Swallows and Amazons film – Page 4

I captured the Amazon

I CAPTURED THE AMAZON

The Arthur Ransome Society has been able to reunite Swallow and Amazon for the fiftieth Anniversary of the 1974 film and to preserve them for future generations. Come to see them both – and even sail Amazon – at Windermere Jetty museum in Cumbria on 29th and 30th June when John Sergeant will be hosting a Q&A with the cast and crew.

Celebrating 50th Anniversary of the movie 'Swallows and Amazons' in 2024 — Celebrating 50th Anniversary of the movie ‘Swallows and Amazons’ in 2024

The challenge is on to fully restore Swallow so that families can set her sails and live out the pages of Arthur Ransome’s iconic books today.

Sophie Neville when president of The Arthur Ransome Society

At the age of twelve, I was cast as Able Seaman Titty when the original film Swallows and Amazons was made on location in the Lake District in the summer of 1973. Dame Virginia McKenna played my mother and the six of us children had fun making Ronald Fraser walk the plank. Now hailed as a classic sailing film, I’m assured it has been broadcast on British television more times than any other movie and is currently streaming on Amazon.com and Netflix Europe.

'Swallows and Amazons' on VHS — The cover of the original VHS version of ‘Swallows and Amazons’

One secret is that the film was made on four different lakes – Coniston Water, Windermere, Elterwater, Derwentwater – and a smelly lily pond. We were able to use Bank Ground Farm as Holly Howe and Brown Howe as Beckfoot, home to the Amazon pirates who careened their dinghy on the lake shore in the company of a 45-man film crew from Pinewood Studios.

David Blagden, David Cadwallader, and David Bracknell looking at the Amazon’s bottom with DPO Denis Lewiston in the background with the Panasonic

Careening the Amazon at Brown Howe, Coniston Water – photo: Daphne Neville

We were only given a couple of days to get used to handling Swallow and Amazon before filming began. Although happy out on the water, the director, Claude Whatham, knew little about boats. To make up for this, we had instruction from a sailing director in the form of a good-looking actor called David Blagden who presented a television programme called Plain Sailing. He’d recently raced crossed the Atlantic in a nineteen foot yacht called Willing Griffin but was unfamiliar with blustery Lakeland winds and did not know how to break down a script. Simon West, aged eleven, who played Captain John, ended up explaining to Claude how to get a decent shot while I tried not to shiver. My costume was designed by Emma Porteous of James Bond fame but consisted of nothing more than a short yellow dress and an enormous pair of navy-blue gym knickers.

Amazon, flying the Jolly Roger, with her seamed white lugsail and heavy centerboard is a lovely boat to sail. Although vital to the story, no one took into account that I needed to take her, on my own, from Secret Harbour on Wild Cat Island and drop her anchor off Cormorant Island. I was given a grey cardigan to wear but had not been asked if I could row. Having grown up handling a Thames skiff, I managed to use the leading lights we’d set up to negotiate the narrow channel and threatening rocks in one take. I repeated the action with Dennis Lewiston, the lighting-cameraman, and his 35mm Panavision camera in the stern but grew so tired that I needed to be carried ashore by a frogman acting as our safety officer.

Sophie Neville in The Amazon with DOP Denis Lewiston, his 16mm camera and a reflector board ~ photo: Martin Neville

Sophie Neville having captured the Amazon, with the lighting cameraman and 35mm Panavision Camera in her stern. Swallow is moored alongside – photo: Martin Neville

Titty later anchors Amazon off Cormorant Island on Derwentwater, but the shot of her wrapped in the sail, sleeping aboard, was taken in Mrs Batty’s blacked-out barn at Bank Ground, with the boat rocking on a cradle made by the unit carpenter. This was for a night scene when Titty is disturbed by burglars hiding a heavy trunk that turns out to contain Captain Flint’s treasure. When the action was repeated out on Derwentwater near One Tree Island, I got soaked. Rain had collected in the furled sails.

