An episode of the BBC TV Series “Villages By The Sea” that explores the boatbuilders who built Arthur Ransome’s Swallow and Coch-y-bonddhu, and includes scenes with Coch-y-bonddhu replica Peggy Blackett, was broadcast this evening (5th Oct) on BBC One North West.
The episode traced Arnside’s origins and history in boatbuilding and seafaring, and is presented by Dr Ben Robinson, archaeologist, of Historic England. Crossfields of Arnside, the builders of Arthur Ransome’s Swallow and Coch-y-bonddhu, and now closed, was also a significant builder of yachts and workboats, including the famous Morecambe Bay Prawners.
Geraint and Helen Lewis of the Arthur Ransome Society, along with Peggy Blackett, their replica of Coch-y-bonddhu, took part in filming for the programme on 10th June.
Speaking to the Arthur Ransome Society’s Signals magazine, Helen Lewis said: “As Crossfields built the original Swallow, plus Coch-y-bonddhu of which Peggy Blackett is a replica, when the researchers got wind of us they were keen to get us on board. In fact it was they who got on board with us and it was a squeeze! Ben must be about 6 foot, 6 inches tall and together with the cameraman, director and Geraint, we were well down in the water.”
Peggy Blackett with Meathorp Fell in the background.
She added: “Other contributors include boat builder John Hodgson, who restored Coch-y-bonddhu, and did his apprenticeship with Crossfields. It was fascinating listening to him describing the state Coch-y-bonddhu was in when she was found and what he had to do to get her back together; how he stabilised her by impregnating her timbers with epoxy and how she was never really meant to be sailed, only exhibited! The whole event took place at high tide which gave us just under 1.5 hours of usable sailing time. The crew were delighted with the footage they captured both on and off the water and using a drone – saying it wasn’t often a planned shoot gets entirely into the ‘can’ but then we have done this before!”
You must be logged in to post a comment.