Reenacting (Living History) types (1 Viewer)

Andy

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Are any fellow Funsters involved in this type of Lifestyle/recreation ?

Myself, am involved in 1940's homefront civilian services, namely Home Guard, Fire Service and Civil Defence, along with portraying Civilian office worker at times..........(used to put on battledress etc but gave too many grey hairs now to be believable ::bigsmile:)

Although having said the above re battledress, will be wearing WW1 type a fair bit this year, 100 years on.

Andy
 

irnbru

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We were at a country western weekend recently and there were many westeners dressed up, some of the costumes were fab and some people got so much into it they changed their outfits twice at least per day.
 

magicsurfbus

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Yes. I have a part-time job at a working rural museum which involves dressing up and demonstrating the machinery and processes from the olden days.

Later this year I hope to be doing some further re-enactment work based around a much earlier period of history, but I can't say more at this stage.

It's good fun - I thoroughly enjoy it.

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Andy

Andy

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We were at a country western weekend recently and there were many westeners dressed up, some of the costumes were fab and some people got so much into it they changed their outfits twice at least per day.


:Smile: I've some friends who are involved with in the country and western scene,.........inc one with a horse; Must admit to being impressed with the amount of time (and money) they spend on getting things as 'correct' as possible, and they're a nice bunch, to boot.

Not tempted yourself ?? :Smile:
 
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Andy

Andy

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Yes. I have a part-time job at a working rural museum which involves dressing up and demonstrating the machinery and processes from the olden days.

Later this year I hope to be doing some further re-enactment work based around a much earlier period of history, but I can't say more at this stage.

It's good fun - I thoroughly enjoy it.


::bigsmile: Living the dream, then..........I guess quite a few of us who are involved within 'living history/ preservation of times past' would love to both do the job and get paid to do so..........I know that after a long weekend, (in one case/event its 5 days in period) I do find it strange to get back into 'comfy' clothes:winky:
 

Allanm

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It looks great fun, not sure I would want to do it though but my Daughter is very interested.
We went to aWW2 event at Dover Castle today, some of them take it very seriously!
WE were speaking to a couple of Home Guard chaps and two 9/10 year old lads, dressed in appropriate clothing and haircuts. One of them was telling us he was playing in the castle grounds last night sneaking up on the Germans, he got spotted and was shot by a sniper....

This was when the event was closed to the public!

These two were in the mood....

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Allan

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Bailey58

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It looks great fun, not sure I would want to do it though but my Daughter is very interested.
We went to aWW2 event at Dover Castle today, some of them take it very seriously!
WE were speaking to a couple of Home Guard chaps and two 9/10 year old lads, dressed in appropriate clothing and haircuts. One of them was telling us he was playing in the castle grounds last night sneaking up on the Germans, he got spotted and was shot by a sniper....

This was when the event was closed to the public!

These two were in the mood....


Allan



They don't like it up 'em Mr Mainwaring. :whatthe:
 
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Andy

Andy

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::bigsmile: Yup, know the ladies in question very well; I'm part of the same group, and would have been there myself, 'cept yesterday was sorting paperwork etc out for Fiat and working tomorrow...........:Doh:

Glad you had a good day, and I'm sure that if your daughter approached any of us at an event we'd be more than happy to chat with her.

Andy



It looks great fun, not sure I would want to do it though but my Daughter is very interested.
We went to aWW2 event at Dover Castle today, some of them take it very seriously!
WE were speaking to a couple of Home Guard chaps and two 9/10 year old lads, dressed in appropriate clothing and haircuts. One of them was telling us he was playing in the castle grounds last night sneaking up on the Germans, he got spotted and was shot by a sniper....

This was when the event was closed to the public!

These two were in the mood....

Broken Link Removed

Allan
 
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Andy

Andy

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They don't like it up 'em Mr Mainwaring. :whatthe:


Hmm, did you see they are going to make a new feature length film of Dads Army.......dunno if I'd want to watch it, though;
To me the original cast are so well known, I can't see it working in the same vein.

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Planning to go to the North York railway WW2 thing in October. I shall be going as Home Guard (don't tell him your name Pike) as a bit too ancient to be convincing as anything mainstream military. SWMBO wants to go as Queen Alexandra nurse as she likes the headdress.
 

Allanm

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Hmm, did you see they are going to make a new feature length film of Dads Army.......dunno if I'd want to watch it, though;
To me the original cast are so well known, I can't see it working in the same vein.

They wouldn't be able to get the same feel as the original cast. Who else could play Captain Mainwairing, Corporal Jones, or any of them?

You can't beat the original film either.

Allan
 

GJH

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Jill and our sons did English Civil War re-enactment for over 30 years (elder son still does). I joined after we got our first van but we packed in two and a half years ago.

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magicsurfbus

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::bigsmile: Living the dream, then..........I guess quite a few of us who are involved within 'living history/ preservation of times past' would love to both do the job and get paid to do so.

