The Enid Blyton Society

Their latest adventure!

Note the copyright is H&S, not Hachette.

Advert

Awww! I really like that — interesting to see the animators don't have any qualms about making the Five look reasonably "traditional" and quite unlike the illustrations in the current editions of the books!

Mind you, I can't help wondering where they're actually going on that train — I would guess the railway along the seafront was meant to be the line between Exeter and Teignmouth in Devon, but that rock arch in the sea looked like Durdle Door, which is way back east in Dorset (along the Purbeck Coast — proper Famous Five country) and isn't anywhere near the railway line. Am I betraying my ignorance of the Great Western Railway, or have they taken a bit of artistic licence there??

The rock arch wasn't Durdle Door, Courtenay, as there is no railway near Durdle Door, just our caravan site

The line was along Dawlish, along the sea wall.

Chick and I were in a Dawlish a couple of weeks ago and saw the railway line along he sea wall, Julie.

Yes, that's what I was figuring. But is there a rock arch there by the sea on that section of the Dawlish line in real life, like there is in the ad? I've been on that route a few times and I don't remember ever seeing a sight like that, much though I love looking out when we get to the section along the sea. Unless the arch was there all the time and I wasn't looking properly, which is a possibility — it's such a long train trip from Paddington that I've been known to drift off by Exeter!

There is an arch along that route, Courtenay, but it's not as big as the cartoon one. Hubby thinks it's called Horse Shoe Rock.

It's a great trip by train along that sea wall, I've done it many times, and it's a bit frightening when the tide is high and very rough and the waves bash against the train!

I've travelled along the line at Dawlish too and I enjoy the walk between the town and Dawlish Warren. Not when the waves are smashing against the sea wall though.

Excellent advert! Wouldn't it be great to have a complete Famous Five book animated like that?

The Great Western Railway trains are the nicest I've been on in Britain - they have an old-fashioned sheen and feel spacious and luxurious. I was recently on a GWR train with my son and he was convinced that we'd got into a first-class carriage by accident (we hadn't!)

Julie2owlsdene wrote:There is an arch along that route, Courtenay, but it's not as big as the cartoon one. Hubby thinks it's called Horse Shoe Rock.

Ah, that would probably explain it — thanks, Julie. I love that train route too and would take it more often, but I usually drive when I go out west, as it's such a pain trying to get around in Cornwall in particular without a car!!

Anita Bensoussane wrote:Excellent advert! Wouldn't it be great to have a complete Famous Five book animated like that?

It would, wouldn't it?

The advert was on TV tonight, it's a good one.

Its a wonderful advert! I love the depiction of The Five - and the fact the whole thing is done in the style of the old-fashioned 1930's and 1940's railway posters. brilliant stuff!

I've been to Dawlish a few times - and friend of mine, Yvonne Toomer, has a cafe there, should anyone care to visit - 'Daisy's Tea Rooms'.

Chick and I had a meal in Daisy's Tea Rooms in Dawlish during our stay in the town earlier this month. Most enjoyable too. It's interesting that it is owned by a friend of yours, Rob.

It really is a charming advert and makes a change to see the Five depicted pleasantly (in recent times) rather than being mocked.

Rob Houghton wrote:
I've been to Dawlish a few times - and friend of mine, Yvonne Toomer, has a cafe there, should anyone care to visit - 'Daisy's Tea Rooms'.

I love tea rooms, we go in as many as we can when we visit different places. We found a great one in Whitby and visited nearly every day, the owner used to give Rosie a sausage cut up on a saucer. So the big question has to be asked, Rob, does she take dogs?

Rob Houghton wrote:I've been to Dawlish a few times - and friend of mine, Yvonne Toomer, has a cafe there, should anyone care to visit - 'Daisy's Tea Rooms'.

Sounds like somewhere I ought to visit!