The Sailors’ Reading Room in Southwold now contains an additional book in its library, thanks to the Nancy Blackett Trust.

Stephen West and Peter Willis.

Members of Nancy Blackett’s crew visited it on a recent trip to the town, and left behind a copy of “Good Little Ship”, the book about Nancy Blackett, her association with Arthur Ransome, and her role in “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea”.

The Reading Room is, these days, a unique institution. It was founded in 1864 as a temperance alternative to the pubs for the local fishermen, who then worked off the adjacent beach, to have somewhere to relax. There’s a comfortable room with newspapers and armchairs and a further room containing a billiard table and the library – which now includes the signed copy of “Good Little Ship”, donated by the Nancy Blackett Trust.

The photo above shows Stephen West of the Reading Room accepting the copy from author Peter Willis. The following morning, Stephen paid a return visit to Nancy Blackett in Southwold Harbour.

You can read more about Nancy Blackett, and support the work of the Nancy Blackett Trust, by ordering a copy of “Good Little Ship” here.

The Southwold Sailors’ Reading Room.

The Southwold Sailors’ Reading Room.