Mike Rines, rescuer and restorer of Nancy Blackett, has died, at the age of 89. He first discovered Arthur Ransome’s boat virtually derelict in Scarborough Harbour in the early 1980s. Initially unaware that she was the inspiration for We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea, and the original of the Goblin in that book, he […]
Hugh Brogan, who died on 26th July at the age of 83, was a distinguished historian – Emeritus Professor at Essex University – but will be remembered outside academia chiefly for his role as the biographer of Arthur Ransome, writes Peter Willis. It was a task that occupied the best part of a decade, initiated […]
We are very sad to report the death of Brian Hammett, a Vice-President and former Trustee of the Nancy Blackett Trust. Brian died on September 20th following a massive heart attack. He had been very ill for some time with kidney failure. Brian had been an enthusiastic supporter of Nancy Blackett since her restoration – […]
We regret that we must report the passing of Roger Wardale on 28th December, after a short illness, at the age of 78. Roger Wardale was a founder member of the Arthur Ransome Society, its sometime chairman, and the editor for some years of its journal “Mixed Moss”, but he will be best-remembered for his many […]
Norman Willis, the former general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, and a former president of the Arthur Ransome Society, passed away earlier this month at the age of 81. Born in Hayes, Middlesex, Mr Willis led the TUC at what was arguably the most turbulent period of the trades unions' history, becoming the general […]
Chris Courtauld, benefactor of sail-training and a supporter of Nancy Blackett, passed away on January 11, aged 79. Best known as the co-founder of the Ocean Youth Club, and the owner of the 50ft yawl Duet which he loaned first to the OYC and currently to the Cirdan Trust, Chris lived in Broke House at […]
Dave Sewart, one of the founding members of the Arthur Ransome Society (TARS), and one of Arthur Ransome’s Literary Executors, passed away while gardening on May 8th. As a founding member of TARS, he was very active in setting it up, and particularly in assisting with its publications, either as an editor or as an […]
Terry Absalom died on Saturday, 19 August following a long struggle with motor neurone disease. Terry was one of the founders of the Nancy Blackett Trust. His energy and enthusiasm were instrumental in getting things started, and in looking after Nancy once we had acquired her. He was one of the original signatories of the […]
Helen Tew, vice-president of the Nancy Blackett Trust, and Transatlantic yachtswoman, died on November 9th 2004, aged 92. Helen was best known for her Transatlantic crossing in her boat Mary Helen, in 2000, when she was 89. She lived near Buckler’s Hard, and got to know Arthur and Evgenia Ransome in the 1950s when they […]
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