titty sails the captured Amazon back to Wild Cat Island, and yet he failed to teach me how to sail her. This was sad in that is was one aspect of Arthur Ransome’s book that could easily have been fulfilled.

The Amazon on her side with David Blagden (Sailing Director), David Cadwallader (Grip) David Bracknell (First Assistant Director) with Dennis Lewiston (DOP) with the Panasonic in the background ~photo: Richard Pilbrow

Although he was fond of boats, what David wanted was to to act. Claude Whatham, the director, gave him the part of Sammy the Policeman.

David Blagden, the Sailing Director before he had his hair cut to play the Policeman, and my mother Daphne Neville, Chaperone to the six children acting in ‘Swallows and Amazons’

The idea of having his hair cut was challenging but David accepted the fact that a police officer of 1929 would have a short back-and-sides and was shorn at Bank Ground Farm by Ronnie Cogan, the unit hairdresser. Off came his fashionable shaggy locks, which was seen as very brave.

David Blagdon who played Sammy the Policman ~ photo: Daphne Neville

David adopted a Lancashire accent for the part, “Now then Miss Nancy…” and was so proud of his haircut that he removed his policeman’s helmet in vision. This worked well as it gave him appropriate reticence. He remained in character whilst in uniform and his performance was both well timed and convincing. He obviously prepared well for that.

David Blagden as Sammy the Policeman in 'Swallows and Amazons' (1974) — David Blagden as Sammy the Policeman

David had played Grant in The Adventurer, a TV series made about an American government agent made in 1972. He’d also appeared as a prison officer in the 1971 film ‘Kidnapped‘ starring Michael Caine and Jack Hawkins, which we went to see at the cinema in Ambleside on a precious day off from filming ‘Swallows and Amazons’. IMDb lists David as voicing seven episodes of ‘The Water Margin’ and appearing in one episode of ‘Omnibus’ as a talkative actor. He also presented a British television series called ‘Plain Sailing’, which by all accounts did well, and is remembered for his book ‘Very Willing Griffin’ about his remarkable crossing of the Atlantic in a 19′ Hunter, completing the OSTAR race in fifty-two days.

Adrian Mitchell, an old friend of David’s, emailed me to say, ‘Your recollections of David whilst you were filming with him are both interesting and amusing. He was always very strict when he was at Conway and the thought that he would grow his his hair so long is really very funny…. and having it cut off for his policeman’s role in the film even funnier.’

Adrian remembers him from the 1960s as David Blagdon Marks. He might have decided to use Blagden as a surname if there had been another actor called David Marks or David Blagdon registered with Equity at the time.

We are currently unearthing more facts about the misadventyuire that cost David his life. On Sunday morning on 10^th September 1978, skipper and his girlfriend Eleanora Murk-Jansen were planning to sail to Fleetwood (near Blackpool) from Ramsey on the Isle of Man, but had engine problems and their departure was delayed. The weather forecast at midday on the 10^th for sea area Irish Sea appeared not too bad, as follows….

Pressure. 1015 -1018 hPa, falling steadily.

Wind South West. 4 – 5, increasing to force 6

Sea State. Moderate, becoming rough later.

Weather. Broken cloud, showers, good visibility between showers.

This was probably not seen by David as particularly onerous, especially for someone who had sailed the Atlantic, solo, some years before. However, the coastguard was worried and advised David not to leave the harbour as by evening an Atlantic depression had deepened and was moving east from Ireland across the Irish sea. David might have thought that as he was going to be heading south east, he could cope with the sea conditions. It would only be a sixty mile voyage. This should have taken around 10-14 hrs. They left around 10pm that evening, heading south east to Fleetwood.

But during the night of 10^th September, the barometric pressure dropped rapidly with a south west wind blowing Force 7 to 8. By midnight the pressure had dropped to 1000 hPa, a dramatic fall in such a short time would suggest worse weather was to coming, and that was the case, increasing to Force 9 and 10 as the night wore on. This was beyond the limits of a 26ft yacht. It is likely that the wind would have been astern of the boat and large seas could have pitch-poled it (stern over bow), smashing it to bits in shallow water off the nearby coast.

