Glenham Hall 2010

By Ashley Holt

A new site for the Hoplite Association. Glenham Hall offered a gently sloping and wooded site that seems perfect for reenactment. The main arena was on the side of a hill meaning that the rest of the site had a grandstand view of the battles. The multi-period ‘Salute to the Heroes’ must have looked spectacular as we took to the skyline then marched line-abreast towards the audience.

We had a prime location and were the first group to be seen as the public entered. Adjacent to us was a stall hiring out mobility scooters... take several aged hoplites with various dysfunctional limbs, put them in scooters with kranoi, dory and aspis...well, you had to be there!

We were a smaller group at this show: Andy and Elaine, Hywell, Cliff, Sarah and myself. Steve was unfortunately on the wounded list, at home nursing two cracked ribs and a fractured vertibrae - the result of a slight falling out with a flight of stairs. But as the weekend progressed we were joined by potential members who took to the field with us: Sienna and Ed. We look forward to seeing them at future shows, along with Ed’s father.

What we lacked in numbers and tentage we made up for in enthusiasm and the site looked great. We used the small cook tent to maximum impact along with Andy and Elaine’s superb Scythian (I know it’s not really, but that’s what we all call it to annoy them) tent. We received numerous compliments from other groups, and the great thing about a new venue is not only do we get to see new groups, but new groups also get to see us for the first time. We had enough food for a phalanx and dined very well each night, with a BBQ cooked over the coals of our fires. To cap the evenings off we had a full moon to light the scene and accompany the many strange and varied sounds that come from a field of re-enactors camped under canvas!

It was good to catch up with some former members who have gone back to their Medieval roots and see their living history displays. I have to say that it’s the evening’s socialising (and eating) after a hard day and then the first cuppa in the early morning that make these weekends so special for me.

The weather was kind to us, and rather varied. We burnt in the sun, then gasped in relief at the breeze before the lightest of drizzles. However, on the whole, the weekend was very pleasant weather.

It was certainly a busy weekend with three shows for us each day. A ‘Firepower through the Ages’ display with representatives from all the other groups, an arena show of Hoplite warfare, and the Grand Finale involving all the reenactors as each day ended with a Salute to the Heroes as we saluted the Royal British Legion. Everyone with a gun let it off, and those of us with spears waved them aggressively! I’m told that we witnessed the largest number of black-powder firing weapons firing in salvo that has ever been seen in this country for at least 200 years. It was certainly a sight to remember.

The whole event was organised for the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity, and there were auctions and charity boxes galore. The turn-out from the public was inexplicably low – 3,000 on Saturday and certainly less than 10,000 on Sunday, so we will have to wait and see if this becomes a regular event. Sunday was even busier as it started with a service run by the local church, which was well attended by reenactors, the military and members of the public.
Timings were critical as our show had to finish exactly as the Mustang fighters commenced their aerobatics. Andy’s timing was spot on and it was wonderful to march back to camp watching the planes diving over the arena. Later they were joined by the Grace Spitfire and a Flying Fortress. They probably flew much higher, further away and faster than they seemed as they majestically banked over us, but it seemed incredibly close. A great experience I’m glad I didn’t miss. Pythagoras’ Cup made another welcome appearance, and proving how much he had enjoyed demonstrating it, Cliff had bought his own.

The reduced tentage, and the help of our newest member, Ed, meant that we were packed and off site in remarkably quick time. Those who couldn’t make it were missed, and we hope to see you at the next event which is the ‘Blast from the Past’ at Broadlands, Romsey. For those who don’t know, this event is relatively new and was held at Cliveden previously, but the grounds were deemed unsuitable when it rained, and indeed the last show was cancelled. The same groups and traders have been invited to this show and I am particularly looking forward to seeing it run again as it had a rather ‘special’ feel. I think (but don’t know) that they focussed on smaller groups with living history rather than battle re-enactment, so there was much more interaction.

I look forward to seeing you all there in the many guises of the Hoplite Association.