My one regret is that we didn’t follow the book when sailing the Amazon back to Wild Cat Island. The wind was up and Claude Whatham needed Captain John to sail Swallow ahead of the Amazon which is the faster boat. I originally took the tiller, as Titty is urged to in the story, but had trouble with the rudder. Mate Susan, played by Suzanna Hamilton, is at the helm on the cover of the Puffin paperback brought out to accompany the film, whilst I am fending off.

One of the film stills taken from the pontoon was used on the cover of the Puffin edition of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ brought out in 1974 to accompany the film.

The second part of the scene was shot on Coniston Water, with the Amazon Pirates, Nancy and Peggy ‘dancing with rage’ on Peel Island. A shot of this was used on the cover of a hardback and a DVD distributed by the Daily Mail.

Not many sailing films have been made and it was unusual for a movie to feature so many scenes set in two small dinghies. Mike Turk, whose family had been boat building for centuries, and Nick Newby of Nicol End Marine near Keswick, took up the challenge of adapting a cross-shaped pontoon to act as a mobile camera mount so that our dialogue could be recorded. This extraordinary vessel had two outboards but wasn’t easy to handle. The dinghies were wired to it with underwater cables but tended to pull away. Swallow’s mast broke the first time she was rigged, but the idea eventually worked and only Sten Grendon, playing Roger, fell in.

Amazon rigged up to the camera pontoon – photo: Richard Pilbrow

Somehow David Cadwallader, the grip looking after the camera equipment, managed to keep the horizon horizontal using no more than a spirit level on the tripod. Shadows were lifted from our faces by using reflector boards and, since the whole movie was post-synced at Elstree Studios, the audience can hear what we say.

Richard Pilbrow and his film crew on the camera pontoon with Eddie Collins operating the 16mm camera. Simon West and Stephen Grendon sail Swallow. Suzanna Hamilton is climbing aboard the Amazon with Sophie Neville

Filming Swallow and Amazon from the camera pontoon – photo: Daphne Neville

Sophie Neville on the pontoon during the filming of 'Swallows and Amazons' — The pontoon on Derwentwater with Richard Pilbrow, Bobby Sitwell, Denis Lewiston, Claude Whatham, David Cadwalader and Sophie Neville aged 12 playing Titty. Eddie Collins looks on ~ photo: Daphne Neville

Sophie Neville on the camera pontoon on Derwentwater – photo: Daphne Neville

The first Amazon, a chunky sea-going fourteen-footer with a standing lugsail purchased in Barrow-in-Furness by the Altounyan family in 1928, was originally called Mavis. After being restored, she was renamed Amazon in line with Ransome’s books but remains too leaky to take out. She now resides in the John Ruskin Museum at Coniston where she can be visited like a great aunt.

None of us children knew that the Amazon we sailed had been used in the 1963 BBC adaptation of Swallows and Amazons made in black and white with Susan George playing ‘Kitty’ as Titty was renamed. Looking at the photographs, it would have been good if Amazon’s hull had been painted black but her varnished planks are a nod to the 1970s when everyone was busy stripping pine.

By 2003, she was owned by the White family who I met when they brought Amazon from Kent to Cumbria to feature in Countryfile and an episode of Big Screen Britain. Ben Fogle met their twin daughters on Peel Island, looking very much like Nancy and Peggy in damp bathing costumes having been swimming in Coniston Water. It has been extremely generous of them to pass such a precious boat on to The Arthur Ransome Society.

Amazon will soon be available to hire at Hunter's Yard, Ludham — Amazon will soon be available to hire at Hunter’s Yard, Ludham

Amazon at Hunters Yard – photo: Marc Grimston

Amazon is currently being kept at Hunter’s Yard near Ludham where you can apply to sail her on the Norfolk Broads, along with the Titmouse and the Teasle, (a cabin cruiser called Lullaby) and a punt called the Dreadnaught featured in the 1984 BBC adaptation of Coot Club. Swallow is also there under restoration, needing a new keel.

