The first swallows have arrived and summer is here. You only have to look around to see parents advocating a ‘Swallows and Amazons’ childhood for their offspring. They want to go camping, catch fish and learn to cook on open fire.
Titty’s dream of being alone on an island to experience what it must have been like for Robinson Crusoe has never been seen as worrying. Parents want to encourage their offspring to use their imaginations and explore the wilderness, knowing it will be memorable. As long as the weather holds they are happy to act as Man Friday. By exercising her imagination, Titty comes up with ideas that ultimately win the war and develop courage and resourcefulness by taking part in the adventure even though Captain John is at the helm. The fact that the mere able seaman becomes hailed as the hero of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ has inspired a generation.
TARS at Cobnor Camp
If you want the real deal, become a family member of The Arthur Ransome Society and sign up for one of our summer camps while there is still space:
If you can get to the Lake District, there is a camp on Coniston Water in Cumbria
If you are nearer the south Coast, there is a weekend camp at Cobnor, sailing around Chichester Harbour
In previous years there has been a ‘Swallowdale’ Camp in North Derbyshire – and a sailing weekend in Staffordshire.
Swallow at Cobnor
The Nancy Blackett Trust offer memorable opportunities for children and teenagers, as well as adult sailors who love the opportunity of going out in Arthur Ransome’s yacht and meeting like-minded people.
The Nancy Blackett is based on the Orwell near where the Ransomes lived in Suffolk but she ventures forth and was even spotted on the Hamble last year.
Sophie Neville 