That night a tornado hit the town of Anchorsholme near Blackpool, damaging homes and throwing a large cycle shed through the air. The storm approached the area from the Irish Sea – recorded at Force 9 to 10, west north west.

Meanwhile, early in the morning of the 11^th September the coastguard (possibly from Ramsey or Fleetwood) alerted the RNLI that a yacht was overdue and probably in trouble off the Blackpool/Fleetwood coast and the Fleetwood and Lytham lifeboats were launched. They searched through the night and well into the day on Monday 11^th without success.

On Tuesday 12^th September, the Birmingham Daily Post reported that a 26ft sloop, Jain, on passage from the Isle of Man to Fleetwood with a man and a woman from London on board had been lost on the night of the 11^th September. The body of a young woman, along with yacht gear, were washed up on Blackpool beach. Wreckage was retrieved by a trawler, being from the wreck from a depth of just 1.4m close inshore, including a mast with numbered sail and harnesses that were identified as having come from the yacht Jain. David’s body was washed up nearby a week later.

An alternative account of the tragic shipwreck off Blackpool can be found on the Fleetwood Lifeboat’s site here.

A full account of the adventure had filming ‘Swallows and Amazons’ in the summer of 1973 can be found in the ebook ‘The Secrets of Filming Swallows and Amazons’ and the audiobook or illustrated paperback.

A reader’s perpective of ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974)’ published by The Lutterworth Press

Road sign to Sophie Neville — A sign of encouragement

I love hearing from readers and so appreciate letters and emails. Here are a few that arrived recently:

‘I do indeed have your book; it was a gift from my sister (we both love the film and it’s very much part of our childhoods). I found it incredibly evocative and loved the insights, as well as being taken back through your own experiences. It was exactly what inspired me to head to the Lakes and seek out some of the locations. Hearing about which places and items were purely for the film was especially fun….and saved me a great deal of time trying to find them!’ Timothy Joint. He kindly left a book review on the Waterstones site:

“A Nostalgic Journey Behind the Scenes of Swallows and Amazons”

Sophie Neville’s book, The Making of Swallows and Amazons, is an absolute delight for both devoted fans of the film and for anyone curious about the making of cinema in that era.

Written by Sophie Neville, the book brings a wonderfully personal and vivid perspective to the making of the beloved 1974 film Swallows and Amazons. What makes it especially engaging is how she transports you back to that time. You’re not just reading about the production, you feel as though you’re right there on the lakes watching it unfold.

Sophie shares fascinating insights into the realities of filming on location, from the unpredictable weather to the logistical challenges of shooting on water. Equally compelling are her memories of what it was like as a young actor balancing schoolwork with the demands of filming, which adds a lovely human layer to the story.

There’s a warmth and authenticity throughout the book that only someone who lived the experience could provide. Her reflections on friendships formed during filming, the camaraderie of the cast and crew, and the innocence of that era give the book a nostalgic charm that never feels forced.

More than just a “making of,” this book is a heartfelt memoir, a piece of film history, and a tribute to a unique moment in British cinema. Whether you grew up loving Swallows and Amazons or are discovering it for the first time, this is a wonderful book that will be loved by everyone.

The Making of Swallows and Amazons by Sophie Neville — Different editions of ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’ by Sophie Neville

‘I recently read The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974), and I have to say there’s something genuinely special about the way this book captures not just a film, but a moment in time.’

‘What makes your book so engaging is its authenticity. The decision to weave your childhood diary entries with your adult reflections creates a layered narrative that feels both immediate and nostalgic. It’s rare to get such an unfiltered, “in-the-moment” perspective of a film production especially one told through the eyes of a child who was living the adventure rather than simply acting it.’

‘The setting itself–the lakes and mountains of Cumbria–adds a natural richness to the story, but what truly stands out is how the experience mirrors the spirit of Swallows & Amazons. It doesn’t feel like a production account; it feels like an extension of the adventure.’