Amazon being restored at Hunter's Yard, Ludham — Amazon being restored at Hunter’s Yard, Ludham

Amazon at Hunters Yard – photo: Marc Grimston

The plan is for both Swallow and Amazon to be on display at Windermere Jetty in Cumbria for the weekend of 29^th & 30^th June 2024. We hope some of the steamboats used to dress the Rio scenes set at Bowness-on-Windermere such as Osprey and George Pattinson’s launch Lady Elizabeth can be in attendance. Windermere Jetty is currently restoring the steam launch Esperance used by Ransome as his model for Captain Flint’s houseboat, and you can find the fourteen-foot RNSA dinghies used in the 2016 movie of Swallows and Amazons moored in the wet dock.

In 2021, everyone at Windermere Jetty gasped when Rupert Maas valued Swallow highly on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, but the true worth of both Swallow and Amazon is akin to Captain Flint’s hidden treasure: instead of gold ingots his trunk contained precious memories of friendship and adventure. They no doubt kept him on course when the storms of life blew in and gave him plenty to write about. Just as Arthur Ransome’s books grant us solace, my prayer is that many will be able to grab the chance of sailing the little boats that take us into the stories immortalised on film so long ago.

You can read more of Sophie Neville’s memories in The Making of Swallows and Amazons’, published by the Lutterworth Press and now available as an audiobook narrated by the author

'The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974) by Sophie Neville' — Different editions of ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974) by Sophie Neville’

Thanks go to all those who have looked after and lovingly restored the inspirational boats that appear in the adaptations of Arthur Ransome’s books. If you would like to help by making a donation towards the restoration, the link is:

I would like to Donate – The Arthur Ransome Society (arthur-ransome.org)

Sophie Neville with Titmouse at Hunter’s Yard. She will join Swallow and Amazon at Windermere Jetty on 29th and 30th June. Come and join us!

50th Anniversary of the film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ at Windermere Jetty in Cumbria

Saturday 29th June, 2024 – hosted by The Arthur Ransome Society

10.00am – The exhibition at Windermere Jetty opens. See Arthur Ransome’s dinghy Scarab, Swallow and Amazon from the 1974 film along with Titmouse from the BBC serial of Coot Club and other interesting boats.

There will be a display of 1974 movie memorabilia.

The Altounyan family hope to bring the original Amazon once called Mavis.

Enjoy the Swallows and Amazons lakeside camp and knot tying.

10.30am – Heritage boat trips on the steamboats Osprey and either Lady Elizabeth or Penelope who appeared in the Rio scenes. (This is at an extra cost)

10:30am – Film screening of Swallows and Amazons (1974)

11.00am onwards. Grab a chance to sail Amazon with an experienced skipper. Book with Sail Swallow and Amazon.

12:15am – Talk by Peter Wright on ‘How Ransome came to write Swallows and Amazons‘.

12:30pm – second showing of film Swallows and Amazons (1974)

Lunch at the Cafe on the lake where the Wooden Boat Regatta is gathering

2:15pm – Meet the cast, crew and screenwriter of Swallows and Amazons (1974) – introduced by John Sergeant, President of The Arthur Ransome Society. Do bring any books for signing. Simon West (John), Suzanna Hamilton (Susan), Sophie Neville (Titty), Kit Seymour (Nancy), Kerry Darbishire (Nurse) will be with Peter Robb-King (Make up designer), Daphne Neville (Chaperone) and others who worked on the film made in the summer of 1973.

3:00pm – Talk by Sophie Neville on ‘The making of Swallows and Amazons‘ featuring which scenes from the film were shot on Windermere.

