Pickering Castle 2018

So to the season finale and the East Yorks stormed Pickering Castle! (Not much to storm nowadays!) No A64 closures so traffic was normal for this weekend. Members arrived Friday afternoon and evening and bunks were set up in the Education Room then set off into an unseasonably mild but blustery night to sample a few beers. Lights out was around 12.30am and the heating and extra blankets weren’t needed. What a contrast to Friday night at Rufford!

Saturday morning saw more arrivals and the camp was set up in the castle grounds. Weather was still mild but the wind became stronger and was to cause problematic for the tent later in the day.

The training scenario was a section attack on a German bunker with pyros and plenty of blank-firing weapons with Pte Heaton giving his much detailed talk about the battalion, uniform, kit and weapons afterwards. The windproof smocks came in useful to portray late 1944 infantry. There were around thirty viewers and most obviously knew what was happening turning up minutes before the start.

Lunch came in the form of a delicious stew made with anything that needed using up! As we were lining up after the 2.30pm scenario the tent finally gave way to the wind so all hands were needed to erect it again.

Saturday night was Col. Sgt. Hebden’s East Yorks stag night so members dressed in best BD’s and civilians with the Heatons attired as gangsters. Well, they are from Castleford! Didn’t turn out to be much of a stag night as we were all back at the billet by 11.00pm with rolls of unused cling film! Lightweights!

Sunday turned out to be a miserable wet day with relentless rain. The scenarios were altered so no pyros or Bren team, and the talks were done in the Chapel. Visitors still turned up so the show must go on! Thanks to those who did brave the walk up to the Castle to see us.

Again the same faces turned up as they have in previous years and the 9 year old had brought his mate this year.

Because of the weather the English Heritage guys in the hut said we might as well pack up early so most were on their way home by 4.30pm, just as the clouds were breaking! Can’t really grumble as we have been very fortunate with the weather for quite a few years at Pickering.

Still a great weekend though to chat and chuckle with friends.

PTE G Cooper

Rufford Park 2018

This year saw the groups return to Rufford since 2015. After a change of organisers it was decided that the group should attend an event that has been on the calendar for many years before. A lovely setting in the grounds of a 12^th century abbey and later a 16^th/17^th centuries stately home.

On arriving camping and exhibitors were lead to their destination at walking pace by a guy with a red flag or one playing a flute!

Friday afternoon was T-shirt weather as tents were pitched but due to clear skies the temperature dropped and we had to wrap up well under the dining shelter then trekked over to the Rose Cottage for a pint or four.

And now to Friday night/Saturday morning which will be talked about for years to come as it was ‘expletive’ freezing!!

We awoke (or not for those who couldn’t sleep!) to frost but the sun soon warmed up and we were in shirt-sleeves. This year we had no commitments so time to chat and wander. After more arrivals our numbers rose to eleven and as well as the usual dining shelter table-top display, there was Pte Pozniac’s radio set up (the typewriter a favourite with the kids!), Pte Haycocks’s RAMC display and Pte Clewlow’s 1930' Ford hotrod proved popular.

As with Friday the temperature dropped but still some of us hardy souls braved the trip to the Pub and the night proved to be not as cold as the previous.

Sunday before long became a pleasant day, the crowds flocked in and our display was busy with interested visitors which included ex-services who had used some of the weapons on show. We also had an excellent view of the NFS scenario with the guy hosing the flames 50 feet up the extendable ladder. Wouldn’t get me up there!

Rufford housed officers and its grounds were used by the Army during the War so a very appropriate setting and it’s hoped that it still has a future within the WW2 re-enactment calendar.

PTE G Cooper