‘Arthur Ransome’s Life in 15 Boats’: A Talk By Paul Flint

Arthur Ransome, best known as the author of the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ series of books, once wrote: “The desire to build a house is the tired wish of a man content thenceforward with a single anchorage. The desire to build a boat is the desire of youth, unwilling yet to accept the idea of a final resting place.” He took this to heart. Most of the boats Ransome owned were built for him and he sailed well into retirement, before finally ‘anchoring’ near Haverthwaite, not far from Arnside.

Two of Arthur Ransome’s boats ‘Coch-y-bonddhu’ and ‘Swallow’ were built in Arnside by Crossfields.

Paul Flint is one of Arthur Ransome’s literary executors and a trustee of the Arthur Ransome Trust, will use Arthur Ransome’s boats – as far apart as the Lake District, East Anglia and the Baltic – as milestones to describe the author’s colourful life that spanned a remarkable period: from the invention of motor cars and powered aircraft, through two world wars to space flight.

Paul Flint – whose varied career started in the Royal Navy, has owned far fewer boats than Arthur Ransome but, like so many people, credits his interest in sailing to reading the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books as a child. He now sails a Cape Cutter 19 on Cumbria’s lakes and the coast.

Money from ticket sales from the talk will donated to The Arthur Ransome Trust. The Trust, a registered charity, aims to help people discover, explore and enjoy Arthur Ransome’s fascinating life and works. There will be an opportunityto buy Arthur Ransome memorabilia in support of the Trust.

Tickets are £4. To book, click here.