On Saturday 27 August at 6.30pm I will be in Gosport at the Diving Museum to give a talk about Percy F. Westerman and a rare showing of the silent film Haunted Harbour. The film was made by the Walsall Sea Scouts during a ten day camping trip to Anglesey on August Bank Holiday 1935. I will tell the story of the film that is tantalisingly advertised on the dust wrapper of the first edition of the book Haunted Harbour in 1937 and its loss and remarkable rediscovery in 2011.
The film is a wonderful glimpse into a creative and resourceful Sea Scout groups interpretation of a great Westerman adventure; the only one to make to the "big" screen.
Tickets including refreshments are £6.00 each.
The Diving Museum
No.2 Battery
Stokes Bay Road
Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 2QU
This blog started life as my blog for everything related to Percy F. Westerman books and other writers of children's fiction, but has developed to include other diverse literary research, local history research and anything and everything relating to literature and books that takes my fancy.
Westerman Yarns and Library Thing
The Westerman Yarns
I began The Westerman Yarns nearly thirty years ago as a vehicle to support my research into the lives of Percy F Westerman and his son John F C Westerman. Since then, my love of literary research has grown to incorporate many other authors. Today I use the The Westerman Yarns name as a hook to hang my series of talks and presentations on; most are literary base , but as you can see, I have diversified a little.... well, everyone needs a holiday!
Contact The Westerman Yarns
Twitter Westerman Yarns
The Barge - Wareham
This iconic image shows the lifebelt from Percy's home on the River Frome at Wareham
The Westerman Yarns
Percy F Westerman was born in Portsmouth in 1876 and for a time attended Portsmouth Grammar School. He worked as an Admiralty Clerk in the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard, and whilst there he began to write contributions for yachting magazines and other periodicals
At the age of 31 he began writing adventure books for children and during a fifty year writing career, he wrote more than 170 books. In the 1930s he was voted the most popular boys' author in a Daily Sketch poll conducted through public libraries.
His son John F C Westerman went on to write another 30 books in a similar style.
‘Westerman’ books are now sought after by collectors around the world.
If you are interested in learning more about Percy Westerman, please contact me as there are several different themed talks about him, his books and his love of sailing.
At the age of 31 he began writing adventure books for children and during a fifty year writing career, he wrote more than 170 books. In the 1930s he was voted the most popular boys' author in a Daily Sketch poll conducted through public libraries.
His son John F C Westerman went on to write another 30 books in a similar style.
‘Westerman’ books are now sought after by collectors around the world.
If you are interested in learning more about Percy Westerman, please contact me as there are several different themed talks about him, his books and his love of sailing.
The Amir's Ruby (1932)
Percy F Westerman
The Westerman Library
Book spines (without dust wrappers) illustrating some of the changing styles
Percy Westerman
About Me
Contact us and communication
Westerman Merchandise
Dust wrapper items
Complete stories
The Westerman Seminar
Westerman Yarns Events
Bibliographies
Percy Westerman
Percy Westerman
Followers
Interesting literary links
Useful Portsmouth Links
Other Westerman links
Buying Westerman Books
Eagles Talons (1940)
