An article that I wrote

The Re-Enactor
Online newsletter/Magazine
Issue 1
Dec. 2008
Grosmont Castle, Herefordshire, UK
Photo: J. O’Keefe
Grosmont Castle, Herefordshire, UK
Photo: J.O’Keefe
Note:
Please feel free to print this email out and pass around amongst your group members
or pass on to other groups and do encourage other groups and traders to sign up for
this free email newsletter.
Let us have details of any shows that you are organising and they will be put in this
email newsletter.
If you have any interesting stories or re-enactment anecdotes that you want to share
with the world send them to us.
If you want to write a report on a show or send us some photographs* we will be only
to glad to add them.
* Please make sure that the pictures you send are yours and by sending them you give us permission to
publish them in The Re-Enactor.
Contents:
Group Details
A list of groups from around the world with their contact
details.
Event Details
A few show details for 2009 with dates, location and contact
details. Please contact host group before attending the event.
Special Report
Festival for the Animals
Please send all correspondence to
Jason.okeefe@btopenworld.com
Note from the editor:
Welcome to issue 1 of
The Re-Enactor, we
are obviously in our
fledgling state and
have a long way to go.
Our aim is to connect
as many re-enactors
from as many periods
of history together as
we can and from all
around the world. To
share knowledge,
show information and
just general chat.
It’s as much your
magazine as it is ours
so please do let us
know what you would
like to see in it.
Regards
Jason O'Keefe
Email:
Jason.okeefe@btopenworld.com
Group Listing
A.R.M.E. (Asociacion Recreacionista Medieval
Escandinava)
4th - 13th Centuries
Location: Argentina
Battle re-enactments and duels, talks on myths,
legends, religion,history and art.
Email: medieval.arme@gmail.com
website: http://www.medieval-arme.com.ar
Blood & Bourban (Pavia 1525)
1520's specifically 1525
Location: S.E. Queensland & Brisbane, Aus.
Landsnechts & Spanish Infantry, Cavalry, Canon
and non-combatants
Email: deanmaynard@hotmail.com
The British Plate Armour Society (BPAS)
14th & 15th Centuries
Location: Members all over UK
Combat, archery, living history, film & TV work
Website: http://www.britishplate.org.uk
Group established in 1974
Causae et curae
1350-1400
Location: Denmark
Knowledge on medieval medicine, handmade
soaps and herbal remedies. Handsewn medieval
costumes.
Website: www.sitecenter.dk/middlelaldermedicin
Company of Chivalry
14th Century
Location: Bristol, UK
Knights, soldiers & peasantry in period costume
displaying arms, armour and other artifacts.
Website: http:www.yecompaynyofchevalrye.com/
cc/
Domus Lunaris
Wars of the Roses
Location: Sutton, Surrey, UK
Group of medieval mercenaries comprising of
swordsmen & women inc. massage therapists &
healers.
Email: glcookie@hotmail.com
The Freemen of Gwent
14th Century & up to 1415
Loctaion: Members all over UK
Combat, archery living history, crafts and trades
email: ann.horton@ntlworld.com
website: http://www.freemenofgwent.org.uk
Gustav II Adolfs fotfanika
Early 17th Century, specifically reign of Gustav II
Adolf 1611-1632
Location: Goteborg, Sweden
Honour guard, wedding guard, musket salutes,
canon salute, city watch show, pike, musket &
artillery drills.Troop & military camp.
Website: http://giia.nu/
Historia Germanica
1500-1560
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Sword training in the style of Renaissance
manuals, cannon drill & firing, costume
workshops, feasts.
Event: Abbey Medieval Tournament & Festival,
Cabooulture, Queensland. (Dark Age –
Renaissance)
History Alive (Roman – Vietnam War)
Email: annamargot.collins@gmail.com
Jacobs Ledung
1250-1325
Location: Goteborg, Sweden
Representing the common person of the periodfarmers
and craftspeople. Dyeing, weaving,
sewing, bone carving & cooking.
Email: mattiniord@hotmail.com
Knights Order Of Lion Rampant
1385-1415
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Event: Abbey Medieval Tournament & Festival,
Cabooulture, Queensland. (Dark Age –
Renaissance)
