News Article
Movie Swallow Returns to Coniston
.The dinghy used as the Swallow in the the 1974 movie version of Swallows and Amazons returned to Coniston Water for the first time in 37 years last Sunday, 10 April.
Purchased at auction by a group of Arthur Ransome enthusiasts in early 2010, Swallow has been restored and revarnished, with all labour donated by Patterson Boatworks of Hawkshead, and materials donated by International Paints.
Around 90 people attended the renaming and launching ceremony, including Sophie Neville, who played Titty in the movie. Sophie renamed Swallow using ginger wine (a reference to the launching of the dinghy Scarab in The Picts and the Martyrs, Arthur Ransome’s eleventh Swallows and Amazons novel). She then enjoyed the first sail on Coniston, followed by many other enthusiasts throughout the day.
You can read more at Sailing Swallow and see video and photographs of the event at the Nancy Blackett Trust website.
Many thanks to all who have worked so hard to restore Swallow to her former glory. It was a great joy to be able to sail her on Coniston Water again.
Sophie Neville