Sophie Neville writes about appearing in the documentary “Walton’s Secret Water”, representing the Arthur Ransome Society and celebrating Arthur Ransome’s legacy at next month’s Essex Book Festival.

In my role as President of The Arthur Ransome Society, I was interviewed by Chris Opperman for a new documentary produced by David Webb on the Walton Backwaters, known by Arthur Ransome enthusiasts as ‘Secret Water’.

The 75-minute DVD entitled ‘Walton’s Secret Backwaters’ is compatible with all DVD players displaying the DVD Video & PAL logo. You can read a little more about the content here, and buy it from the Nancy Blackett Shop here.

Chris Opperman, who chatted to me at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club on the Orwell, has sailed in the area for years. After a career in newspapers, he produced programmes for Radio 4 and the World Service before presenting the breakfast News and countryside documentaries on BBC Radio Suffolk.

As President of The Arthur Ransome Society, I represent the 1,000 or so members of the literary society devoted to the Swallows and Amazons books, including those set in East Anglia. There is always a lot of flag-flying since many members also sail.

Swallow, the dinghy used in the original film “Swallows and Amazons” has taken part in Swamazons events on the Walton Backwaters since she was renovated in 2011.

Arthur Ransome at the Essex Book Festival

Peter Willis, Sophie Neville and Julia Jones

We will celebrate the fact that Arthur Ransome’s book “Secret Water” is set in Essex on Sunday 3rd March 2019, when I will be joined by authors Julia Jones and Peter Willis at the Essex Book Festival in Harwich.

Our afternoon panel is called “Arthur Ransome: His Books, Life and Legacy”, and you can see more details and book your tickets here.