Once again, silence from the blog most certainly doesn't mean De Vey has been inactive! It has been another busy year both for local events and national ones.
Upcoming events
Harby Country Show
Next weekend, 12-13 September, we are back at Harby Country Show. This is a lovely country show in the Vale of Belvoir which we are really looking forward to and which is well worth a visit. As you can see from the photo below, it was a little damp last year so we're hoping for warmer weather this year!
Our final show of the season will be Sherwood Through the Ages at Sherwood Forest, on 3-4 October. We've attended this show since it began and it's always a fantastic end to the season. What could be better than camping in Sherwood Forest in early autumn? Morning mists, vibrant leaves, and the smell of campfires through the trees. Sadly this is the last year the show will be running so don't miss this chance to enjoy it. Check out Red Zebra's photographs to whet your appetite.
Events so far
Rufford Abbey
De Vey was back at Rufford Abbey for the Grand Historical Bazaar in April again. This is another favourite local show featuring re-enactors from all periods. Unfortunately every time I changed into modern clothes to take photographs it rained so I've only got the one shot below.
Toki explaining about grain is ground. Photo copyright by Caroline Williams.
Magna Carta at Sherwood Pines
The Friends of Thynghowe brought Regia back to Sherwood Pines for the third year this year, this time to celebrate 800 years of Magna Carta. It was another storming show with a strong De Vey presence. We're very much hoping to be back again next year! Several De Vey members got a mention in the local press as well!
Elkesley Village Fete
This was a fabulous local show, based on celebrating the historic tradition of walking the parish bounds. It was a really great event and we're delighted to have been invited back again next year. The provisional date is 16 July 2016 so put it in your diaries!
Talking to the public on the wic. Photograph copyright David Askew, organiser of Elkesley Village Fete.
Poser. Photograph copyright David, organiser of Elkesley Village Fete.
Combat. Photograph copyright David, organiser of Elkesley Village Fete.
King John at Newark Castle
Newark Castle is another one of those sites that you just can't beat for a show, and Regia was lucky enough to be invited to do a Magna Carta show there in July. As it's local for De Vey we were able to contribute plenty of displays including cooking (mmm, thirteenth century food!), an ecclesiastical display, spinning, weaving, embroidery and net-making. Our glorious group leader also portrayed King John and oversaw the tourney. We had a wonderful time with lots of interested public both days, despite the rain on Sunday. Many thanks to Floss for hiring us and we're desperate to come back!
What a sight to wake up to. Photo copyright Caroline Williams.
King John and the bishop. Photo copyright Caroline Williams.
The lovely ladies. Photo copyright Caroline Williams.
Plenty of public at our food display! Photo copyright Caroline Williams.
A quiet moment. Photo copyright Caroline Williams.
Our fire at night. That's what it's all about. Photo copyright Caroline Williams.
The month before De Vey held a local training event at Newark to advertise the national show. We're so lucky to have this fabulous site in our land grant and thank you Floss for letting us train there!
Where else would you want to spend a Saturday? Photo copyright Caroline Williams.
Setting up early on Saturday morning. Photo copyright Caroline Williams.
Wychurst and Detling
Wychurst continues to be Regia's pride and joy and various group members have been going down throughout the year to work on the Forge and maintain the longhall and surrounds. A small but perfectly formed contingent went down to join in the annual work week. Over forty Regia members braved the M25 to make it down, coming from all over the country. I sadly wasn't one of them but do look at the construction diary to see the work that has been done this year.
Straight after the work week is Detling Military Odyssey where Regia puts on its biggest living history display of the year. As usual a couple of De Vey members made it down again this year.
Regia was pipped to the post for Best Living History display by the Desert Rats this year, but I think Regia's display is still pretty impressive. Above you can see a video shot by a member of the public showing "the beach", i.e. a section of the display. The boats shown in the video are all Regia's and members regularly have the opportunity to sail them.
Aside from the above, De Vey members have also attended the national trainings at Islip (January) and Ashby (March), participated in the Jorvik Viking Festival, and attended lots of local shows run by other Regia groups. All in all a busy year with something for everyone, whether you're into combat or living history.
Last year was a quieter one for many re-enactors, due to financial constraint in the market. However despite the poor economy, 2013 looks like it will be a busy year.
Looking back, we had great fun attending events around the country. We started the year off at the Yorvic Viking festival, as usual. A chilly but large event set in York, ending with a spectacular firework display. After the spring training weekend near Ashby-de-la-Zouch we went to Greenwich to commemorate 1,000 years since the martyrdom of St Aelfage. There was a significant ecclesiastical presence for this event & we were honoured with a visit from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Conroi de Vey joined Conquest at the Chiltern open air museum for a later period show over the May bank holiday weekend. The following weekend was a lot closer to home with the annual bring & buy sale for re-enactors at Rufford Abbey. This is quite a low key event for us, with a small LHE & some military training.
The national show at Whitby was closely followed by our local village event, held on the site where we often train.
We set up at Kelmarsh, but the rains came & the site was flooded. Some poor folk woke up to find that they'd apparently camped in a stream, with their kit floating around in the tents & across the field. Quite a disaster, with the event being cancelled & alot of unhappy people.
Our next show was a local one at Newark castle. This is a multiperiod event in a good setting in the castle grounds next to the Trent.
We joined up with Conquest again for a show at Hawkestone in Shropshire. An interesting & delightful setting, with a few competitions to spice up the August bank holiday weekend.
The end of September found us back in Sherwood forest for the Sherwood through time. It is alway a pleasure to return to the forest as a magical place for us to stay.
October saw us down on the south coast at Hastings for the battle re-enactment. Large numbers of people gather for this event from over Europe & further afield. Despite the rain & soggy field the event took place on the Saturday, but the ground was so poor that the Sunday event was called off, a real shame as this would have been the anniversary of the battle. My main consolation was that it gave me time to meet up & have a natter with Helen Hollick, a lovely lady & enthralling author. Our season ended with the Robin Hood pageant at Nottingham castle. Always damp & chilly, but great fun at a more relaxed show, with lots of other entertainment happening.
All we had to do then was dry out our kit for 2013!
