Watch a behind-the-scenes video below, shot in 1973 during the filming of “Swallows and Amazons (1974)”. 

The scene when John, Susan, Titty and Roger ran up to the Peak of Darien was eventually shot on location at Runnymede. Director Claude Whatham, wearing blue shorts, and Producer Richard Pilbrow can be seen setting up the shot with Director of Photography Dennis Lewiston. Ronnie Cogan had to trim the children’s hair. You can see Sophie Neville (Titty), Steven Grendon (Roger) and Suzanna Hamilton (Susan) outside his Make-up caravan while Simon West (John) was getting into costume, tying his school tie. Neville C. Thompson, the Associate Producer, can be seen in a red shirt, along with Jane Grendon and others who were watching the filming.

You can read the whole story by Sophie Neville, who starred as “Titty Walker” in the film, in the second edition of her book “The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974)“, which you can buy from our Nancy Blackett shop.

Video © Sophie Neville. All rights reserved.