[Regia-NA] Regia, English Heritage and Hastings 2000

[Martin Field]

There was a student at Battle Abbey in 2001 from a University who was
writing a thesis or whatever on re-enactment or was it E.H. itself and whose
questions certainly centred around the Battle of Hastings re-enactment.
Her questions involved E.H and the quality of the event as well as the
educational aspect to which everyone within earshot wasted little time in
giving the appropriate answers !!
I believe she also mentioned that E.H would be getting a look at her work.
She was a tad taken aback by the responses.
Martin F.
----- Original Message -----
From: "J. Kim Siddorn" <kim.siddorn@blueyonder.co.uk>
To: <list-regia-na@lig.net>
Cc: "Regia UK E-group" <regia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 8:24 AM
Subject: [Regia-NA] Regia, English Heritage and Hastings 2000


> "Green Shield"  said in respect of Hastings 2000
> > I had heard Regia didn't participate because The British Historic
society
> ticked Regia off. Got to love the rumour mill.>
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> There is no British Historic Society to my knowledge. The event was
managed
> by The Vikings on behalf of English Heritage, which is an arm of the
British
> Government and is a  Quasi Autononymous National Government Organisation
(a
> QUANGO) that manages and sometimes owns sites of historic interest
> throughout England (NOT Britain).
>
> There are a few facts which need restating after this lapse of time, so
here
> we go.
>
> In November of 1999, the Executive Committee of Regia Anglorum (the High
> Witan) decided that we would not "seek work" with English Heritage (EH)
for
> the coming year. This was mainly because of two reasons.
>
> 1. We had come to the end of our patience in an unresolved long term
> business dispute with the Special Events Unit (SEU) of English Heritage.
If
> you work for someone and have dispute which is not addressed, you can
> swallow it and get on with the job or withdraw your labour. We chose the
> latter course. This was a private matter and we will not discuss it
further.
> This decision was publicised in the national re-enactment press in the UK
at
> the time.
>
> 2. Membership support had faded to virtually nothing in respect of EH
> events. Poor management, zero supply of dry wood for the fires on the LHE,
> drinking water supply and toilets placed far from the site, difficulties
in
> siting Modern Camp sites, low standard of care and unreasonable
expectations
> were all reasons cited.
>
>
> Although it was not a prima facia reason for our withdrawal of our support
> for EH events in general and Hastings 2000 in particular, we had seen the
> kit parameter for the show and the general feeling was that our standing
> would not be enhanced by our participation in the event. As time went by,
it
> became increasingly obvious that all semblance of standards had been
dropped
> in a gaderene rush to get the "magic" 1000 people on the field.
>
> However, we made no attempt to stop our members from attending as
> individuals if they so wished.
>
> Having myself attended as a member of the public at the Saturday show of
> Hastings 2000, I was gratified (although also disappointed) to discover
that
> we had made the right decision. Modern footwear, spectacles, smoking,
> drinking from modern containers (tinnies etc) being worn and/or used
whilst
> in costume, during opening hours and in front of the public on the living
> history exhibit was rife and a complete kaleidoscope of styles and periods
> were represented from Vendal period Viking to Angavin period Norman.
>
> The commentary was lamentable and the narrator used the name "Goodwin"
> several times until I ripped the door open in exasperation and shouted
> "GODWIN, GODWIN!!" at him.. There were references to the "Saxon Freed"
being
> comprised of "Freedmen", hence the description and other fanciful rubbish
> that I will not labour your brow with. I really could have done better
> myself twenty years before!
>
> A spectacle it may have been, but perhaps it was not one that committed
> members of Regia would have enjoyed. I make no comment or judgement other
> than as a competent eye witness with a camera.
>
>
> I was surprised to receive a steady trickle of "Well done, us next" from
> other societies still working for the EH SEU in the months that followed.
>
> The SEU has now been disbanded and major events largely dropped at EH
sites
> due to a change in EH policy across the board. I understand that Regional
> Offices and individual sites are still booking re-enactment societies to
> perform events throughout the UK.
>
> There will be a lower key re-enactment of Hastings this year I believe
and,
> as I write, Regia Anglorum are not involved.
>
> The mooted event several years in the future may or may not take place.
I'd
> not book your tickets just yet if it were me, a lot can happen in the
> intervening time.
>
> Regards,
>
> Kim Siddorn
>
> "Spring in the air?"
> "Spring in the air yerself !"
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Green Shield" <greenshield@hotmail.com>
> To: <list-regia-na@lig.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 7:40 PM
> Subject: RE: [Regia-NA] Hastings
>
>
> > I had heard Regia didn't participate because The British Historic
society
> > ticked Regia off. Got to love the rumor mill.
> >
> > S
> >
> >
> >
> > Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid.
> > - Franklin P. Jones
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: "Nicholson, Andrew" <andrew.nicholson@dumgal.gov.uk>
> > >Reply-To: list-regia-na@lig.net
> > >To: "'list-regia-na@lig.net'" <list-regia-na@lig.net>
> > >Subject: RE: [Regia-NA] Hastings
> > >Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 15:05:41 -0000
> > >
> > >
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >>
> > >Yes, anything you learn within Regia will be valid at the next
Hastings.
> > >The
> > >main differences will be in combat rules, which is unsurprising given
the
> > >number of groups who participate in Hastings. Regia's avoidance of
> Hastings
> > >[though some members do attend, but not as Regia] is because we don't
> > >compromise our corporate standards enough to feel comfortable with the
> lack
> > >of rigourous authenticity which characterises this event.
> > >
> > >Guğrum
>
>
>
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