4:00pm – The Boatband Concert

5:00 pm – final showing of film Swallows and Amazons (1974)

Strolling Singers will perform as and when the mood takes them

6:30pm Close

The film crew of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ wait with *Swallow* at the end of the jetty while Simon West, Suzanna Hamilton and Sophie Neville line up by the launch

Sunday 30th June, 2024 – hosted by The Arthur Ransome Society

10.00am – The exhibition at Windermere Jetty opens. See Arthur Ransome’s dinghy Scarab, Swallow and Amazon from the 1974 film along with Titmouse from the BBC serial of Coot Club.

The Altounyan family hope to bring the original Amazon once called Mavis.

There will be a display of 1974 movie memorabilia, a Swallows and Amazons camp and activities for children.

10.30am – Heritage boat trips on the steamboats Osprey and either Lady Elizabeth or Penelope who appeared in the Rio scenes. (This is at an extra cost)

10:30am – showing of film Swallows and Amazons (1974)

11.00am onwards. Grab a chance to sail Amazon with an experienced skipper. Book with Sail Swallow and Amazon.

12:15am – Meet the cast, crew and screenwriter of Swallows and Amazons (1974) – introduced by John Sergeant, President of The Arthur Ransome Society. Do bring any books for signing. Suzanna Hamilton (Susan), Sophie Neville (Titty), Kit Seymour (Nancy), Kerry Darbishire (Nurse) will be with Peter Robb-King (Make up designer), Daphne Neville (Chaperone) and others who worked on the film made in the summer of 1973.

1:00pm – Talk by Sophie Neville on ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons‘

1:45pm – Second second showing of film Swallows and Amazons (1974)

3:15pm – Talk Peter Wright on ‘How Ransome came to write Swallows and Amazons‘

4:00pm – The Boatband Concert

5:00pm close

Celebrating the life and work of Richard Pilbrow who produced the original movie ‘Swallows and Amazons’

Sophie Neville speaking about Richard Pilbrow at the National Theatre

I was invited to speak at the National Theatre by Fred Pilbrow who rehearsed the presentation at his studio in London.

He put together the most extraordinary celebration of the life and works of his father, Richard Pilbrow, who died recently at the age of ninety.

The most talented technicians in the theatre world gathered to speak on his life and works. A recording of the event has been made available on Youtube.

Sophie Neville speaks about making ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (1974) at 1.15.15

It was a fitting tribute to the man who lit up the lives of many and produced a movie that apparently has been broadcast on television more than any other British film and fifty years after the premier in Shaftesbury Avenue is streaming on Amazon today. Read more in ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’ now available on Audible.

Speaking about Richard Pilbrow at the National Theatre

Swallows and Amazons (1974)

Richard Pilbrow told me that the most difficult thing he ever had to do was to persuade Mrs Ransome to grant him the rights to make ‘Swallows and Amazons’ into a movie.

But he did. He found funding from EMI Films and asked Dame Virginia McKenna to play Mother.

Virginia McKenna at Bank Ground Farm in 1973 ~ photo: Daphne Neville

Neville Thompson put together a great crew

The Production Team on 'Swallows and Amazons' in 1973 — Second Assistant Terry Needham, Associate Producer Neville C Thompson and Production Manager Graham Ford with the unit motoroller on a sunny day in June 1973

with Denis Lewiston as DoP,

Dennis Lewiston, director of Photography on 'Swallows and Amazons' ~photo:Richard Pilbrow — Dennis Lewiston, director of Photography on ‘Swallows and Amazons’ ~photo:Richard Pilbrow

the Oscar winning set dresser Ian Whittaker,

The local fisherman, Ian Whittaker, Simon Holland and Gareth Tandy ~ photo: Daphne Neville

and the avant guard director Claude Whatham fresh from making ‘That’ll Be the Day’ with David Essex and Ringo Starr.

Claude Whatham with the children he eventually cast as the Swallows

Filming on location in the Lake District wasn’t easy.

