Voyaging to the Coniston Regatta

As recently reported, ART took its first Voyage of Discovery in 2013 to the Coniston Regatta, from May 29 to June 1.

Hosted at Bank Ground Farm, the inspiration for Arthur Ransome’s Holly Howe, the Regatta brought a dozen steam launches and sailing boats together for three days. The participants enjoyed sunshine and stiff breezes.

Preparing for a Voyage of Discovery

It’s “all aboard” from tomorrow morning, Thursday 30 May, for this year’s Coniston Regatta.

We’re bringing a small Voyages of Discovery display about Arthur Ransome, Swallows and Amazons and the Trust, and we’re looking forward to a great regatta at Bank Ground Farm (“Holly Howe” in Swallows and Amazons), both on land and on the water.

How did the Swallows and Amazons Inspire You?

Calling all explorers, pirates, sailors, ship’s engineers, bird watchers, novelists, botanists and astronomers (to name a few):

Are you amongst those who’ve voyaged with the Swallows and Amazons to Wild Cat Island in your mind, or trekked to the North Pole, or hunted High Topps for gold? Or can you trace your passion for star gazing, geology or conservation to Dick Callum, or for writing to his sister, Dorothea? Did you decide to join the Navy in John’s wake, or become a pirate in Nancy’s…?

Swallows and Amazons at the Coniston Regatta

Come and join the fun at this year’s Coniston Regatta, taking place at Bank Ground Farm, from Thursday, 30 May to Saturday, 1 June. The Regatta will have a packed programme: traditional dinghies, steam boats and the National Trust’s Gondola dressed as Captain Flint’s houseboat afloat, and attractions ranging from fishing competitions to displays by local craftsmen ashore.

ART is bringing a Voyage of Discovery, with information about Swallows and Amazons, Arthur Ransome, and the Trust’s plans. We’re planning to have fun too! So if you are in the Coniston area or planning a visit to the Lakes, please do drop by and say hello.

Too Little Freedom; Too Much Cotton Wool?

Today’s Westmorland Gazette includes an article by ART Trustee Paul Flint, in which he considers the need for children to be allowed to take risks.

Paul argues:

“… unless children are allowed to take risks, to flex their muscles in a Lake District that is largely free of real and imagined fears around every corner, will they ever take risks in today’s society?

Developments on Stage and Screen

2013 is set to be a busy year for Swallows and Amazons in the Lake District. Harbour Pictures are continuing their preparations to shoot their new screen version this summer, whilst Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake are making preparations to stage their production of the Swallows and Amazons musical from November 30.

Today’s Westmorland Gazette has a short but interesting interview with the forthcoming film’s producer, Nick Barton, which includes the information that Dan Stevens has been cast in the key adult role of Captain Flint. Dan is probably best known for his role as Matthew Crawley, in Downton abbey.

Watch Swallows and Amazons at Dusk

Picnic Cinema have teamed up with Brantwood for an atmospheric outdoor screening of Swallows and Amazons on 31 August.

The evening event will include the 1974 movie and music by Room Full of Mirrors. It will take place at Brantwood, overlooking Coniston Water, close to many of the locations where the movie was shot.

The Arthur Ransome Trust will have a small stall at the event. Please do come and say hello, if you are interested in finding out more about the Trust, want to chat about Arthur Ransome’s life, his books, or the film, or want to take the opportunity to buy some (or all!) of the Swallows and Amazons novels.

Starting to Put Ransome on the Map

In recent months we’ve been making good progress on our plans for A Ransome Home, our main project to establish and develop a permanent Ransome Centre in the southern Lake District.

Looking at a number of properties, including Lanehead Outdoor Education Centre, has helped to clarify many of the challenges and opportunities we face. It has also confirmed how important it is for the Trust to begin raising funds for A Ransome Home now. Having funds in place, even on a fairly modest scale relative to the total sums we’ll eventually require, will make a very significant difference when suitable properties appear in the future.