History Alive (Roman – Vietnam War)
Website: http://www.lionrampant.com.au
http://www.historyalive.org.au/
La Licorne Blanc (Sth Burnett Medieval Society)
1100-1563 (notably The Black Prince)
Location: Murgon (South Burnett) & Toowoomba
Various workshops held monthly covering
heraldry, costume, cooking, music & dance + lots
more besides.
Email: lalicorneblanc@gmail.com
Website:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?
gid=26515937494
Legio XV, 7th Texas, Det Sondenfjeldske
Frivillige musketeercorps (D.S.F.M.C)
108, 1808 * 1861-5
Location: Oslo, Norway
The three groups let people join in re-enacting the
military activities of the periods, and the legion
also helps you to make your own equipment.
Websites:
http://www.7thtexas.info/index_historiske7th.htm
http://legxv.laiv.org
http:home.ifi.uio.no/oddharry/dsfmc/dsfmc.html
Leongatha Medieval Society
English Army 1346-1400
Location: Leongatha, Victoria, Australia
Combat, armour making, tournaments,
educational talks, western martial arts, warbow
training and construction + traditional archery
Email: leongathamedievalsociety@gmail.com
Website: www.lms.asn.au
The Levy
15th Century
Location: Hereford, UK
Combat, archery & living history & various crafts
inc. maille making, bow making, fletching, leather
work.
Email: jason.okeefe@btopenworld.com
Website: http://www.freewebs.com/levyarchery
The Lion Rampant
Medieval
Location: South Buckinghamshire, UK
Singing, fighting, juggling, music, dance & story.
Educational shows in a light hearted fun manner.
Website: www.lionrampant.uk.com
The Lion Rampant (History re-enactment
workshop)
16th & 17th Century England
Location: All over England
1st person interpretation for 16th & 17th century
social & domestic history.
Website: http://www.historyreenactment.org.uk
Milites Templar
Early 12th century – 1307
Location: Belgium (Ghent)
Swordmanship demos, camplife, shows for
children, marching with latin commands.
Email: info@milites-templi.eu
Website: http://www.milites-templi.eu
The Montgomery Levy
12th – 15th Centuries
Location: Mid Wales, UK
Full living history, combat, archery, field kitchen,
medieval baggage cart & traders display “levied
foot soldiers”
Email: montylevy@gmail.com
Plymouth Medieval Society
1370-1450
Location: Plymouth, Devon, UK
Combat tournament with characters from the
hundred year’s war in full armour, medieval court
dancing.
Email: plymouthmedievalsociety@yahoo.co.uk
St Ita's of Cill Ide (pronounced kill eeedie)
1564
Location: California
A participation guild focusing on the everyday
lives of noble women. Sewing, carding wool,
spinning, leather working.
Website: www.stitas.net
The Sons of the Dragon (Meibion Y Ddraig)
14th Century + Hundred Years War
Location: Wales,UK
Living History & Archery
website: http://www.sonsofthedragon.co.uk
Email: urti@globalnet.co.uk
The Seattle Knights/ Pirates of Puget Sound
1100/ 1740
Location: Seattle, U.S.A.
professional theatrical combat and equestrian
performance troupe
Email: damegeleah@hotmail.com
Website:http:// www.seattleknights.com
Teutonic Order of Prussia
C14th & C15th
Location: Kandanga, Queensland, Australia
Jousting, Foot Combat, Daily life and times reenactment
Email: teutonicorderofprussia@homail.com
Uppsala Medieval Society
500 – 1500
Location: Sydney, Australia
Combat, various crafts including brewing mead,
archery, blacksmithing. Training every weekend.
Website: http://uppsala-medieval.org/
Email: herald@uppsala-medieval.org
White Company
100 years war, specifically 1346-1394
Location: Australia
Archery, equestrian activities, dance, games,
costume, cooking.
Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/whitecompany/index.ht
ml
Traders Details
David Hodges
Medieval trader (+ other periods)
Location: Northants, UK
Forges, fireboxes, spits, lamp irons, banner stakes,
tent pegs, tools for making & repairing armour +
general tinsmithing and sheet metal work.
Website: www.medievalmade.co.uk/tools/
Tony Jones
Maille Maker
Coifs, avantails, bishops collars, halberks, gloves
Email: tony.109@hotmail.co.uk
Fairbow UK
Location: Spalding, Lincolnshire, UK
Suppliers of traditional English Longbows,