Producer Richard Pilbrow with Neville C Thompson on Derwentwater in the Lake District in 1973 — Producer Richard Pilbrow and Production Associate Neville C Thompson on Derwentwater in the Lake District in 1973

How they lit the scenes on Peel Island I do not know.

Virginia McKenna with Sophie Neville in Swallows and Amazons — Dame Virginia McKenna as Mother with Sophie Neville as Titty Walker

It rained so hard that Simon Holland had to order black drapes from Pinewood Studios so they could shoot the night scenes in Mrs Batty’s dusty barn.

But the film worked because Richard had insisted that the children playing the lead characters could sail.

Filming Swallows and Amazons (1974) from a camera pontoon

The film didn’t make much at the box office but it worked well on television.

Sophie Neville as Titty Walker in Swallows and Amazons — Sophie Neville as Titty Walker in the ITV trailer for the movie of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ when it was first shown on television in 1977

I’m told it has been broadcast more than any other British Film. Having a U certificate it has allowed many parents a lie-in on Sunday mornings.

Swallows and Amazons 1974 - Simon West, Sophie Neville, Suzanna Hamilton and Sten Grendon in Secret Harbour — Simon West, Sophie Neville, Suzanna Hamilton and Sten Grendon in Secret Harbour

Families assure me that they have watched the VHS or DVD thirty times or more. StudioCanal remastered it for cinemascope Blu-ray and we filled the big northern cinemas.

Sophie Neville as Titty with Suzanna Hamilton as Susan — Sophie Neville with Suzanna Hamilton

The good news is that, fifty years after the premier in Shaftesbury Avenue,

Sophie Neville and Suzanna Hamilton with Ronald Fraser in Swallows and Amazons

we are restoring the dinghies: Swallow and Amazon for families to sail.

I wrote up the diary I kept on location as a twelve year-old. Richard sent me the flags.

At the 50th Anniversary celebrations this April a man in the audience stood up to say that as a young doctor, he was working at a hospital on Good Friday. As he walked around he found peace in every ward, sick children snuggled up and happy. They were all watching ‘Swallows and Amazons’ on television. Richard’s gift.

Swallows and Amazons (1974) sepia film poster (c) StudioCanal — Arnaldo Putzu’s poster for the EMI film Swallows and Amazons (1974)

Richard and Molly’s dream became an inspiration to many.

Here you can see Richard and Molly with Claude Whatham, Neville, Fred, Abigail, Suzanna Hamilton and me at the sailing audition held in Burnham-on- Crouch. Simon West who was cast as Captain John went on to win the Optimist British Championships and represented the UK overseas.

Richard and Molly Pilbrow, Claude Watham, Fred Pilbrow, Sophie Neville, Suzanna Hamilton, Abigail Pilbrow

Sophie Neville in Hampshire Life magazine

The April issue of Hampshire Life magazine has a four-page feature celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the release of the original movie ‘Swallows & Amazons’ (1974) in cinemas, which you can now read online here.

The link with Hampshire is that my father grew up in Lymington and learnt to sail on the Solent. I met my husband Simon at an archery match in Worcestershire and was amazed to hear he lived on the Lymington River. I came down to the South Coast just before we got engaged but didn’t move in until after we returned from our honeymoon in Spain.

I’ve lived in Hampshire for twenty years now, give talks at the Southampton Boat Show and meet the Nancy Blackett when she sails down to Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River where my parents spent their honeymoon.

It feels odd being described as an actress, but it’s good to get a front page byline.

Great British Life have a Spring Offer for magazine subscriptions, which make a good present.

The books mentioned are for sale from the Nancy Blackett Trust and all the usual places online.

50 years ago – when the EMI film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (1974) was launched in cinemas

The original film ‘Swallows & Amazons’ was first screened at a preview in London on 31st March 1974.

Brian Doyle, the film publicist, noted it in his diary. This was sent to me by his daughter, Pandora Doyle, who was taken along with her mother Jo and friend Alison.

