The story opens at Pin Mill in Suffolk, where the Walker children, John, Susan, Roger and Titty are staying at Alma Cottage, close by the Butt & Oyster inn at the top of the hard that runs down to the River Orwell. Here they meet up with Jim Brading who offers to take them sailing in his little ship the Goblin. They all promise not to leave Harwich harbour.
Before long, while Jim rows ashore for petrol from Felixstowe dock, the fog has come down, and they are drifting past the clanging Beach End buoy, out into the North Sea, alone in charge of the boat...

The Eastern Angles production of We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea will be on tour throughout July at various venues in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, including Shotley, Aldeburgh, Southend, Brightlingsea, Blakeney, Burnham-on-Crouch and Woodbridge.

For more details see www.easternangles.co.uk

Linking in with the Arthur Ransome theme, the Old Gaffers Association have their annual Swallows and Amazons Weekend in Walton Backwaters (aka Secret Water) on July 4 to 6th, hosted by the Walton & Frinton SC.

The classic Hillyard cutter Nancy Blackett, once owned by Ransome, and probably used as a model for the Goblin, will be back by then, following her cruise to the West Country. So plenty to interest Swallows and Amazon fans young and old this summer on the East Coast.