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Nancy Blackett’s 2019 season gets under way

by Nancy Blackett

Last Saturday saw the completion of Nancy Blackett’s fitting-out following her winter refit work at Robertson’s Boatyard in Woodbridge. She had already been moved to the Tidemill Yacht Harbour, and a team of volunteers set to work to put aboard all the equipment, books, manuals, charts, bunk cushions and so on that had been stored […]

‘Swallows and Amazons’ on stage in the French Riviera

by Nancy Blackett

An amateur production of Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” is coming to the stage in the French Riviera for one night only on March 26th. The Helen Edmundson adaptation, with songs by Neil Hannon and by arrangement with Nick Hern Books, is presented by the EBICA International School and produced by the EBICA Theatre Club, […]

How We Celebrated Arthur Ransome at the Essex Book Festival

by Nancy Blackett

The Nancy Blackett Trust’s President Peter Willis joined fellow authors Julia Jones and Sophie Neville in Harwich last Sunday for a discussion of Arthur Ransome, his life, books and legacy. The sold-out event, celebrating the 80th anniversary of Secret Water’s publication, was part of the Essex Book Festival. Here’s Sophie’s personal reflection on the day… […]

Arthur Ransome’s “Secret Water” is 80 this year

by Nancy Blackett

Arthur Ransome’s eighth novel “Secret Water” turns 80 this year. It’s his only Essex novel and this anniversary has prompted a ‘hub’ weekend of events in Harwich during that county’s book festival in March. It also prompts the question – what does it mean for a book to be eighty? Julia Jones investigates… An eightieth birthday, celebrated in 2019, […]

Nancy Blackett’s new first coat of anti-fouling

by Nancy Blackett

Nancy Blackett’s winter work has made a further step forward with the completion of the first new coat of anti-fouling, reports Neil Brooks. A small working group of volunteers assembled yesterday and managed to apply the coat in just over an hour, before enjoying a well-earned coffee break. A second coat will not be applied […]

Swallows and Amazons on stage in London and the Orkney Isles

by Nancy Blackett

The first of this year’s amateur theatre productions of Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” are taking place in London and the Orkney Isles. The Deerness Drama Group in Orkney is presenting the Helen Edmundson adapation, with songs by Neil Hannon, at the Deerness Hall tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm. It has proven very popular with […]

Priming Nancy Blackett

by Nancy Blackett

Winter work on Arthur Ransome’s favourite yacht, Nancy Blackett, has progressed significantly, reports Clive Fisher. All of the antifouling has now been stripped, and priming of her hull has now begun. It was hard work for those who “attacked” it, but the results have made it so worthwhile, as the following photos show:

Stunning Winter Scenes from the Lake District

by Nancy Blackett

Below are some stunning wintery scenes of the Lake District fells taken earlier today by Fellpics, Trail Magazine and Terry Abraham, as posted on Twitter. Click on each photograph to go to the original tweet and photos. A selection of ??#snow ??pics taken this afternoon up ont’ fells at Wasdale including Lingmell Summit & Scafell […]

In photos: Nancy Blackett’s winter work progress

by Nancy Blackett

Over the past couple of weeks further progress has been made on Nancy Blackett’s winter work, with dedicated volunteers having painstakingly removed further anti-fouling from her hull, most recently in freezing but sunny conditions. Boat manager Neil Brooks has kindly provided the photos below showing each step.  

Celebrate Arthur Ransome with Peter Willis, Sophie Neville and Julia Jones at the Essex Book Festival

by Nancy Blackett

This year’s Essex Book Festival will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Arthur Ransome’s “Secret Water” with a very special event in Harwich on Sunday 3rd March. Peter Willis, Sophie Neville and Julia Jones will be discussing Ransome’s life, books and legacy at 3pm in the Harwich Connexions 1912 Centre. Peter Willis is the President of the […]

Nancy Blackett’s Winter Work – Stripping the Hull

by Nancy Blackett

Arthur Ransome’s favourite yacht, Nancy Blackett, has had her hull partly stripped as part of her annual winter maintenance. The initial work was undertaken at Robertson’s boatyard in Woodbridge by the Nancy Blackett Trust’s Boat Manager Neil Brooks, who commented that it “took one man hour with a scraper, but it was pretty hard going. […]

In photos: a very high tide at Pin Mill

by Nancy Blackett

An exceptionally high tide was seen earlier today at Pin Mill, famous for appearing in Arthur Ransome’s “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea“. Anthony Cullen and Mark Sanderson captured the scene outside the Butt and Oyster and along the foreshore to Harry King’s boatbuilders below. Click on the Facebook logos ([f]) to go the […]

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