The cast of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ either joined them there or at an afternoon press screening on 2nd April. We certainly went to one preview. It utterly amazed us. We had not remembered the Lake District being so sunny.

The premiere was also held at the ABC cinema in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, at a Royal Gala Premier on 4th April 1974.

The film has since been dubbed into at least eight different languages and screened all over the world. A number of different titles have been used from ‘Svaler og Amasoner’ to ‘El Capitan Pirata’.

They do not provide a release date for the Czech Republic, but it has been dubbed into Czech twice and is popular there. You can easily buy copies of the French version

the cover of the French DVD of 'Swallows and Amazons'(1974) — Caught shrieking on the cover of the French DVD of ‘Swallows and Amazons'(1974)

It is now screening on Netflix Europe and Amazon Prime.

There was a big splash when ‘Swallows & Amazons’ was first screened in Gloucester. Sten Grendon, who appeared as the Boy Roger, and I were taught to swim at the leisure centre there. Chris Maloney, who was awarded an MBE for his part in founding the Special Olympics, began to coach me when I was ten. I’ve been told that he also taught Sophia Loren to swim for ‘The “Goodness Gracious Me” Heiress’.

As we lived locally, Sten and I were asked to attend the first screening at the newly converted triple screen ABC in Gloucester, which was daunting. They were also screening ‘The Sting’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’ that both starred Robert Redford.

Chris Maloney later got Suzanna Hamilton and I jumping off the high board at Gloucester Leisure Centre. She was far braver than I.

You can read more in ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’ available in paperback from £15 or ‘The Secrets of Filming Swallows & Amazons’ an ebook for only £2.99

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

Photos from the 50th Anniversary celebration of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (1974) at the Cinema Museum on 6th April 2024

The Cinema Museum screening 'Swallows and Amazons' (1974) — Away to Rio

– ‘He must be a retired Pirate’ but what of the chances of finding Rio Cinema?

The Cinema Museum, London – not that we paid these prices to enter

Keen fans of Claude Whatham’s original film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ gathered at the Cinema Museum in London for the 50th Anniversary celebrations hosted by the writer and broadcaster Brian Sibley.

After doors opened at 1.00pm, delicious food and drink was served in the main hall where Hugh Grant held his 50th Birthday party. Charlie Chaplin had been housed there as a child. It had been the chapel of the workhouse where his mother had been sent with her offspring.

A collection of movie memorabilia now lines the walls. It’s in incredible place.

‘He said, – “Yes.”‘

Brian Sibley interviewed David Wood OBE, who at the age of twenty-nine had adapted Arthur Ransome’s book into a 90 minute screenplay under the iron fist of the widowed Mrs Ransome. Born in Russia, she had been Leo Trotsky’s private secretary and was a pretty formidable old lady.

Sophie Neville, Suzanna Hamilton & Sten Grendon with David Wood and Claude Whatham in 1973

David told us that having taken the producer, Richard Pilbrow, and his associate Neville C Thompson around various Lake District locations, Evgenia Ransome declared she wanted the Swallows to all have blue eyes and blonde hair. I’d know that she wanted ‘And English rose’ to play Titty, but this was news to me.

Although David was well known for his starring role in the film ‘If….’ with Malcolm McDowell, ‘Swallows and Amazons’ was the first movie he wrote. He’s been too busy acting on stage to spend much time on location but entrusted the script changes to the director.

The film screening was heralded by a letter from Dame Virginia McKenna, which I was given the privilege of reading out.

Sophie Neville reading a greeting from Dame Virginia McKenna — Reading a letter of good wishes from Dame Virginia McKenna

‘It is almost impossible to believe that it is the 50^th Anniversary of ‘Swallows and Amazons’. I am really sorry I cannot be with you but I am here in spirit.

For anyone who feels downhearted by the troubles in our present-day world, there can be no better cure than to be here this afternoon watching this delightful film set in such beautiful scenery.