‘There’s also something deeply charming about the absence of modern filmmaking constraints–no digital interference, no rigid scripting, just immersion, imagination, and discovery. That gives the book a warmth and sincerity that resonates beyond film enthusiasts. This isn’t just a behind-the-scenes account. It’s a memory preserved with remarkable clarity and heart.’ Susan Pouliot

Another reader emailed to say, ‘There’s something rare about The Making of Swallows and Amazons it’s one of those books that doesn’t just document a film but actually preserves a lived experience. The extracts from your childhood diary are what make it irreplaceable; a child’s unfiltered voice set against the backdrop of Cumbria’s lakes and mountains, interspersed with photographs, maps, and newspaper clippings that ground every memory in something real. For readers who love Arthur Ransome or classic British cinema, this is exactly the kind of book they didn’t know they’d been waiting for.’

I’m assured, ‘That child’s eye view of the entire journey from filming to premiere is the kind of detail readers who love film history and nostalgia would truly enjoy.’

If you have enjoyed reading ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’, do leave a brief review online. Waterstones have a page for the paperback or scroll down here for the UK Amazon site. I also have a page on Goodreads here.

Would you sponsor me to collect litter along the coast this May?

Sophie Neville taking part in Race for Reading in 2023

I’m raising funds for the UK charity Schoolreaders by litter picking as I walk along the South Coast of England this May. Tax efficient donations can be received on my Race for Reading page where I will keep a record of the distance covered. When going onto the event platform we recommend you set the fee for Enthuse as £0. My company will double any amount you can give and make a real difference to providing child literacy whilst fostering a love of reading in the UK.

As an author supporter of SchoolReaders I act as their legacy ambassador and have taken part in a couple of Race for Reading challenges. A £20 note once floated towards a member of my team, which was encouraging.

Sophie Neville in the Race for Reading — Raising funds for SchoolReaders

My aim is to walk 40 miles, collecting flotsam and keeping a diary to record anything weird I find along the way. When I took up the challenge in 2022, I came across all kinds of unexpected things.

The charity SchoolReaders are collecting donations online here. It’s easy! Any amount, however small, would be gratefully received and spur me on my way.

You too can join the campaign by registering online. It should be fun!

Sophie Neville - an author supporter of Schoolreaders

I’ve started my clearing rubbish along the estuary where I love, finding some pretty elderly items. This muddy tiger cheered me up.

There is so much litter that I progress slowly. Some items can be difficult to reach. My mileage is low but one supporter, Chris Holmes, reckons that one large bucket = a mile of litter picking, which is about right. They can weigh up to 4Kgs and I can’t carry much more.

I can add a buckets-worth of clear plastic bottles that went into a recyling bin enroute.

This bucketful was collected above the tideline but includes items brought down by floodwater that were languishing in out riverine nature reserve posing a threat to wildlife.

Once on the foreshore I find rope – short lengths of PVC including torn fishing nets and lengths of fishing line. There are so many tiny pieces of plastic flotsam that I begin to count. I filled this bucket with 105 items and tucked in another thirty on the way back. I only covered about 2 miles but was drained of energy.

The disposable cup had a pebble inside. If it’s owner had planned to sink it, they then replaced the lid and it landed on this all but forgotten shore.

Sophie and the sex symbols – acting in ‘Kidnapped’ opposite Ekkehardt Belle and David McCallum

Sometimes unexpected doors open.

After being lucky enough to play the heroines in both ‘Swallows and Amazons’ and an adventure movie called ‘The Copter Kids’, a transgender role came my way.

I was asked if I would mind playing a Dutch messenger boy in ‘Kidnapped’ produced by HTV and Tele München Fernseh Produktionsgesellschaft (TMG) in 1978. It was a high profile television series at the time–a TV movie made in glorious locations, but my part was tiny.

Sophie Neville in 'Kidnapped' — Appearing as a messenger boy in ‘Kidnapped’ produced by Patrick Dromgoole for HTV.

I was literally given five minutes notice. They happened to be using a film location in Bisley, near my home in the Cotswolds, and had forgotten to cast the boy who brought a key message to the hero played by the German actor Ekkehardt Belle.

The formidable producer, Patrick Dromgoole, knew my little sister Tamzin had played Elka in ‘Arthur of the Britons’, which he’d produced in 1970. Tamzin had been carried out of a Saxon longboat in Oliver Tobias’s arms and rode over the hills with Michael Gothard.

