Posted by Robert Thompson on February 27, 2002 at 19:06:59 from 212.229.58.245:
In Reply to: Titty posted by Michael on February 27, 2002 at 17:40:20:
I visit many schools as part of the Northern Region's policy of raising money to donate sets of the books. As part of my visit I read aloud the Battle in Houseboat Bay section of Swallows and Amazons.
I have never noticed a major problem with the mention of the name Titty, the trick being just to keep going as if it were quite normal. I always notice the reaction of the children which is invariably the same - on first hearing the name there is a furtive sideways glance at teacher to check - "Did he really say that? Yes? Oh, alright then!" If the teachers don't react then neither do the children, there is no further problem. On quizzing the children afterwards several of them will happily use the name as an answer without flinching.
The worst thing is to apologise for the name as the recent Radio 4 dramatisation did!
Speaking of Radio 4 - Thursday March 14th is World Book Day - one of the posters advertising this features radio broadcaster Sue McGregor reading what looks like a late 40s edition of Pigeon Post. I'm afraid I can't include a scanned image as the poster is A2 size and I don't know of any scanner that big!