The job came up by fortunate chance when I was considering a change and I went for it. It doesn't pay very much and we're only open for half a day at a time but the money wasn't uppermost in my thinking anyway. It's a lovely location to work - very tranquil.

When I'm not doing that I buy and sell vintage camera equipment and other early 20th century items so I live in a sort of permanent past. One chap I have regular contact with is like a time traveller - he re-enacts all sorts of historical periods from Saxons to Home Guard and works with the Museum service. He's accumulated some amazing gear along the way. Another of my work colleagues specialises in Victorian stuff and can ride a penny farthing.

Do you go to that big re-enactor's fair near Coventry at all? I had my first look at it last year and bought a few bits for my new project.
 

Trikimiki

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Are any fellow Funsters involved in this type of Lifestyle/recreation ?

Myself, am involved in 1940's homefront civilian services, namely Home Guard,[HI] Fire Service[/HI] and Civil Defence, along with portraying Civilian office worker at times......


Andy

Jock and I used to dress up like that for 30 years, then we got fed up with it and stopped.

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enery8

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towing for 20 odd years but now have our first motorhome.
We started in the country music clubs and went on to dress western style and graduated to american civil war and finally to the fur trade as indians and mountain men. We made our own clothes and gear, all authentic to 1740 to 1850.
Here are some pics of our living history hobbies showing Fort George in Hampshire and our tipi made by Sue. The pix show the fort gates, the courtyard and the tavern.
 

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dryad

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quite a few years now, and loving every minute..
used to be part of a celtic/iron age re-enactment group, great fun, we built a very small settlement in a country park with the councils blesssing, a large roundhouse which was great for weekend parties, took us a few years as we built to strictly authentic methods and materials, a forge, smaller roundhouse as a pottery with a kick wheel..
it was lovely to have classes of schoolchildren come from neighbouring counties to have a living history lesson, showing them how to spin, to dye cloth, weave, make coins, tools, and cook with a clay oven, make authentic clothing and leatherwork..
did a bit of filming for channel 4 schools programmes etc and got invited all over the country to give displays, it really was great fun..
 
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enery8

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towing for 20 odd years but now have our first motorhome.
used to be part of a celtic/iron age re-enactment group, great fun, we built a very small settlement in a country park with the councils blesssing, a large roundhouse which was great for weekend parties, took us a few years as we built to strictly authentic methods and materials, a forge, smaller roundhouse as a pottery with a kick wheel..
it was lovely to have classes of schoolchildren come from neighbouring counties to have a living history lesson, showing them how to spin, to dye cloth, weave, make coins, tools, and cook with a clay oven, make authentic clothing and leatherwork..
did a bit of filming for channel 4 schools programmes etc and got invited all over the country to give displays, it really was great fun..

I think I saw a TV programme featuring your settlement some time ago. Is it still open? we like the idea of a trip to have a look around.:thumb:

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sue_at_hurwitzend

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used to be part of a celtic/iron age re-enactment group, great fun, we built a very small settlement in a country park with the councils blesssing, a large roundhouse which was great for weekend parties, took us a few years as we built to strictly authentic methods and materials, a forge, smaller roundhouse as a pottery with a kick wheel..
it was lovely to have classes of schoolchildren come from neighbouring counties to have a living history lesson, showing them how to spin, to dye cloth, weave, make coins, tools, and cook with a clay oven, make authentic clothing and leatherwork..
did a bit of filming for channel 4 schools programmes etc and got invited all over the country to give displays, it really was great fun..

I would have loved to watch this. I am interested in lots of the old crafts and techniques used back in time.
Sue:thumb:
 

dryad

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quite a few years now, and loving every minute..
I think I saw a TV programme featuring your settlement some time ago. Is it still open? we like the idea of a trip to have a look around.:thumb:

sadly it's no longer there, it all got lost to fire some years ago now, we were all prepared to rebuild and raise the funds for doing so as we did before as it was such a popular attraction as well as an education resource, but the local council brought in all the health and safety regs and we would have not been able to do so using authentic materials and methods, so that was that..
there is butser iron age place in hampshire, that's still going strong.. :thumb:
 

dryad

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quite a few years now, and loving every minute..
I would have loved to watch this. I am interested in lots of the old crafts and techniques used back in time.
Sue:thumb:

it was a 12 part series if memory serves me, have tried to find it on the internet but failed, shame really..
we filmed most of it up at castell henllys in wales, think that's how you spell it?!? that place is still there as far as i know too and well worth a visit..
in fact i think a trip back should be put on my list of places to re-visit..
wonder if i can find any of my old photos..
hope it's okay to put a link to it here..
us girls of the tribe did most of the day to day bits, while the guys had great fun being filmed covered in woad and having a battle..

i already had learned to spin with a drop spindle years before and how to dye cloth and wool with herbs, veg and (male) urine etc, (good excuse for the lads to drink plenty of beer) which is why i was press ganged into joining, and yes it was great to learn how to thatch and build in the old way, personally i think it's important for old skills and crafts to be kept alive, so much in life is mechanised and computerised and if we're not careful there will come a time when all this is lost..
it was hard work, but very, very satisfying..

