Northern Ireland - how many of us are there?

I have been a member of TARS for quite a few years now and, although not very active in terms of TARS activity, have often wondered how many of us there are here across from the Cumbrian coast?

AR stories have had a strong influence on my upbringing and subsequently on that of my family (our two kids have been trailed around The Lake District for years, they are now 31 and 28), while I "recognised" various locations from the books for them!

I have to thank my primary school teacher, Colin Hall, for introducing me to AR and S&A in the late 60's. Any other folk out there willing to share their Ransome lives?

Ken should not be too disappointed at so far not getting any response from fellow-NI TARS members, as he is one of only four. There is also one TARS member in the Republic. Perhaps those other members do not visit this site very often. A pity - because I think that interest in AR in Ireland is an untapped resource, and it would be interesting to know if there is an Irish 'take' on AR's stories and characters, which for the most part seem to us so typically English of the period.

Cor Blimey!

I had not realised we were so few here on The Mainland!

Little wonder then that the attempt early in 2009 by one of my fellow members to arrange a gathering seemed to fall on deaf ears.

I know of other supporters, none of whom seem to have taken the trouble to join TARS, and one extended family load whom have de-camped to Australia, presumably to check out Mother Walker's early years.

Anyway, northern climes mean slow germination of TARS here can be expected, now we are in the second decade of another century, and approaching our centenary, let's see how we can improve the present state of affairs. At least SOME of us seem to realise there IS life outside television and local issues.

I've just read Roland Chambers' "The Last Englishman", - brilliant book, just adds to the reasons for aligning myself with TARS.

Isn't  that what an appreciation society is all about?

S&A Forever!