Malcolm Saville has a lot to answer for...
It's his fault I collect Children's books. Along with Monica Edwards. Which is why there is no space on the bookshelves...
During my GCSEs I was reading through books on the shelves at home and came across one of my Mum's ones, called The White Riders. It read like one of a series, so I asked Mum and she thought it was, but out of print. So I started going round the charity shops.
One day I was looking and they had a pile of Armada books by Malcolm Saville. I opened one (Elusive Grasshopper, I think) and realised it was set in almost the same place as The White Riders. So I bought the pile, as money allowed, over the course of a few weeks.
I now have about 60-70 of his titles. I think he wrote around 90. I may have some of them in several different editions too. 😳
I read them to ds when he was little and he absolutely loved them, especially The Gay Dolphin Adventure. I had to explain to school when he told them "We know he's gay by the twinkle in his eye" which was almost totally a quote from the book - said in pure innocence as he was about 6yo.
And this will out me: A few years ago I was privileged to be allowed to adapt Mystery at Witchend for the stage for a local youth group. Ds was Dickie and loved it. We sent a DVD to Malcolm Saville's daughter and she wrote a lovely email back.
My favourite series is probably the Nettleford series, but my favourite Lone Pine is Wings over Witchend. I always reread that over Christmas.
I'm hoping to get a holly tree with golden berries this winter. I'm planning on putting a plaque on it saying Not Scarlet but Gold.
Yes, my family think I'm mad.