Looking for Roman reenactment group Manchester/Lancs way

[Geoff Brown]

Any recommendations for a group based Manchester/Lancashire way?

[The Eagle]

Hi Geoff,

I am new to this but there are a few re-enactment groups in the uk. LegionXIIII GMV who I have just joined based in Coventry and groups based in Wales and the North East. If there is a group based any closer to you I am sure somebody on this site will know.

[Gaius Longius]

Hi Geoff,

If you don't mind travelling west you could always hook up with us
Deva Victrix in Chester.


Maybe join in with Saturnalia parade.

For more info PM myself or try thr Roman Tours Website

www.romantoursuk.com

Regards, Gary

[Graham Sumner]

Hello Geoff

Although based further afield you could always try the Ermine Street Guard. They are based in Gloucester but as their venues and members (there are a couple of members in the Preston area for instance) are across the country you could always meet up with someone traveling North or South.

Graham.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Hmmm I tried them a year or so ago, but they said they had enough members! ESG hock:

[Crispvs]

Geoff,

When looking for a group to join you may want to consider what each group does rather more than where it is based. As the Eagle said, we are based at the Lunt fort near Coventry, but in fact we are only seen there about four times a year. Otherwise we can be seen at different points all over the country. Similarly the Ermine Street Guard are based in Gloucestershire but display all over the country. The II Augusta are based in Hampshire but display accross much of souther and central Britain. The closest based groups to you would be Deva Victrix in Chester and Legio VIII Augusta, based in North Wales.

However, this is where what each group does becomes significant. No two groups do things exactly the same, although some groups do do some things in common. Some groups, such as Deva Victrix, are quite static and have regular haunts in a given locality, often giving small displays where each person demonstrates a particular figure or aspect of the army. Other groups travel widely and demonstrate larger scale field tactics and formations. Some groups have well developed civilian or living history sections, while others concentrate solely on the army.

A good idea in this day of electronic communication is to check the various groups' web sites to see which one pushes the most buttons for you.
Here are some to have a look at:

http://www.romanarmy.net/

http://www.roman.org.uk/

http://www.esg.ndirect.co.uk/

http://www.theantonineguard.org.uk/

http://www.legiiavg.org.uk/

http://www.quintagallorum.co.uk/

http://www.romantoursuk.com/deva_victrix.htm

I hope this helps.

Crispvs
Legio XIIII GMV
R.M.R.S.

[Crispvs]

Byron,

Nearly a decade ago now I wrote to the ESG with the intention of joining. When I finally got to meet up with them I found most of them very welcoming but one or two, who I will not name here, made it very plain that I was not wanted, and so I joined the 14th. I am happy to say though, that I have long since buried the hatchet with the boys in red and have enjoyed their company both on the field and off twice in the last two years and probably will again next year. The old 'them and us' attitudes between groups are thankfully becoming a thing of the past and these days most groups are happy to appear alongside each other and sometimes even to borrow each others members for the day. Had you been able to get to the AGM you would have heard much discussion on this very subject.

Crispvs

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Crispus,
I have no doubt that there are a great buch of guys in the ESG.
It is just the idea that you can have too many members is a bit odd! To me the goal would be to be able to field a whole legion!! 8)

But, regardless, I am happy with the group that accepted me, even if I did have to shred a perfectly good red tunic to make a focale! hock:

Just wish I could make it to more events, which is one reason I was trying to join more than one group, so that I would increase my chances of being at home from work when an event was on! And having the funds to get there!!

Regards

[ARudling]

There is also http://www.vicus.org.uk/ for you to look at, we have members all around the country, including a fair few up in the north now.

Civilian & military & even Roman & British !
Too many members !! Never until we have a whole army ......

[Graham Sumner]

Hello Byron

I have no doubt that there are a great buch of guys in the ESG.
It is just the idea that you can have too many members is a bit odd! To me the goal would be to be able to field a whole legion!!

I was a full member of the E.S.G. for almost twenty years until 2004. Although I know a lot of new recruits joined just after I left (only a coincidence I hope) I still find it strange that you were told that they had too many members!. Numbers available for events always fluctuate so I am sure there would have been a place for you.

It is just the idea that you can have too many members is a bit odd!

More likely shortage of kit. The Guard generally only ever had about 40 kits which were more than enough for over thirty years as members came and went.. As I said after I left membership suddenly shot up so your timing might just have been wrong.

Anyway you seem to have found a group now, so enjoy the hobby.



Graham.