Following the troops

 On Friday, one of my friends told me that there was an English Civil War re-enactment battle in Wimborne over the bank holiday weekend.

Sounded right up my street.  So, on Saturday afternoon, I popped into town on the bus and watched the Royalist troops march into Wimborne and make a proclamation on the Minster Green (very nice location in the centre of Wimborne),  then listened to their leader make a speech, explaining how Wimborne would be protected by his troops from the forces of parliament -and incidentally, the people of Wimborne were expected to come forward, billet and feed the soldiers and give money to support the Royalist cause...

Fantastic ability to project his voice.  I chatted to him later and complimented him, and he said he'd trained as a singer.

 

On Sunday, I came in again.  There was a big group of 'Living History' volunteers (who came with the military re-enactors) and were willing to chat and demonstrate Tudor clothing, how it was made, what people would have eaten, what shoes they wore, etc.  Also an interesting display of what a sutler (a person - sometimes female) who sold goods to the soldiers.  And  lute player, and people doing embroidery, etc.

Thoroughly enjoyed talking to people who really had studied the period in depth -and was able to hand on a few handy tips on tablet weaving by way of exchange.

Headed for home, when that session finished. Headed for the loo before catching the bus, and on the way to the public toilets (which turned out to be closed for renovation...) I passed the Oddfellows Arms, where I heard the sound of a really good sing around.

Listened for a few minutes, then decided to catch a later bus and spend the next two hours happily singing along with the men (and women) or the Norfolke Trayned Bands (fought for parliament and Cromwell).  Best evening I can remember in a very long time.

The local folk clubs all seem to be 'sit and listen to a performer' now.  I don't want that.  I want the kind of sing-around where you're packed into a small space, everyone is singing, and it passes from singer to singer to start the next song.  I knew 90% of the folk songs they were singing, so led a couple myself.  They made me feel really welcome, so I've written a song for them, and I hope they'll like it!  

Watch on YouTube

 

Monday, I watched the actual 'Battle for Wimborne' which is where the photo comes from.  Had interesting chats in the morning with people from several regiments who were incredibly knowledgeable about things like manufacturing gunpowder, rotating ranks of musket men, penetration of various weapons into armour.  Muskets basically made armour redundant, which is why most civil war regiments didn't wear it - apart from helmets.

A great weekend, so good, I'm tempted to go and see another battle and meet up with these wonderfully insane people again!