Keen fans of Claude Whatham’s original film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ gathered at the Cinema Museum in London last Saturday for the 50th Anniversary celebrations hosted by the writer and broadcaster Brian Sibley, writes Sophie Neville.

After the doors opened at 1.00pm, delicious food and drink was served in the main hall where Hugh Grant held his 50th Birthday party. Charlie Chaplin had been housed there as a child. It had been the chapel of the workhouse where his mother had been sent with her offspring.

Away to Rio – ‘He must be a retired Pirate’ but what of the chances of finding Rio Cinema?

A collection of movie memorabilia now lines the walls. It’s an incredible place.

The Cinema Museum, London – not that we paid these prices to enter.

Brian Sibley interviewed David Wood OBE, who at the age of twenty-nine adapted Arthur Ransome’s book into a 90 minute screenplay under the iron fist of the widowed Mrs Ransome. Born in Russia, she had been Leo Trotsky’s private secretary and was a pretty formidable old lady.

Writers Brian Sibley and David Wood OBE

David told us that having taken the producer, Richard Pilbrow, and his associate Neville C Thompson around various Lake District locations, Evgenia Ransome declared she wanted the Swallows to all have blue eyes and blonde hair. I’d know that she wanted ‘And English rose’ to play Titty, but this was news to me.

The film screening was heralded by a letter from Dame Virginia McKenna, which I was given the privilege of reading out:

“It is almost impossible to believe that it is the 50th Anniversary of ‘Swallows and Amazons’. I am really sorry I cannot be with you but I am here in spirit.

For anyone who feels downhearted by the troubles in our present-day world, there can be no better cure than to be here this afternoon watching this delightful film set in such beautiful scenery.

In a few moments you will be transported to an earlier time and a different place. You cannot but enjoy this very special film.”

Reading a letter of good wishes from Dame Virginia McKenna.

We then watched StudioCanal’s remastered version of the movie on the big screen. The Lakeland mountains looked magnificent and the detail amazing. Gareth Tandy, who had worked on the crew as Third Assistant Director said, ‘I’d totally forgotten that I played one of the robbers!

After an intermission, I chatted to Peter Robb-King the Make Up Designer and met up with Cedric James who’s been on the camera crew.

‘They’ve got India-rubber necks.’

Brian Sibley then interviewed the cast on how we’d got the parts, what impact the film had on our lives and what we’d spent our earnings on.

Brian Sibley, Simon West, Suzanna Hamilton, Sophie Neville, Sten Grendon, Kit Seymour and David Wood.

The answers proved hilarious. It was lovely to hear from Jane Grendon, Sten’s mum, who had travelled from Gloucestershire to be our official chaperone. She pointed out how very hard we had worked all that time ago.

Neville C Thomson’s daughter-in-law spoke and I displayed the flags that Richard Pilbrow had sent from America before he sadly passed away at the age of 90.

Simon West, Suzanna Hamilton, Sophie Neville, Sten Grendon, Kit Seymour, Jane Grendon, Peter Robb-King and David Wood.

There was then time for fans to get books, cards and film posters signed in the age-old tradition. Many thanks go to Brian, Lee Pressman and other volunteers of the Cinema Museum who made it all possible. It was an amazing day. One young fan had come dressed as Titty with a green parrot on her shoulder, there were a few diminutive Amazons in red hats and Neville Thompson’s great granddaughters arrived in very smart pirate jackets.

Perry Neville, who appears briefly in the Rio scene, with Sophie Neville and David Middleton of The Arthur Ransome Society.

‘Farewell and Adieu.’

Don’t worry if you missed it! There will be another chance to meet the cast and crew at Windermere Jetty in Cumbria on 29th and 30th June, when we will be having a Swallows and Amazons weekend with the boats featured in the film including Swallow, Amazon, Osprey and Lady Elizabeth as well as MV Tern, Arthur Ransome’s dinghy used as the model for Scrab and Titmouse that appeared in the BBC adaptation of ‘Coot Club’. You can find details of events on Sophie’s website here.

The Cinema Museum in London – once a workhouse where Charlie Chaplin lived.

This story was originally published by Sophie Neville in April 2024.