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dryad

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quite a few years now, and loving every minute..
We started in the country music clubs and went on to dress western style and graduated to american civil war and finally to the fur trade as indians and mountain men. We made our own clothes and gear, all authentic to 1740 to 1850.
Here are some pics of our living history hobbies showing Fort George in Hampshire and our tipi made by Sue. The pix show the fort gates, the courtyard and the tavern.

is it still there enery or open to visitors?
 

enery8

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towing for 20 odd years but now have our first motorhome.
is it still there enery or open to visitors?

Unfortunately, the fort is no longer in use and was never 'open' to visitors, although when there was a camp, day visitors were welcomed. It was privately owned and is an area of ancient woodland. The fort was built some years ago by the group of 'buckskinners' who went there to camp. When we first went there (by invitation) we had to change our English money into 'dollars' in order to buy drinks in the tavern etc. We are no longer involved in the hobby but still have the costumes and possibles and even an authentic 'A' frame tent.
We will likely wear some of the gear at Malvern if we make this year.
 
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Andy

Andy

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Planning to go to the North York railway WW2 thing in October. I shall be going as Home Guard (don't tell him your name Pike) as a bit too ancient to be convincing as anything mainstream military. SWMBO wants to go as Queen Alexandra nurse as she likes the headdress.



War on the Line at Pickering is certainly worth visiting, - if only the once - (Pickering gets RAMMED with people). have done it a couple of times, once staying in Pickering,.........never again :imoutahere: other time 'up the line' at Goathland; (much more peacefull.........::bigsmile:)
Maybe's heading up that way again this year, dependent on work patterns, etc.

One thing to bear in mind the facilities for quite a way around the North Yorks moors accommodation/camp/caravan sites get VERY full for that period.

Lived on the moors for a while,..........fantastic place to be. :Smile:

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Andy

Andy

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The job came up by fortunate chance when I was considering a change and I went for it. It doesn't pay very much and we're only open for half a day at a time but the money wasn't uppermost in my thinking anyway. It's a lovely location to work - very tranquil.

When I'm not doing that I buy and sell vintage camera equipment and other early 20th century items so I live in a sort of permanent past. One chap I have regular contact with is like a time traveller - he re-enacts all sorts of historical periods from Saxons to Home Guard and works with the Museum service. He's accumulated some amazing gear along the way. Another of my work colleagues specialises in Victorian stuff and can ride a penny farthing.

Do you go to that big re-enactor's fair near Coventry at all? I had my first look at it last year and bought a few bits for my new project.


That would be Stonleigh, I guess,..........and yes have been, and yes, spent money there...........:RollEyes:
 

sue_at_hurwitzend

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it was a 12 part series if memory serves me, have tried to find it on the internet but failed, shame really..
we filmed most of it up at castell henllys in wales, think that's how you spell it?!? that place is still there as far as i know too and well worth a visit..
in fact i think a trip back should be put on my list of places to re-visit..
wonder if i can find any of my old photos..
hope it's okay to put a link to it here..
us girls of the tribe did most of the day to day bits, while the guys had great fun being filmed covered in woad and having a battle..

i already had learned to spin with a drop spindle years before and how to dye cloth and wool with herbs, veg and (male) urine etc, (good excuse for the lads to drink plenty of beer) which is why i was press ganged into joining, and yes it was great to learn how to thatch and build in the old way, personally i think it's important for old skills and crafts to be kept alive, so much in life is mechanised and computerised and if we're not careful there will come a time when all this is lost..
it was hard work, but very, very satisfying..

I do think it gave us a bit of an insight into another life and we tended to read and research. I took my lace making there a few times which was a nice way to while away a sunny afternoon and blended in fine. My other half enery8 used to do all the incredible bead work on the leather work he made, I used to make the cotton and woollen clothing. Watching other people doing their loom weaving, impressive. We have spent some very pleasant evenings around the open ground fire watching the sparks fly. I won a medal once for hawk throwing, now I cant even manage to lift them, :ROFLMAO: Still it was fun while it lasted.
Sue
 
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It looks great fun, not sure I would want to do it though but my Daughter is very interested.
We went to aWW2 event at Dover Castle today, some of them take it very seriously!
WE were speaking to a couple of Home Guard chaps and two 9/10 year old lads, dressed in appropriate clothing and haircuts. One of them was telling us he was playing in the castle grounds last night sneaking up on the Germans, he got spotted and was shot by a sniper....

This was when the event was closed to the public!

These two were in the mood....

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Allan

Great photo............................means I can let Sheila know that the clothes she wears are now back in fashion !!!
 

magicsurfbus

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I am interested in lots of the old crafts and techniques used back in time.
Sue:thumb:

You ought to take a look at Ancient Arts near Conwy in N Wales - I went on one of their weekend courses last year and it was excellent.

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