| Every weekend throughout the great British | | | | producers planning yet another Jane Austen |
| Summer, thousands of people dress up in clothes | | | | remake or needing help for Russell Crowe's Robin |
| of a far gone age (usually military uniforms of | | | | Hood, call for film extras who know their craft |
| some description) and throw themselves | | | | and have the kit. In fact it can be one of the |
| wholeheartedly into re-creating a world gone by. | | | | most expensive hobbies you can get into - a suit |
| So just what is this world of "Historical | | | | of armor can cost you as much as a second car. |
| re-enactment" and who are these strange people? | | | | In many cases it has been known to replace the |
| Well for a start this is nothing new and perhaps | | | | second car. |
| not as recent as at first would appear. If you | | | | Re-enactment is a hobby that can take over your |
| could read a Roman newspaper (of some 2000 | | | | life. But we try to keep our feet on the ground - |
| years ago) it will tell you of the hugely popular | | | | after all it's not for real is it? At the slightest |
| recreations (re-enactments) of famous victories | | | | opportunity we will engage you in a conversation |
| of the Roman Legions on land or sea, all with such | | | | about anything and everything involved in our |
| an appalling disregard for H&S regulations | | | | hobby (Often with a great depth of knowledge |
| that many did not live to tell the tale in the pub | | | | that often impresses the best of historians). |
| that night. The recreation of glories of the past | | | | Any re-enactor will tell you that the lifeblood of his |
| continued over the centuries with, thankfully less | | | | hobby is the interaction he has with the public. OK |
| commitment to the realism of casualties. | | | | in truth he does it for himself - (many of the best |
| It's all about diversity, a recreation of the past (at | | | | battles I have ever taken part in, have been in |
| any date), which involves military or civilian life at | | | | the pouring rain in front of a handful of public) it |
| every level - Re-enactors call it Living History. | | | | makes no difference if it's 20 or 20,000 people |
| Today, the modern re-enactor is as diverse as | | | | watching. |
| the period he represents. Coming from all walks | | | | At a personal level, it is a great thrill to know that |
| of life and backgrounds. It is reckoned that in the | | | | the knowledge of the period you represent is |
| UK alone there are around 50,000 people | | | | being passed on, in particular to many young |
| belonging to re-enactment groups representing | | | | people, providing something they get from |
| every period from Neo-Gothic up to the second | | | | nowhere else in this country, not from an |
| Gulf War. And yes they number from the | | | | education system that denies them exposure to |
| estimated 5000+ members of the world famous | | | | much of our amazing history, neither from main |
| Sealed Knot, to as little as maybe half a dozen | | | | line entertainment, happy to take profits from |
| leather skirted Saxons representing some obscure | | | | many a period production, but for the sake of a |
| tribe from the depths of darkest (BC) Wales. | | | | rating point or two, to replace any sign of |
| Every weekend from Easter to October, in all | | | | historical accuracy with "Soap" scripts. |
| weathers, these enthusiastic souls will throw away | | | | Re-enacting is truly an international pastime; |
| the shackles of modern day life and recreate the | | | | Historical Re-enactment societies exist around the |
| period of their choice - in events, displays, | | | | world from the USA, Australia, across the |
| presentations and battle re-enactments up and | | | | continent of Europe and South America. In the |
| down the country. | | | | States in 1998 over 25,000 "troops" took part in |
| It is the military aspects of re-enactment that not | | | | the recreation of the 1863 battle of Gettysburg in |
| surprisingly has the highest profile, with major | | | | the American Civil War, still believed to be the |
| Societies representing the Medievalists, The English | | | | largest re-enactment event in history. |
| Civil War, The Napoleonic Wars and even the | | | | Of the future? Despite the recent economic |
| American Civil war taking centre stage. To some | | | | problems and the ever increasing range of |
| with a military background, this recreation of a | | | | regulations we have to adhere to, the hobby is |
| military life gone-by is frowned upon, particularly | | | | thriving. My own group, the Napoleonic Association, |
| the more recent the periods involved, WW2 and | | | | is enjoying the benefits of 200-year anniversaries |
| later. But to most, the presentation, accuracy | | | | of many of the battles our forefathers fought |
| (authenticity) and knowledge of what these | | | | under the command of Moore, Wellington and |
| people do is an endless source of pleasure. You | | | | Napoleon himself. Annual trips to France, Belgium, |
| will find many current serving and ex-forces | | | | Holland Spain and Portugal will be our summer |
| personnel in the ranks of most re-enactment | | | | holidays for the next 5/6 years - roll on Waterloo |
| groups. | | | | 2015! |
| When you meet and talk to a re-enactor, with | | | | So next time you are near a re-enactment group |
| few exceptions, you will meet a person with | | | | please have a chat - you might learn something, |
| boundless enthusiasm for what they represent | | | | but be careful - they will want to sign you up and |
| and no lack of knowledge either. And not only do | | | | your life will never be the same again! |
| we do it (mostly) for free - except when film | | | | |