In a few moments you will be transported to an earlier time and a different place. You cannot but enjoy this very special film.’

We then watched StudioCanal’s remastered version of the movie on the big screen. The Lakeland mountains looked magnificent and the detail amazing. Gareth Tandy, who had worked on the crew as Third Assistant Director said, ‘I’d totally forgotten that I played one of the robbers!

After an intermission, I chatted to Peter Robb-King the Make Up Designer and met up with Cedric James who’s been on the camera crew.

The cast of 'Swallows and Amazons' (1974) gathered for the 50th Anniversary - photo Lee Pressman of the Cinema Museum — The cast of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (1974) gathered for the 50th Anniversary – photo Lee Pressman of the Cinema Museum

‘They’ve got India-rubber necks.’

Brian Sibley then interviewed the cast on how we’d got the parts, what impact the film had on our lives and what we’d spent our earnings on.

Brian Sibley, Simon West, Suzanna Hamilton, Sophie Neville, Sten Grendon, Kit Seymour and David Wood – photo: Lee Pressman

The answers proved hilarious. It was lovely to hear from Jane Grendon, Sten’s mum, who had travelled from Gloucestershire to be our official chaperone. She pointed out how very hard we had worked all that time ago.

Neville C Thomason’s daughter-in-law spoke and I displayed the flags that Richard Pilbrow had sent from America before he sadly passed away at the age of 90.

Simon West, Suzanna Hamilton, Sophie Neville, Sten Grendon, Kit Seymour, Jane Grendon, Peter Robb-King and David Wood – photo: Lee Pressman

There was then time for fans to get books, cards and film posters signed in the age-old tradition. Many thanks go to Brian, Lee Pressman and other volunteers of the Cinema Museum who made it all possible. It was an amazing day. One young fan had come dressed as Titty with a green parrot on her shoulder, there were a few diminutive Amazons in red hats and Neville Thompson’s great granddaughters arrived in very smart pirate jackets.

Perry Neville, who appears briefly in the Rio scene, with Sophie Neville and David Middleton of The Arthur Ransome Society

‘Farewell and Adieu.’

Don’t worry if you missed it! You can watch a recording of the Q&A here.

The cast and crew met up at Windermere Jetty in Cumbria on 29th and 30th June 2024, when Swallow and Amazon, the boats featured in the film could be seen as well as Mavis, who still belongs to the Altounyan family, and Arthur Ransome’s dinghy used as the model for Scrab. You can find details of events on this website here.

The Cinema Museum in London – once a workhouse where Charlie Chaplin lived

Celebrating 50th Anniversary of the EMI film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ at the Cinema Museum in London

On Saturday 6th April there was be a 50th Anniversary screening of the original film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ followed by a Q&A with cast and crew hosted by Brian Sibley and the screenwriter David Wood at the Cinema Museum in London. More info and link to ticket sales here.

A train strike complicated plans for many ! but cast members Simon West (Captain John), Suzanna Hamilton (Mate Susan), Sten Grendon (Boy Roger) and Kit Seymour (Captain Nancy) managed to make it, along with Gareth Tandy, who worked on the crew as Third Assistant director, and Jane Grendon who was our chaperone.

Daphne Neville with Stephen Grendon, Suzanna Hamilton, Sophie Neville, Jane Grendon and Simon West

Cedric James who worked on the camera came along.

As did our Make Up Designer Peter Robb-King .

Sophie Neville being made up for the part of Titty by Peter Robb-King in 1973

I hoped Terry Needham, the Second Assistant might be able to make it but he is in New Zealand.

Sophie Neville with Terry Needham and the unit radio at Derwentwater ~ photo: Daphne Neville

It was packed with every seat sold – a tribute to all the others on the crew who have passed away.

The screening took place at the Cinema Museum, 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road) Kennington, London SE11 4TH, a former workhouse where Charlie Chaplin once stayed.

Thanks go to David Wood for getting us all together.

