The British Plate Armour Society newsletter March 2004
21/03/04
Greetings all,
This is a beginning of season newsletter containing all shows and details we have so far and various bits of society info.
If you are getting this in snail mail you are not on my membership list as having an e-mail address, if you do actual have one then please let me know. All these details are available on our website (www.britishplate.org..uk), and are sent electronically to those with e-mail, which saves us a fair bit in paper, stamps and time.
Shows
Attached you will either find the full show list, pages of maps and directions where applicable and available, and a handy show summary list, or they are available on the website for those on-line (www.britishplate.org.uk/showlist.htm).
As you can see the list is filling up quite well, and there is sure to be more. In fact as I write this Dave W is trying to finalised dates for some filming in Wales and a show at the Wallace Collection in London (this follows on from the good job Kev & Liam did at this venue earlier this year acting as Guards for a corporate event).
As usual please, please, please let me know which shows you are going to attend as soon as possible. We really need to know to make sure we have the numbers needed for each event.
Kit and Standards
We are getting a number of more prestigious shows thanks to Dave W, these do but a requirement for a higher standard of kit on us. This means that newer members who are not yet up to full standard may have difficulty, but remember this high standard doesn't mean just top of the line armour and clothing, we want billmen, levys, archers etc, they just have to have good authentic kit, it can be in rags as long as there authentic looking rags!. Also remember there is a lot of spare kit available for loan within the society, so as long as we know someone needs it suitable loan kit can be provided for shows. Obviously, and as usual, we encourage all new members to get up to the minimum standards as listed in the rules & regs as quickly as possible so that they can attend these types of shows without requiring loan kit. As a reminder the minimum standards are shown below.
Obviously these are adapted by role e.g. non-comms don't need gauntlets, but should have a helmet. Ladies (portraying ladies) don't need Livery, hose or arming jacket, but need a dress.
Insurance
Our insurance as usual gets more expensive (£372 last year, up from £120 3 years ago!!!), and puts more responsibilities on us, each year. To quote the insurance broker this is "due to our ambulance chasing friends". Notable points this year are below.
For the 1st time last year we had to provide a risk assessment document for our insurance. This means we have to actually make sure we do everything on it. It is mostly all common sense and stuff we do anyway (i.e. double roped arena, not firing arrows into the crowd etc) but it does mean we have to be a bit stricter on things concerning safety, both for participants and the public, this year. Please bear with us on this as its necessary for our continued insurance cover. If you want to see what it says I always have a copy with me at shows, or can send one to you if you request it.
We have avoided having to produce a child protection policy by stating that we do not have members under 16, so this is now the case, no members under 16 will be accepted any more, accept as part of a family. This also means that although younger members are still OK as part of a family, the parents have sole responsibility for them at shows. The society can take no responsibility. Strictly speaking I think this would mean that they can't be looked after by other members while the parents are off doing something else. We will be sensible about this, but the way things are going we may have to enforce this in future unless we get certain members certified and vetted by official agencies such as the police, ofstead, in the same way as child minders and teachers.
Membership renewals and cards
The society has now acquired a laminating machine (kindly donated by Dave Page) so can now produce much better laminated membership cards. To make the most of this, and make the cards more professional and official, we have decided that it would be a good idea to have a photo on the cards from now on. This needs to be a passport type photo, either in normal, or medieval gear (visors up if wearing a helmet!). The photo can be provided either electronically via e-mail, just by pointing at an existing photo on the web-site (or elsewhere) or by giving/sending a real one (you can even have them back as we will be scanning them in and printing them so don't need the original). A normal full body photo can be used if you don't have a passport one available as long as is a large enough image to scan in and cut out the face. In addition, as an optional feature, a full picture of you in kit can be printed on the back with your character name, so if you want this just get send a suitable photo in the same way. I have a digital camera and will have it at all shows from now on so can take suitable photos for you.
As the cards need to be signed before laminating they will have to be signed in advance which can be done at shows as usual. However where possible a signature will be taken from the membership forms and printed directly onto the cards, or you can send your signature with the photos and it can be scanned and printed straight on to the card.
As usual membership will be collected from you all as and when it is due, but rather than wait until it is due please try and get the photo/s to us before hand, we can then be ready in advance to print the card out so you can get it before your old one expires.
People will be hassled at shows as usual to collect fees, but fell free to just send a cheque (payable to "British Plate Armour Society"), with the photo/s and signature a bit before your current card expires and your new cards will be send back by post.
The cards will now be a lot more durable and will last longer, so if anyone wants to pay for 2 years membership at once feel free, this would be appreciated as it also saves work next year, and you don't have to worry about it again for 2 years.
Fees this year are staying the same at £10, £5 concessions, £15 family (couple + any kids at same address). Which is dead cheap!!!.
Any comments, questions or even objections please let us know.
Not so serious stuff
For those who haven't seen it here's a song for round the campfire (taken from the websote at www.dethorpe.demon.co.uk/songs.htm)
The Re-Enactor
To the tune of "The Wild Rover"
I've been a re-enacter for many a year,
And I've spent all my money on weapons and gear
But now I'm returning, battle weary and sore
And I swear that I'll not re-enact any more.Chorus:
And It's no, nay, never,no, nay, never, no more
Will I be a re-enacter,
No never, no more.I've Seen many Battles, I've Seen many fights
I've slept on the ground, known many sleepless knights
I've fallen in rivers, I've fallen in mud
Been hit on the head and got covered in blood.CHORUS
With my pack overloaded, I wait for the train
It's freezing and dark and its started to rain
With my gear in the guardsvan, I ask am I sane
I'll tell you right now, I won't do this again.CHORUS
But when I get home and I crawl into bed
Feeling so tired that I wish I was dead
I look at my gear lying thrown on the ground
and can't wait 'till the next battle day comes around.
And finally as an aid for all of you, a graphical depiction of the difference between chivalrous and non-chivalrous behaviour, to help identify which society members are in each school :-) (Copyright. Horrible Histories)
That's all for now. See you all on a battlefield soon. My armour has been dedented, cleaned and polished ready for the new season, so I'm sure you will all enjoy putting the dents back in!!
Yours,
Sir Edmund De Thorpe