American flatbows, horse bows of varying tribes/
armies and all leather work and sundries
Email: livebythearrow@gmail.com
Website: www.fairbowuk.com
Tel: (James) 07771 866133
David Smith
Events Organiser
Location: Wellingborough, UK
Organises event around the UK
Websites:
www.medieval-fayre.co.uk
www.east-anglian-medieval-fayre.co.uk
www.new-market.org.uk
www.history-boot-camp.co.uk
Fezbat The Fletcher
Medieval trader
Location: Morda, Shropshire, UK
Medieval style arrows, modbods, target points,
blunts, X Bow bolts
Spined to match your bow
Email: fezbat@aol.com
Ebay store:
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Fezbat-The-Medieval-
Fletcher
Unicorn Crafts
Location: Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, UK
Purveyors of variable reproduction medieval
artifacts including ironware, wooden items,
jewellery and pottery
Email: boballison@btinternet.com
Events Listing 2009
Medieval Traders Fair
February 7th & 8th 2009
Fiera Di Ferrara
Ferrara
Italy
http://www.reenacting.it/Home.html
Email: info@rievocare.it
Cosmeston Medieval Village
April 12th & 13th 2009
Penarth, Cardiff, UK
Contact: ncoles@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Living History village, traders, combat and archery
Bodelwyddan castle
April 25th & 26th 2009
North Wales, UK
Contact:
david.smith34@ntlworld.com
Living History village, traders, combat and archery
Cosmeston Medieval Village
May 3rd & 4th 2009
Penarth, Cardiff, UK
Contact: ncoles@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Living History village, traders, combat and archery
The Three Counties Show
June 19th – 21st 2009
Malvern Show Ground, Malvern, UK
Contact:
Jason.okeefe@btopenworld.com
Huge County show, 100,000 public, 100’s of trade stands
& us with Living History, Combat and archery
demonstrations
The Battle of Tewkesbury
July 11th & 12th 2009
Tewkesbury, UK
Contact:
battle@tewkesburymedievalfestival.org
UK’s largest medieval event, traders, combat, archery and so
much more
Berkeley Castle
July 18th & 19th 2009
Berkeley, Glos, UK
Contact:
plantychrisb@yahoo.co.uk
Living History village, traders, combat and archery
The Battle of Azincourt
July 25th & 26th 2009
Azincourt, Pas de Calais, France.
Contact:
chris@azincourt-alliance.org.uk
Living History village, combat and archery
Walraversijde Village Event
August 1st & 2nd 2009
Nr. Oostende, Belgium
Contact:
Frederiek.de.smeyter@gmail.com
Living History village, combat and archery & joust
Balingup Medieval Carnivale
August 22nd & 23rd 2009
Balingup, Western Australia.
Website:
Http://www.balingupmedievalcarnivale.com.au
Combat, traders, jesters, parade and lots lots more
The Battle of Mortimers Cross (1461)
September 5th & 6th 2009
Leominster, Herefordshire, UK
Contact:
Jason.okeefe@btopenworld.com
Living History village, traders, combat and archery
Ludlow Medieval Christmas fayre
November 28th & 29th 2009
Ludlow Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire, UK
Contact:
TBC
Christmas crafts both medieval and modern, combat, have a go
archery, living history & traders
Special Report
Winslow Shire Renaissance Faire
A Festival for the Animals
by Gia Volterra de Saulnier
Nestled amongst the shady woods of the Winslow Animal Farm Sanctuary occurred
the first ever Winslow Shire Renaissance Faire on June 28th and 29th of 2008.
Debra White, the president and owner of The Winslow Farm which opened in 1996
contacted Richard Saulnier, aka Arthur Bumbly Phinn, to create a Renaissance Faire
for the farm as a fund raiser. The farm hoped the faire would raise monies for
operating expenses and raise community awareness of their work.
All of the animals at this farm are rescued, formally abused or abandoned. Ms. White
and her staff provide these animals with a comfortable environment and quality of
life.
For June 28th and 29th of 2008, the farm became a medieval village, with merchants
pavilions and performers, from the many eras of the Renaissance period. The garbed
re-inactors, along with the many visitors – some wearing period outfits, others out of
place in modern wear, had a taste of true medieval living. The free roaming animals
