Posted by David Chan on January 23, 1998 at 21:23:46:
In Reply to: Re: BBC series posted by David Evans on January 23, 1998 at 16:55:47:
Unfortunately, I was in the proto-TV generation in New Zealand when radio was in its death throes, along with children's literary imagination. Maybe S&A was read on radio there in the 60s but I doubt it and I didn't hear it. I was too busy watching Speed Racer and Road Runner on the Box. Fortunately, my teacher in Standard 4 was still fairly old fashioned and read S&A to my class, along with Wind in the Willows and Alice. As a result, my strongest sense of place was the English countryside, particularly the Lake District, whilst living in tawdry suburban Auckland, NZ - such was the power of Ransome's writing on my young imagination and need for exploration, activity, excitement and sense of place. I have yet to visit England and the Lake District (some 27 years later), but when I do (soon I hope), I believe it will be a "home-coming" for me. I may end up camping on Peel Island "For ever and ever" as Titty said to Mrs Dixon. "For I'm under orders for to sail to old England, And I may never see you fair ladies again."