Tamzin Neville with Oliver Tobias in Arthur of the Britons — Tamzin Neville with Oliver Tobias in ‘Arthur of the Britons’

Looking back, Patrick Droomgool may have asked if Tamzin had been available but any child under sixteen, including his own boys, would have needed a licence to act from the Department of Education. These took at least six weeks to come through. Being seventeen I had no need of one and yet was in the rare position of possessing an Equity card. Did my smart London agent broker the deal? No, my mother did. I knew the Robert Louis Stephenson’s story, put down my A’Level revision and agreed to take on the little part. I had nothing to lose.

Sophie Neville in 'Kidnapped'(1978) — Sophie Neville in ‘Kidnapped'(1978)

The Scottish actor David McCallum was on set, starring in the series as Alan Breck Stewart, the Culloden hero. I had seen ‘The Great Escape’, ‘Colditz’ and knew him as The Invisible Man but had no idea that he had played The Man from U.N.C.L.E., a role that had made him something of a sex symbol in America. He is said to have received more fan mail than any other actor in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s history. He went on to star in ‘Saphire and Steel’ with Joanna Lumley and played the pathologist Dr “Ducky” Mallard in 460 episodes of ‘NICS’, the popular American crime series on CBS-TV. I gather he really disliked being famous. I was surprised to find that at 5’7″ he was shorter than me.

Ekkehardt Belle was only a few years older than me and gorgeous. He played the modest but handsome young David Balfour in search of his rightful inheritance. The ensuing adventure took him to the Netherlands where our scene was set. It was Sophie and the sex symbols – only I was made up to look like a grubby guttersnipe in tattered clothing and looked most unattractive.

My job was to dart across a courtyard and present the hero with an important message sealed with wax and wait for instruction before disappearing down an alley. I had to react to his response but had no lines, nothing to say.

The only difficult thing was coping with the cold. It was freezing and I was dressed in very little. No thermal vest or longjohns were provided. The peculiar item in the left hand side of the photo above is a snow machine. Real snow would not have been unexpected. Patrick Dromgoole was sympathetic and offered moral support as we waited for camera track to be laid.

The scene took a while to shoot thanks to various set ups that included a top shot of me running though the snow as the end credits roll.

Sophie Neville as a messenger boy in ‘Kidnapped’. There were very few female parts in the epic series

‘Kidnapped’ can now be watched on Youtube. It takes you back to the ‘seventies but is pretty clonky. I had to sit through the whole series to find our scenes at the end of the story. You won’t be able to spot me. I recognise the location and can just see myself dashing though an establishing shot . The delivery of the message – once thought so vital – seems to have been cut. I do not appear in close up, I was given no credit. It was all for nothing, apart from the fact that I was paid rather well for a teenager.

The theme music was memorable. You can see me briefly with the ducks in a single shot after Christopher Biggins (playing the Bonnie Prince) sends David McCallum packing. Watch if you dare. It all looks so dated.

To finance my way through university, I registered with an agent in Bournemouth called Lenny and appeared in the background action of about sixty dramas including ‘Tenko’ and ‘Agatha’. You can read a little more about my brief career as a film extra if you scroll down on this website here. It was a good, if humbling, way to gain experience in film and television production, but I never worked with David McCallum again. I can’t remember any more sex symbols but I played a guest at ‘Murder at the Wedding’ with Christopher Biggins, and found myself in Ronnie Barker’s arms. That was fun.

I’ve written more about my adventures in film and television in my book ‘Funnily Enough’, which is now available on Audible and other audio book platforms.

May I call you Titty?

Sophie Neville as Titty – a photo montage of put together by a fan of the film

Google my name and you will come across rather astonishing newspaper headlines ingrained in the internet’s listing system. They are remarkably popular articles. I woke one morning to a comment from Australia alerting me to a peTITTYon in the Daily Telegraph – you could cast your vote online ‘More support for Titty!’ was one cry.

Everyone, it seems, wants to know what it is like to be called Titty.

It is a titualar title in that I have no power. I can do little more than respond with good humour to those who see me as a living representative of ‘Swallows and Amazons’. Like it or not, letters, emails and messages keep arriving addressed to Titty. They are all wonderful, some so enchanting they have been kept along with the old black and white stills taken on location. I attempt to answer each one.

