PROJECTS REPORT
Hello All,
This is a joint report from Viv and Andy covering the season to date so be prepared to be bored!
The season started with two training events, the Union at Avoncroft Museum just outside Bromsgrove and the Confederates at The Cotton Arms, Wrenbury. Both had around 50 members turn up and a lot of progress was made.
From there we went to Rockingham Castle, May Bank holiday, from which some alliances and hopefully long term friendships were made with other groups. Some excellent battles, which did "wow" the organisers, well done to everyone involved. Do we want to do it again next year?
Spring Bank Holiday found us at Sewerby Hall, nr. Bridlington and despite things not going exactly to plan we had an excellent response from public and sponsors, thanks to all involved for putting on a "spectacular" performance. The best for a long time. Many thanks to Sharon Lord for purloining the fencing from her local Shed firm and delivering it to Sewerby the week before the event.
The following weekend found a handful of members travelling to Hornby Castle, the response again was nothing but praise from the organisers. Living History taking place most of the time and so much interest in what we are doing. The skirmishes lasted approx 15 minutes, but the impact of noise, smoke and flame again made for a good impression. Thanks again to all that have made these events a success so far and hope that we can keep on a roll.
Now on to what is to come.
By the time you receive this report we will have been at Stanford Hall, so I hope you have some good memories and that we have some good photographs.
Bramcote Barracks, Nuneaton - 6th July.
Open to all. This event has just come in, details are still arriving.
Please contact Andy Hopwood to register interest, either at Events or by email
Cusworth Hall - 12th-13th July ** NEW EVENT**
Cusworth Hall is just outside Doncaster, it is a cracking site with the house of Sewerby, and the battlefield of Sheffield. There are interesting grounds for scenario’s to be acted out in, let your imagination run wild. The Confederate Artillery will be at Beighton Carnival on the Saturday, but will be coming to Cusworth in the evening.
Registration £6.00 Postcode DN5 7TU
The Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey - 16th-17th August
The annual outing down south. One of my highlights of the year, it is a place that I have not yet seen all of yet. It is full of information, exhibits and history, if you have never been before you have to try it. Confederates will be at the bottom end of the field and the Union at the top this year. The sponsor has asked me to say to you, that there must not be any vehicle movement during the time that the public are in attendance as this is a Health and Safety issue. In a dire emergency, please come and see either one of us, and we will provide someone to walk in front and behind your vehicle.
Registration £6.00. Postcode EN9 1JY
Norfolk Park Sheffield - 23rd-25th August
On August Bank Holiday we go to Sheffield with Sheffield City Council hosting the event with Howard Giles of Event Plan organising the show. A great multi period which is always enjoyable. Can you please note that camping is available from Friday afternoon, that is after 12.00 Noon and for those that stay over on the Monday night the toilets last year disappeared VERY EARLY Tuesday morning so you have been warned!
Registration fee £6. Postcode S2 2RB
Tatton Old Hall - 20th-21st September
This is a Full Society event
For those that don't know the area, this is a delightful site set in the middle of beautiful Cheshire countryside. Camping is inside the walls of the Old Hall in Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. Camp layouts will be "different" so please see camp coordinators before setting up. Staff are very obliging and you may get the opportunity to go on a Guided Tour of the Old Hall.
There will be battles Saturday and Sunday. The battlefield is large and of course, outside the walls.
Registration Fee £6.00 Postcode WA16 6QN
Spetchley Park - 4th-5th October
This is a small event organised by Worcester Reenactors, basically a small multi period, 17th Century, Napoleonic, Crimean, ACW and WWII.
Displays and possible small skirmish (depending on attendees) Berkley Estate venison will be available at a reduced price for participants. There is also a small tea room on site. More details contact Andy Hopwood.
Please note my comments on Authenticity in the previous Newsletter reports. It is vitally important that these comments are noted especially at Sheffield.
Another point was raised at the recent Board meeting about ladies who place themselves in camping chairs on the edge of the camp. This was noticed at Sewerby and completely ruined one of the best photo’s we have ever seen. Historically ladies would not be sitting anywhere near the battlefield. If you wish to watch, please either, place yourselves between the ropes and act as marshals or failing that, in the audience.
We had a misunderstanding over car parking at Sewerby which caused a few problems. Please check very carefully before you park your car up and leave it for the weekend. Don't ever park around or in front of the toilets. The service provider needs to be able to get in to service the loos, if they can't get in you will be the one’s who suffer with overflowing and unusable loos. Don't park on what is obviously a roadway( except at Gunpowder Mills) and please don't fill the family camp up with cars. Your camp coordinator will be shown where you have to park, so please ask him or your C.O. or one of us.
In the past we have had small events known as Regimentals. This year we have had quite a few of these events come in and we are now telling you that all members are entitled to attend a small event. Please don't feel excluded. There might be a small event in your area, so please come along and enjoy it. Don't sit at home because it’s not your regiment that is involved, we are catering for all members. Who knows next year it could be a Big event. If you are unsure, come and ask.
Artillery
Sometimes, when we are only getting a small fee for an event, we have to reduce the Artillery which is the most expensive component that we have. The decision is always made fairly to enable all artillerymen to come along and enjoy their hobby. We decide on which guns are the nearest to the event and then they are shared over the weekend. For instance, Union for Gunpowder Mills, and Confederate for Tatton. The reason we are using the Confederate guns for Cusworth is because they already had the Carnival booked and it is not too far away from the main site.
We do hope you enjoy the locations that we have found this year and if you would like to submit constructive comments, what you expect at an event etc. Neither Viv or myself bite (much) if you have ideas or views come and see us, email or send us a piece of paper with your views on what we are doing, or even approach us about helping coordinate events. They are hard work, but the rewards are rich, as we have seen at the events so far this year.
Without your opinions coming to us, we will assume that what we are doing now is alright for the membership and everything is O.K.
Finally ramblings over, see you all at the next event,
Viv Corbishley and Andy Hopwood
The Projects Team