The Walton Backwaters are still remote and rather mysterious, very much as they were when Arthur Ransome chose them for the setting of “Secret Water”, published 80 years ago next year, but their secrets are now revealed in a brand new film on DVD, available from the Nancy Blackett Shop.
The new film, “Walton’s Secret Water, a year on the Walton Backwaters”, is an affectionate and evocative portrait of the area, beautifully filmed by David Webb, with a lot of gorgeous aerial photography.
The Arthur Ransome connection is prominent from the beginning to the end, with scenes of the Old Gaffers Association’s annual ‘Swamazons’ dinghy race round Horsey Island (‘Swallow Island’ in “Secret Water”), and interviews with the Nancy Blackett Trust’s President Peter Willis and author Julia Jones aboard, respectively, Arthur Ransome’s former yachts Nancy Blackett and Peter Duck.
David Webb unapologetically extends his area of coverage to include Pin Mill and the River Orwell, with some beautiful sailing footage of Nancy Blackett.
Narrator Chris Opperman lends humour with his commentary, and at one point demonstrates splatchers. He also introduces other connections, including Virginia Woolf, Jack the Ripper and London Bridge.
If you love the Walton Backwaters, Nancy Blackett, or anything Arthur Ransome, you will adore this DVD.
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