Simon West and Sophie Neville — *Simon West as John and Sophie Neville as Titty on location on Peel Island, 1973*

Having been known as Titty since 1973, I automatically respond when the name is called and wave back, as I’m sure the Able-seaman would. It is quite fun seeing the reaction of passers-by if children call out ‘Titty!’ when they see me coming, but as one church warden pointed out, ‘At least your real name is not John Prescott.’

I found there was a Facebook group called ‘Titty from Swallows & Amazons is one hot cookie.’ When I asked to join the group, all the other members fled. You can see for yourself. It is still there. I am pretty sure they were a group of fashion students – or hope so.

What creepy people don’t seem realise is that I can see the words typed into search engines that bring people to my own website. I’ve had some crackers. It was the navy blue gym knickers I wore to play the part of Titty that attracted quite a bit of unfortunate attention. I had to remove a few photographs featuring this particular item of my costume and talk about the green parrot instead. Children often ask if I still have one.

Altounyan Children - Susie, Taqui, Titty (seated) and Roger — *Susie, Taqui, Titty and Roger Altounyan in 1928*

Although Titty Walker is a fictional character, with adventures of her own, she was inspired by a real child known to Arthur Ransome when he was writing ‘Swallows and Amazons’ back in 1929. I have written about her here and have more photos of her on this website. Titty Altounyan’s real name was Norah Mavis Altounyan but she preferred the nickname of Titty. Ransome explained in a note to Miss Joyce Cartmell that ‘Titty is short for Tittymouse which is what she was called when she was a baby. Nobody ever calls her anything but Titty now’. Tittymouse was a character in English folktale Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse.

If anything, Titty Altounyan lived rather reluctantly with the fame that came along when the novel became a bestseller. Her descendants were upset to hear that the character’s name was changed to Tatty in the 2016 film adaptation of ‘Swallows and Amazons’. Her daughter was tearful about the lack of consultation and her niece outraged. They saw it as ‘history being re-written’. Ransome was a journalist but what he would have thought of the editor of the Guardian coining the ‘Titty Tatty’ story, which others called ‘Tittle-Tattle’ or the ‘Tittygate debate’, I do not know.

Simon West and Sophie Neville bring Swallow into the Secret Harbour on Wildcat Island

I learned that it wasn’t until after 1929, that the word ‘titty’ took on meaning as a mammary gland. The character’s name was changed to Kitty when the BBC made a black and white television serial of the book back in 1962 when Susan George played the part. Ransome was still living in the Lake District at the time. He seemed to accept the name change, but loathed additions to the story-line and the attitude of the director who had wanted to blast rocks from the entrance to Peel Island on Coniston Water. As you can see from an earlier post, I was contracted to play the part of ‘Titania’ in the movie made in 1973, but the name TITTY was typed throughout the screenplay. Mrs Ransome was the script editor.

Sophie Neville rowing to Cormorant Island — Sophie Neville as Titty and Stephen Grendon as Roger rowing to Cormorant Island

Ransome’s brilliance was that he made Able-seaman Titty, the little sister into the heroine of ‘Swallows and Amazons’. CS Lewis did the same by making Lucy Pevensie heroine of ‘The Chronicles of Nania’. It is not surprising that most little girls reading the story want to ‘be Titty’. They find the syllables easy to pronounce and don’t give a second thought to an alternative meaning to the name. It is accepted as genuine, and they tend to regard jokers as immature. ‘May I call you Titty?’ one five-year-old asked. What could I say? She knows that her cat has titties on her tummy but that’s not rude and it’s no reason to change the name in her eyes. I am assured that girls in the US don’t bat an eyelid. Boys may snicker at first but are soon swept away by the story.

The audiobook of 'The Making of Swallows and Amazons' — The new audiobook

You can read about how I came by the part and what it was like to be on location in ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’ now available as an audio book.

Swallows & Amazons flags drawn by Sophie Neville

The crossed flags my publisher asked me to draw (with permission) that were later used on the call sheet of the 2016 movie.

We had a full house for the last illustrated talk on The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974)

Sophie Neville, who played Titty in the original film ‘Swallows and Amazons’, gave a special talk on what is was like to take the lead part in a feature film at the Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster, on Saturday 21st February.

