Choose an Arthur Ransome title you would most like to be photographed reading. Ask a friend or relative to take the photo once you have set your scene. Some people will wear appropriate costume or have props in mind others want the book to cover their face well!
Non members are invited to join in including groups so please spread the word. Alan Hakim reminds us “Don’t just restrict yourselves to ‘the Twelve’. The TARS Stall has lots of other works by AR, and it will be a chance to show them off.”
Upload the photo to TARS facebook groups, twitter #TARSGlobal2018, Instagram etc.

https://www.facebook.com/TARSouth/, https://www.facebook.com/tarsscotland/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/762560473886537/, https://www.facebook.com/tarsnz/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/tarsfriends/
Hard copies can be sent to the TARS Librarian in Dumfries.

Canoe Expedition

Saturday 15th September

River Nene, Rushden Lakes

Northamptonshire

Take to the river Nene in Northamptonshire aboard a native war canoe to explore life at water level. Meet with Canoe2 at Rushden Lakes at 11.00 to be equipped with everything we need for our voyage. We will return to the same point around 3.30pm. The cost will be £25 per adult with Junior TARS (who must be over 5)  paid for by the region.  

For anyone who doesn’t feel like the expedition there is an option to have a short canoe on the lake, a variety of short walks/nature trails to follow of various distances and a good selection of cafes and restaurants around the lake, you could even go shopping!

Contact Jane for more information or to book, which must be by August 31st, with £10 deposit per adult – see Signals or e-mail Midlands@Arthur-Ransome.org.uk

this is a nautical event for Junior TARS

Raft Building

Saturday 16th June 2018

11.15am

Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre

a chance to help build a raft and paddle it on the River Soar

Cost £12 per adult Junior TARS FREE

Raft Building is a 1.5 hour session so after lunch a chance to stroll along the river or the nearby Watermead Park

also nearby is the National Space Centre

Fancy Camping? – there is space at LOPC for £6pppn

for more information and to book contact Stephen by 31st May at the latest, with £5 deposit per adult – see Signals for details or e-mail midlands@arthur-ransome.org.uk

this is a nautical event for Junior TARS

Saturday 20th October 2018

Amazon Archery Day

near Aston on Trent, Derbyshire

10.30 for 11.00 start

for morning target practice, bring a packed lunch (hot drinks available)

afternoon; shoot a woodland trail

£5 per adult Junior  TARS FREE

see our previous Archery Day here

Numbers limited so book by 14th October with Paul; see Signals for contact details or e-mail Midland TARS

this is a Discovery Event for Junior TARS

First TARS Event?  

Try it FREE!

Saturday 14th July 2018

Sailing or canoeing on Rudyard Water

Open Fire Cooking

or come and watch the world drift by

maybe you are a new TARS member or have never tried an event before?  here’s an opportunity to

Grab A Chance

at 89th Stoke Sea Scout Group Rudyard Training Site,

Near Leek, Staffordshire

bring  yourself or family or friend

anytime between 10am & 5pm

contact Nick Ardagh-Walter, see Signals or e-mail midlands@arthur-ransome.org.uk for contact-

this is a nautical event for Junior TARS

1. For anyone who hasn’t subscribed to The Twilight Years – London, as announced in last month’s Signals, this will be a last reminder. The subscription list will close before April Signals comes out, so that the book can be published at the May IAGM.
2. For anyone who has subscribed, in response to the order form enclosed with Hill Top last September, there is no need to send in the Signals form. Amazon Pubs have received a number of new cheques from keen subscribers who have forgotten they have already paid in full. If they aren’t sure, they can e-mail Alan Hakim to check.

Midlands TARS Eastern Camp/Sailing

Saturday July 28th- Sunday August 5th 2018

We will be based at Willowcroft Camping and Caravan Park, Staithe Road, Repps- with- Bastwick, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR29 5JU

Book your pitch directly with the campsite – 01692 670380 www.willowcroft.net  willowcroftsite@btinternet.com mentioning that you are a member of the Arthur Ransome Society, If Willowcroft is full there are several campsites nearby at Thurne.  

We will organise several Ransome-related activities throughout the week, join in with these or feel free to explore the area independently.

More info Here- Eastern camp 2018

come for a day, w.e., or as long as you can make it – bring a boat or grab a chance in someone else’s

more details from Amanda Ardagh-Walter – see Signals or e-mail midlands@arthur-ransome.org.uk for contact

KELMSCOTT MANOR

Saturday 21 April

10.30/11.30 am

Visit the country home of the man who inspired Ransome to pursue a literary career, the textile designer, poet, novelist, and socialist activist William Morris. You can either go straight to Kelmscott Manor for 11.30, or meet by the river near The Trout Inn, Lechlade, GL7 3HA  hour earlier to travel there on foot or even afloat – bring a canoe or rowing boat if you have one.

The Trout Inn has a camping field with just toilets & water – prices from £6 per night  (also hard standing for camper vans  – for more details please contact Paul by 18th April if you’d like to camp

Entrance prices for Kelmscott Manor are: Adults: £9.50 (£10.50 with Gift Aid), full-time students and children aged 5- 16 £5.50 ,(Junior TARS – FREE!; paid by Midlands Region) with children under 5 getting free entry. There are also family tickets available. See www.sal.org.uk/kelmscott-manor for full details.

For further information about this event please contact Paul Green (see Signals or e-mail midland@arthur-ransome.org.uk)

This is a Discovery Event for Junior TARS Log Books

POETRY WALK

Saturday 12 May 2018

Come and explore the lovely countryside of South Northamptonshire with a poem or two in your rucksack, so that you can walk, talk and share verse as Ransome and his friends loved to do.

The route will include a visit to the grave of Edith Sitwell, a poet whose life spans almost the same years as Ransome’s.

The length of the walk will be determined by the desires of the participants and it may be possible to include longer and shorter versions if that is required.

Please get in touch with Jane Wilson (see Signals for contact details or e-mail midland@arthur-ransome.org.uk) to indicate your interest and discuss your preference as to distance and terrain

This is an Adventure Event for Junior TARS Log Books.

DICK’S  INCREDIBLE    INVENTIONS  DAY!   Saturday  24  March

Stratford-upon-Avon’s MAD Museum

11am

(MAD stands for Mechanical Art and Design)

z

This award-winning small museum is packed with interactive, mechanical machines, automata, inventions and quirky art – the sort that would keep Dick fascinated for hours and have him reaching for his tool kit! It’s been described as being full of the type of creative and witty machines seen in Wallace and Gromit, Scrapheap Challenge and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, or, for those old enough to remember, Heath Robinson brought to life! The pigeon alarm in Pigeon Post would fit in well. Many of the exhibits are ‘hands on’ and suit ages 5 to 95!  MAD’s website .

Current ticket prices: adult £7.80, over 60s and students £6.30. TARS Juniors will be paid from regional funds. There are substantial reductions for groups of 10 or more. Please let Peter know in advance if you’d like to attend so he can hopefully secure a group rate.

after the museum – picnic by the river

There are lots of options for the afternoon including a range of visitor attractions (museums, butterfly farm, historic Shakespeare connections, the RSC, rowing or boating on the river), although most may prefer a walking tour of historic Stratford and along the river.

For further information and to book please contact Peter Wright – see Winter Signals or e-mail  Midlands@Arthur-Ransome.org.uk

this is a Discovery Event for Junior TARS Log Books