Jack and Nancy Make Waves as Sir Quentin Blake Partners with The Historic Dockyard Chatham
To mark World Book Day, Britain’s most loved illustrator, Sir Quentin Blake is bringing one of his best-known stories to life in a major new partnership with us at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
Launching on Saturday 2 May 2026, Jack and Nancy’s Dockyard Adventure will be the first time Blake’s much-loved characters have been re-imagined as an immersive family trail. Set across the 80-acre historic estate, the experience invites children to step inside world of Jack and Nancy, taking on playful challenges and hands on activities within an authentic maritime setting.
Running throughout spring and summer 2026, the trail unfolds as series of themed installations, each inspired by moments from the story while drawing on the Dockyard’s own collections. Families will be “swept away” into a storm, “dive” into an underwater world shaped by Ocean Photographer of the Year imagery and encounter sailor training aboard HMS GANNET, blending storytelling with lived history.
The experience forms part of OCEANS, the Dockyard’s year-long 2026 programme examining humanity’s relationship with the sea through art, photography, and heritage. Alongside the exhibitions including Ocean Photographer of the Year, In Turner’s Wake by Jake Wood Evans, and the National Historic Ships Photography Exhibition, Blake’s work introduces a family-focused narrative anchored in imagination and curiosity.
Sir Quentin Blake said: “I am delighted Jack and Nancy are coming to The Historic Dockyard Chatham. I wish I could come with them but I will be there in imagination.”
Lynnette Crisp, Director of Public Engagement, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said: “Having grown up with Sir Quentin’s illustrations, working with his team on our 2026 family programme feels genuinely special. His stories speak to both children and adults and there are very few places that can hold that sense of adventure as naturally as the Historic Dockyard. Aligning Jack and Nancy with our own stories allows the characters to unfold in a way that feels wonderfully playful and deeply rooted in place. I’m excited to see Jack and Nancy’s world come to life here this spring.”
All children will receive their own Jack and Nancy Adventure Journal, filled with illustrations, prompts, activities, designed as a keepsake that extends the experience beyond the visit.
Jack and Nancy’s Dockyard Adventure connects Sir Quentin Blake’s timeless storytelling with one of Britain’s most significant maritime heritage destinations, offering families a new way to explore the Dockyard through themes of adventure, the sea, and imagination. Children won’t just follow the story, they will become part of it.
The experience is included in an annual ticket to the Historic Dockyard. Tickets can be purchased via thedockyard.co.uk
Quentin Blake © 1969