Richard Pilbrow, who produced the original film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ had been married to Vicky Brinton whose family donated many of the items on display at the former mill, along with a huge poster in the conference room.

Sophie was born in Worcestershire, seven miles from the venue. Her great-grandfather, Canon Hastings Neville, was a curate in Kidderminster and one of his ten sons, the Olympic athlete Dick Neville, pioneered the manufacture of woolen carpets in New Zealand, developing a crossbreed of sheep for the purpose. In 1960, he employed Richard Pugh-Cook who returned to the Midlands and founded the Museum of Carpet thirteen years ago.

About seventy people packed into the conference room to listen to the talk, which enjoyed a great response. “The degree of factual information contained in it is amazing…all those details of 50 years ago conveyed with such clarity and enthusiasm!”

“….such an inspiration to so many people especially younger people who have such different lives these days – another era then, it seems, but one we should not forget.”

“a great success – everyone seemed to have throughly enjoyed your talk, hearing about the other side of filming!”

Sophie signed copies of her books after the talk when she had a chance to meet ‘Swallows and Amazons’ enthusiasts and a little girl hoping to become a film actress. The event was covered in the local news.

Highlights of 2025 – a writer’s year

A long-forgotten photograph of Sophie Neville aged 21

I reached the end of 2025 wondering what on Earth I’d accomplished apart from clearing out my mother’s house – an irksome project as she’d lived there for sixty years, but I found a lot of photos, piles of hand-written letters and other relics from making the original film ‘Swallows and Amazons’, including a news cuttings book and other finds, which I added to this website. I came across more graphics only yesterday, so watch this space.

Sue Anstruther and Sophie Neville signing books with the help of Alex Moore — Sue Anstruther, Alex Moore and Sophie Neville signing books at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith

February 2025, marked my first Doctor Who convention, when I was invited to speak on the panel after a screening of ‘Vengeance on Varos’. Great fun!

The fans have worked out that those on the production team have lots of stories and I was made very welcome. I’d forgotten that I had invented Varian knitting or wore red in the studio. Sadly, Nabil Shaban, who played our monster, Sil, was too ill to join us and died in October 2025.

Sophie Neville working on the Doctor Who episodes 'Vengeance on Varos' — Sophie Neville working on ‘Doctor Who’ with Nibil Shaban, Martin Jarvis and Forbes Collins

However, it was great to be reunited with other members of the cast including Geraldine Alexander who rushed over from the set of ‘Bridgerton’, and Colin Baker who I’d also worked with on ‘Coot Club’. You can read more about the day on this website.

Rob with Sophie Neville, Geraldine Alexander, Nicola Bryant, Stephen Yardley, Colin Baker and Forbes Collins

As a member of a film crew you are busy but invisible until your name is worthy of a credit. As a writer you are invisible until you win an award. One of my screenplays written in 2024 reached the semi-finals of the Scriptwriters & Co International Festival, which was exciting.

Then two reached the finals of the Screencraft’s True Story screenplay competition. There were only eight other finalists.

I was awarded an Honourable Mention for excellence in screenwriting at the glitzy International Film Gala in London, when I was joined by Lucy Calcott who has been editing my work.

This script was one of ten finalists in the Pitch Now screenplay competition.

I won a Lonely Wolf screenplay award, was in the running for a Creative Worlds Award

and on the Cannes Screenplay List. All this was followed by a feature interview in The Church Times, a profile of my writing to date and a few other author interviews when I was asked unexpected questions about my past.

Being nominated and winning a screenwriters award at the New Media Film Festival in Los Angeles was exciting. While in Spain, I took part in an onscreen Writer’s Block Q&A chaired by Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings and was interviewed by Susan Johnston on what I’ve learnt as a writer. (I’ve learned that smelt is spelled smelled in America!)

Meanwhile, one of my stories reached the finals of the prestigious American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis Contest and a silver coat pin arrived in the post.

The same WWII story won a genre award in the Page Turner Awards and another was shortlisted in their Culture Award.

Right at the end of the year, literally on 30th December, I won the Eyelands Book Award for an unpublished historical novel, which was encouraging. It’s the third award they have bestowed on me. I absolutely treasure the ceramic tree trophies.