of this farm made it look as if one was wandering about in a small village tucked in by
shady trees, on the edge of a lake.
Notable performers included story tellers Bumbly Phinn, Sir Robert of Artemis Glen
and Kate of Antika Nueva,; Magician Ed the Wizard; Shakespeare; Pirates; Musicians
Shaunough, The Harper and the Minstrel, Dirge Queen, The Bawdy Buccaneers. The
crowd was also entertained by wandering performers inc. Rufus the mud beggar and
Guy Todd. The local Martial Arts Academy, Red Dragon, demonstrated their tricks
throughout the two day event..
The vendors were spread out with pavilions and tents added another element for
wonderful wares like soap, clothing, swords, marshmallow crossbows, and jewelry.
The plan is to start small for the first year and to grow each additional year. 2008 was
a grand success that had over 400 guests. Including about 150 guests arriving in
period dress. The comments from fellow Rennie's that attended were very pleased
and entertained.
In respect of the many two and four legged animals in attendance, the faire menu was
all vegetarian. Faire goers enjoyed Vegetarian Chili, Corn Chowder, and baked
potatoes that were very tasty. Thirst was quenched via dollar cups of orange spice
iced tea and mint lemonade, and juice. As a family friendly event, no alcohol was
available for sail, and was not missed by the attendees.
General admission for the faire was $10.00 for Adults, $5.00 for Children 5 through
12, and Children 4 and Under were free. There were special admissions, a two day
pass could be had for $15.00, patrons arriving in renaissance attire, received half price
admission.
As a family friendly event, the farm and the directors decided on a dry faire, meaning
no alcohol was provided. Soda, water, lemonade, iced tea and juice were the
refreshments and they were only $1.00 per cup.
This faire is based on a festival, in a small local town, where you would normally not
find nobility. However, using the land and it's natural surroundings they set up a
festival with independent acts and merchants about. However, we did have Pirates
about. Everyone seemed to enjoy a simple faire without major plot or sovereignty.
Patrons who have been to other renaissance faires liked the idea of seeing old friends
and making new ones.
The farm owner and directors were pleased with the event. The Sanctuary will be
holding a second Faire in 2009 for June 27th and June 28th of 2009. The directors of
the faire are in the planning stages, and are currently looking for sponsors for this
grand event now. All money donated will be tax deductible for the farm is registered
non profit organization, and a worth while cause.
For more information, please contact Bumbly Phinn at bumblyphinn@comcast.net or
your intrepid reporter Jass Phinn at giazz@comcast.net .
I am already looking forward to next year's faire. Seeing old friends, making new
ones, and walking around the grounds of this enchanted farm once again. Mark your
calendars for next year's Festival for the Animals at Winslow Animal Sanctuary, at 37
Eddy Street, Norton, MA on June 27th and June 28th of 2009.
Pictures: Michael Meissner.

J is for Jazz

Hi all,

I apologize for not writing last week, but things have been really hectic.

With that note, I will write two blog posts today so that way, I keep up.

J is for Jazz.

Jazz for me is not just music, it's a way of thinking, a way of feeling, but a way of thinking.

I have been playing jazz for about almost 20 years, and I'm still learning new things.

I go to jazz jam sessions these days to keep on my toes. Unfortunately, there aren't that many live jazz jam sessions that you can just show up and play at in the Boston area, and you would think there were plenty of them, since Boston is known as a great music city.

The next jam session I hopefully plan on going to will be taking place on Sundays from 3 pm to 7 pm at The Continental in Saugus, MA. Unfortunately, they don't have a website.
There is a blues jam session in Cambridge at Tommy Doyle's and the website is www.tommydoyles.com .

Hope to see some people come out to support live music!