A blue plaque is to be unveiled at the Hope Anchor in Rye to celebrate its significance as the location of the ‘Gay Dolphin’ hotel in the Lone Pine children’s adventure books written by Malcolm Saville.
The author was born in Hastings in 1901 and visited Rye often. His grandfather was a congregational church minister there for many years. Although his work in publishing took him away from Sussex, Saville never lost his love for the downs and Rye area and returned to live in Winchelsea in retirement. His ashes are buried in the churchyard. Saville clearly loved Rye which he describes as “the town by which I tend to judge all others. And the one to which I have always wanted to return.” (Portrait of Rye, 1976)
Most of his stories were set in real places which he inspired many of his readers to explore. The Gay Dolphin Adventure is his first book set in Rye and was published in 1945. References to the hotel’s situation, close to a viewpoint on “Trader’s Street” overlooking the estuary and marshes, clearly represent the Hope Anchor and Watchbell Street. However, its description, with medieval black and white timbering, climbing wisteria and smuggling history, suggests that the Mermaid Inn was the inspiration for the actual building.
In the hotel the adventurous children discover a secret room, an ancient map to smugglers’ treasure and a secret passage. They also get kidnapped and engulfed by the sea in a terrible storm as they try to keep ahead of criminals who are also after the treasure.
The Elusive Grasshopper, Treasure at Amorys and Rye Royal were further Lone Pine adventure books set in Rye and featuring the Gay Dolphin Hotel.
The plaque has been commissioned by the Malcolm Saville Society and will be unveiled at 11:30am on Saturday, February 11 at the Hope Anchor Hotel on Watchbell Street, Rye.
At 1:30 pm on the same day, Sally Walker, co-author of Malcolm Saville: An illustrated bibliography, will give a talk and presentation on Malcolm Saville’s Rye at the heritage centre based around the town model. Tickets are £5 (in support of urgent repairs to the town model) and can be obtained from this website. Capacity is limited so please book early. More information about the Malcolm Saville Society may be found on their website.
Pam Kirkland is co-chair of the Malcolm Saville Appreciation Society and explained why so many adults are reading his book to this day: “Adults reading children’s books became trendy when JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series hit the bookshelves. But many adults, including myself, have never stopped reading Malcolm Saville’s children’s books, four of which are set in Rye.
“I first became familiar with Saville’s books when I was about ten years old, and a diehard Enid Blyton fan. Having read everything by Blyton in my local library, I started to read Saville’s most famous books, the Lone Pine series. Like many of Blyton’s books they were full of adventure and excitement, with a group of children (the Lone Piners) putting themselves into danger in order to always outwit the criminals. But what made Saville’s books special, and perhaps why they have retained their enduring appeal to adults, is a combination of two things:
“Firstly, Saville always set his books in real places, which he encouraged his readers to visit for themselves. Shropshire – Sussex – Dartmoor – East Anglia – even Europe – and many other places. He describes those places eloquently and beautifully. Rye, in particular, was one of his favourite towns. He makes you want to visit the places where his stories are set, even when it is a stormy, cold night at Dungeness! So many places I have visited in my campervan because they are Malcolm Saville locations. So many walks, following in the footsteps of beloved characters. If you want to get to know England, read Saville’s books.
“And secondly, the strong, enduring friendships he creates between the characters is the second reason why so many adults continue to read his books. One of the rules of the Lone Piners is ‘to be true to each other whatever happens’, and they live out that rule in their growing friendships and attitudes towards each other. It’s a rule which perhaps more of us should try to live by?”
Saville’s books written in the 1940s – 1980s reflect the times in which they were written. Yet in many ways they are timeless. And perhaps this is why I, and hundreds of others across the world, still read his works. The Malcolm Saville Society has over 500 members.
Image Credits: John Minter , Malcolm Saville Society .
I recently re-read Rye Royale and although dated in many ways, the descriptions of the bonfire pageant capture the atmosphere of Rye bonfire nights of today. It did bring back to me, a long-forgotten sight – Lady Godiva on her white horse on the back of a trailer. As a child, I was fascinated by the bodystocking and long blonde wig that conveniently protected her modesty. This memory surfacing again was enough in itself to make the re-read worthwhile!
Thank you for an excellent article on an author who richly deserves to be remembered. “The Gay Dolphin Adventure” was what first drew me to Rye in the 1950s. I have lost count of how many times I have been back since, and I always live in anticipation of my next visit. When I feel I need of something to lift my spirits I raid YouTube for videos (admittedly of variable quality) of Rye! I imagine many of your readers will know that Saville’s last house in Winchelsea has a plaque, and that his ashes are buried in the parish churchyard.