From August 2025 onwards, I helped Children in Read raise nearly £10,000 for BBC Children in Read by taking part in an online charity book auction, which was fun and involved dialogue with many amazing writers.

It was great to receiver this illustrated review of the film ‘Swallows and Amazons’. My non-fiction books received flattering online reviews, which is always appreciated and Resolute Books inspired me to bring out my memoires as a trilogy of life as a single girl. This is exciting but on the back burner for now.

The Gondola on Coniston Water today, re-built and restored by the National Trust.

Meanwhile the National Trust asked if they could use my ‘Swallows and Amazons’ map of Coniston Water to promote MY Gondola’s cruises.

Map showing film locations around Coniston Water

Items featuring this map and others can be purchased from Redbubble:

Swallows and Amazons mugs — Mugs printed with maps used to illustrate Sophie’s books

Meanwhile, real life continued to plung forward. We’ve had our house on the market and, whilst my mother was diagnosed with medium dementia, she refused to leave home. It made finding time for anything else tricky, but I managed a little litter picking.

We ploughed on with sorting through the vast number of letters and photographs Mum had stored all a-muddle.

What a task! As one friend said, ‘it’s bad enough finding homes in the house for things that come in use, let alone things that don’t!’

I was beginning to feel overwhelmed when I was asked to knit poppies for a commemorative installation at church. This was so calming that I made about 150 whilst watching dramas. My excuse for imbibing every crime serial available is that I need to examine script construction. I shot footage of our ‘towering achievement’ for BBC South Today and aided a drone photographer who took this shot for The Guardian and other national papers.

The Remembrance cascade of poppies at Boldre Church — The cascade of homemade poppies at Boldre Church

After taking my mother for a holiday in Pembrokeshire, we found her a place at Denville Hall, the amazing retirement home for those who have worked in the entertainment industry. She appeared briefly on ‘The Repair Shop Christmas Special’, which I profiled on her website. I added some of the old photos of her early career as a television presenter and have started giving a series of illustrated talks to the residents. The first one was on her work behind-the-scenes on the original movie ‘Swallows and Amazons.’

For some years now, I have been the webmaster for The Waterberg Trust, a UK registered charity supporting amazing projects in a corner of rural South Africa. We sponsor the role of the only school nurse working in the Limpopo Province. Along with caring for pupils, she has established four school vegetable gardens and distributes food parcels to those in need. I’ve started a project knitting hats to take them as an encouragement in 2026.

You can read about life at my parents’ house in my memoir ‘Funnily Enough’, which won a Rubery Book Award when it first came out and is now available as a paperback for £7.99, on Audible and other audiobook platforms. The illustrations look best on the ebook version. You can see a free sample here.

Very Happy New Year –

A signed and dedicated paperback of ‘The Making of Swallows & Amazons’ auctioned in aid of BBC Children in Need 2025

A book signed by the author always makes a good Christmas present. Each year, I take part in an annual online charity auction organised by Children in Read to raise funds for BBC Children in Need.

You can scroll through the site on Jumblebee. co.uk. and choose from an amazing selection of biographies and other books donated by contemporary authors.

In 2025, I donated a signed and dedicated illustrated paperback copy of ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974)’

It was accompanied by a signed print of Titty Walker played by Sophie Neville in ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (1974) drawn by the artist Caroline Assheton

Sophie Neville as Titty by Caroline Assheton

Funds raised go directly to BBC Children in Need

Paddy Heron, the fundraiser, has been advertising the event on Twitter

👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇https://t.co/XC2Jdw7ZEx
👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆@Sophie_Neville @BBCCiN pic.twitter.com/xHNrczMoLc
— Paddy Heron 🇺🇦 (@ChildrenInRead) October 7, 2025

Taking part is always great fun and offers authors a bit of publicity whilst presenting readers a choice of signed and dedicated books and illustrations.

There are always many bargains to be had

In 2023, items in the Authors and Illustrators’ auction, raised a total of £24,061 for BBC Children in Need.

This year, authors and illustrators raised £9,766.

Over the eleven years that the annual event has been running a stunning total of £141,766 has been raised. I joined in 2020 and have raised a total of £616 for this cause.

Bidding has now closed but put the event in your diary for next year.

Thank you for supporting this great cause!