The River Orwell in Film

Louis Parperis - Orwell 63-70: "Quite by accident, I have stumbled across a film called 'Ha’penny Breeze' on the Talking Pictures channel that was filmed on and around the River Orwell in 1951, much of it at and inside The Butt & Oyster, featuring some spectacular sailing footage, many locals as extras and even some footage of our cross-country course. I’m not sure when it will be repeated, but I’ll try to give longer notice if I get the chance."

('Ha'penny Breeze': Directed by Frank Worth. Stars Edwin Richfield, Don Sharp & Gwyneth Vaughan. David's Suffolk village is demoralised, but they gather support for his scheme to enter a yacht race. A depiction of life in wartime England during the Second World War - short video clip here)

John Dawlings - Orwell 65-73: "I was sure that the kids' books "Swallows and Amazons" were set on the Orwell. But I have just ready Wikipedia (perhaps not the font of all knowledge) which says the Lake District. Funny as I remember Pin Mill and even Woolverstone being mentioned."

Louis Parperis: "Right author, wrong book: you probably read 'We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea'. Doc had a copy and recommended it frequently because Pin Mill was featured in it."

John Dawlings: "We are both right. 'We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea' is apparently the 7th book in the Swallows and Amazons series."

Louis Parperis: "Terry Everett was the third name on the cast list. I’ve also found a review of the DVD on Amazon from Ron Gould, an OB, which said the film was poor but the nostalgic value was high."

Glynne Thomas - Halls 57-62: "I thought the Yangtze Incident was filmed on the Orwell as well."

Louis Parperis: "You’re correct, several scenes were filmed there because of the similarities between the two rivers, just as there is a drama-documentary about COVID-19 to be made by Laura Kuenssberg in Chelmondiston because of its uncanny resemblance to Wuhan."

John Dawlings: "Yes. Rivers Orwell and Stour." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangtse_Incident:_The_Story_of_H.M.S._Amethyst

Jon Kemp - Corners 73-80: "If you visit the hard today you will see that the local tourist board gave gone full 'Swallows and Amazons'. When I visited a couple of years ago I started chatting to someone who knew Terry Everett and told me that he had died just a few weeks before."

Chris Archer - Corners 66-71: "Check out Amazon as it is available there."



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