Sophie Neville and David Wood appearing on CBBCTV

There will be other events around the country listed on this website here.

Sophie Neville interviewed in the Church Times this month

Writer Sophie Neville on the Solent — Sophie Neville on the Solent

As the 50th Anniversary of the original film Swallows and Amazons (1974) approaches, Terence MacMath interviewed me for the Church Times. You can read the article here It is free to read online this March.

My book on travelling around southern Africa, Ride the Wings of Morning, was reviewed here

The Church Times also reviewed Funnily Enough. It can be found here

Terence is interviewing Suzanna Hamilton next. We are being joined by Simon West, Sten Grendon and Kit Seymour to give a Q&A with Brian Sibley and David Wood before a big screen showing of Swallows and Amazons at the Cinema Museum on 6th April 2024 and will be going to the Swallows and Amazons Festival at Windermere Jetty on 29th and 30th June 2024.

Up to date information on forthcoming events can be found on the Events Page of this website here

50th Anniversary of launching the movie ‘Swallows & Amazons'(1974) in cinemas

Save the Dates!

On Saturday 6th April at 2.00pm there will be a 50th Anniversary screening of the original film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ followed by a Q&A with cast and crew hosted by Brian Sibley and the screenwriter, David Wood at the Cinema Museum in London. More info and link to ticket sales here.

On Saturday 29^th & Sunday 30th June 2024 a Swallows and Amazons Festival is being held at Windermere Jetty Museum near Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria hosted by Lakeland Arts and The Arthur Ransome Society. We are hoping that members of the cast and crew will be able to come and share their stories, including Kerry Darbishire (below) who still lives in Cumbria. Now a poet, she appeared in the opening scenes as Vicky’s nurse.

Kerry Darbishire who played Vicky's nurse in 'Swallows and Amazons'(1974) — Kerry Darbishire who played Vicky’s nurse in ‘Swallows and Amazons'(1974)

The Arthur Ransome Society is bringing Swallow and Amazon, the dinghies used in the film which they now own, along with Titmouse from ‘Coot Club’. The steamboats Osprey and Lady Elizabeth that appeared in the Rio scene of the 1974 film will be at Windermere Jetty. Hopefully the original Amazon owned by the Altounyan family, and Arthur Ransome’s own dinghy Coch-y-Bonddhu that he used as the model for Scarab will be there with the RNSA dinghies that played Swallow and Amazon in the 2016 movie. There may well be trips on MV Tern and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.

Sophie Neville with Titmouse - now renovated — Sophie Neville with Titmouse – now beautifully renovated

Saturday 13th July – A screening of Swallows and Amazons (1974) at the Riverside Cinema in Woodbridge, Suffolk.

People who read the paperback on ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’ ask how I could remember what happened on each day in such detail, but I had the diaries I’d kept on location and was able to rewatch the film on my laptop, studying the detail.

Aged twelve, I was a little older than Simon West who played Captain John, so I was able to recall more. He now reckons that having my mother on location with me must have helped as we would have discussed each day at the time and would have naturally chatted about shared experiences. She also took hundreds of behind the scenes photos, along with home movie footage captured on her cine camera.

Daphne Neville with Sophie Neville while filming 'Swallows and Amazons' in Cumbria — Daphne Neville with Sophie Neville while filming ‘Swallows and Amazons’ in Cumbria. Kit Seymour is walking along the jetty in the background.

Fans of the DVDs write in from all over the world offering encouragement: “I was able to catch up on Swallows and Amazons Forever! I’ve only been waiting a lot of decades to watch this. It was fabulous and you embodied Titty. I now need to re-read Ransome’s book and yours.” Suzie Eisfelder, Melbourne, Australia

Once screened in cinemas with ‘The Sting’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’, ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (1974) has been labelled a Vintage Classic. The good thing about this is that the DVD includes an interesting Extras package. Here is one of the original reviews: