EDITORIAL

Greetings,

Firstly, our best wishes go to our Chairman, Mike Bussey, for a speedy recovery, after suffering a heart attack recently.

It looks like another busy season this year and the Board would like to draw your attention to the fact that again the membership fees have remained the same for the fifth year running.

Registration Fees for each event are set out in the 'Events At A Glance' feature. In brief, all events will have a registration fee of £6.00 per person, with the exception of Stanford Hall, which is a self sponsored event and will have a £10.00 registration fee. Hornby Castle will be £3.00 and the one day Morley Event is a marketing event and will carry no fee.

Potential new members may 'guest' with us just once and pay the appropriate registration fee plus £5.00.

The first event of the season at Rockingham Castle looks to be a busy and exciting weekend. Sewerby Hall at the end of May will portray the third day at Gettysburg and re- enact 'Pickett's Charge'. Let's make it a memorable battle to honour those who fought and died in that dramatic event in history on both sides.

For those who have not made it down to Royal Gunpowder Mills yet, do try to get there this year. The site lends itself to so many battle scenarios. The site is a nature reserve and abounds with wildlife. Wake up to the bird song and watch the rabbits hop about at dawn and dusk.

If you stay up long enough and are quiet, the deer will visit you in your tent line.

Although Sheffield is not our event, it does pay and helps to fill the coffers' so there is something to fall back on when the inevitable winter repair bills come home to roost and the insurance needs to be renewed.

Tatton Hall, this is a new venue for ACWS, although there was a small event last year, and the camping arrangements will remain the same.

It was good to see all those who turned up at Avoncroft Museum for Federal Training Weekend 5th -6th April 2008. We experienced something of a Winter Campaign as the weather was unsettled with sunshine and showers. Sunday was 'Hard Core Camping' with 2 - 3 inches of snow.

Congratulations go to Major Tim Davies on becoming a Grandad after daughter Katie gave birth to Rhys Mark.

Congratulations also go to Sam Remington and Rachel Windmill of the 69th NYSV on the birth of their daughter, Rosa.

I look forward to seeing you all again this season, whether you are 'Billy Yank' or 'Johnny Reb'.

Val Holt
Communications Director