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Darnley Mills #8
Dunkirk Summer
Summer of 1940. The H.M.S. Painted Lady is the pride and joy of the Sea Cadets, a pre-1914 paddle steamer now moored in Darnley Mills. The story follows two friends, Andy Birch and his friend Archie. They are still Sea Cadets, but both are finishing school and will be called up very soon. Meanwhile, they spend a great deal of their time on the Lady, helping the C.O. and Bos'n Jake. Andy is also developing a friendship with Patricia Lambert, the rector's daughter. All in all, a lovely summer, until -- unexpectedly -- the news of Dunkirk comes, and a call to coal up the old Grey Lady and take her to sea. Andy does his best to stow away on the Lady, but is sent back by the C.O. & Bos'n Jake to do his last bit of growing up before his turn comes.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
10 people want to read
About the author
Philip Turner
88 books4 followersPhilip William Turner is an English author best known for his children's books set in the fictional town of Darnley Mills (1964–1977). Under the pen name Stephen Chance he is known for the Reverend Septimus Treloar mystery fiction series (1971–1979).
For his second novel and second Darnley Mills book, The Grange at High Force, he won the 1965 Carnegie Medal in Literature from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book by a British subject.
Born in British Columbia, Canada on 3 December 1925 to English parents from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Philip Turner was brought to England in 1926. He was educated at Hinckley Grammar School in Leicestershire and spent many school holidays exploring the East Anglian fens whilst staying with his grandparents.
He served his National Service from 1943 to 1946 as a Sub-Lieutenant Mechanical Engineer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He then resumed his education at Worcester College, Oxford, whence he graduated in 1949. He married Margaret Diana Samson in 1950 with whom he had two sons and a daughter.
He began writing religious pieces in the mid-1950s and also wrote several books for young adults under the name Stephen Chance. The first Septimus book, The Danedyke Mystery (1971), was adapted for television in 1979.
Philip and Margaret lived in West Malvern for 30 years until his death from cancer in January 2006. He is buried at St. Mathias Church, Malvern Link.
For his second novel and second Darnley Mills book, The Grange at High Force, he won the 1965 Carnegie Medal in Literature from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book by a British subject.
Born in British Columbia, Canada on 3 December 1925 to English parents from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Philip Turner was brought to England in 1926. He was educated at Hinckley Grammar School in Leicestershire and spent many school holidays exploring the East Anglian fens whilst staying with his grandparents.
He served his National Service from 1943 to 1946 as a Sub-Lieutenant Mechanical Engineer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He then resumed his education at Worcester College, Oxford, whence he graduated in 1949. He married Margaret Diana Samson in 1950 with whom he had two sons and a daughter.
He began writing religious pieces in the mid-1950s and also wrote several books for young adults under the name Stephen Chance. The first Septimus book, The Danedyke Mystery (1971), was adapted for television in 1979.
Philip and Margaret lived in West Malvern for 30 years until his death from cancer in January 2006. He is buried at St. Mathias Church, Malvern Link.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 26, 2020
Two young boys are evacuated to an old mill town at the beginning of WW2, it is the story of how they adapt from a London East End life to the country town, and when one of the boys meets a girl from the local school they are sharing, about what it is like to experience first love.. and all of this against a background of a growing war, Dunkirk, air raids, and their looming call ups...
December 1, 2024
wow. really top notch story that made me teary and entertained at the same time. I like Philip Turner's writing lots.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews