This post is by Tamar Lawson, who attended the recent St Ives Medieval Faire.
The ground is muddy, covered with straw (probably to mop up some of the excess water), the rain is lightly falling and there is a faint smell of manure and food cooking on an open fire. This is what meets us as we enter the medieval village via the castle gates. Before entering the gates we find a village market selling everything required for period dress including jewellery, hat, cloaks and gowns, as well as non-medieval hot food & beverages. Also there is stage that has been erected for the performance of courtly entertainment including music, circus acts and a variety of dances.
The medieval village is divided into three eras, the Templar Camp, the Early Village and the 14th century village. Each camp within each village is set up and run by a direct medieval re-enactment group. Many of the camps are sent up to replicate a specific year and people group or occupation. Reenactors are by nature enthusiasts of the subject they’re replicating and are highly knowledgeable on their area of interest but are also just as enthusiastic to share their knowledge to anyone who’s interested. Throughout the day there are also scheduled village talks conducted by reenactors including medieval cosmetics, medieval surgery and Byzantine urinalysis.
As the faire is meant to represent a working castle there is also a medieval marketplace, a village green, main arena and tavern. The main arena is where the jousting, birds of prey demonstration, Viking battle and knights tournament took place. The jousting was presented with the sort of fan-fare that would have been attributed to historical jousting when it became spectator sport. I suspect medieval jousting would have been an all-day event, particularly if the horses were as unco-operative as was one of the rider’s horses, after two rounds it balked.
Aside from jousting, which is only reserved for the nobility (or in this case, professionals), there were other demonstrations where men could show off their prowess. Out on the trebuchet field there was a Kingdom of Heaven tournament, the archery demonstration and a musket and pike drill.
Aside from the re-enactments, weapons being fired and the live animals, the biggest drawcard for faire-goers is the opportunity to dress in costume for a day. It is important to lending authenticity to an event such as this to set aside a portion of the festivities to a best-dressed competition. The male and female winners are given a faire flag and entry into the VIP tent, which provides the best view of the jousting.
The best way to experience the faire is to immerse yourself in the festivities. Even if you don’t get to come in costume, get involved in activities by learning to make cloth buttons or finger-loop cord braiding. Talk to a reenactor; ask them about their camp and their area of research.
A friend of mine shared a link to a video clip about the making of the tomb of King Richard III on Facebook. I’d like to share the link here with you as I know that some of our readers are not on Facebook, but would also be interested.
Having seen the tomb face to face, I have to admit I never realised how much detailed and fine craftmanship was involved in bringing out the beauty of the stone so impressively.
The NSW Branch Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, 10 October 2015, at the Sydney Mechanics Institute. Please plan to attend this meeting, to help elect the new committee for 2015. If you have any items for the agenda or wish to stand for the committee, please contact branch secretary Rachel.
Chris Puplick speaking at the 2013 Australasian Convention of the Richard III Society
Our featured speaker will be Mr Christopher Puplick AM, a long-time member of the NSW branch. Chris served as the Liberal Senator for New South Wales in the Commonwealth Parliament from 1978-1981 and 19841990, and was Shadow Minister for the Environment, Arts and Heritage from 1987 to 1990. He also served as the President of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board and was the State’s first Privacy Commissioner. In 2001, he was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, for contributions to Australian politics and public policy, particularly in relation to human rights and social justice. He is the author of five books and over ninety other publications and broadcasts. His topic will be “The Garter Knights of Richard III”.
Membership renewals are due. If renewing by post please ensure that they are received no later than Friday 9 October, 2015, or made in person at the AGM on Saturday, 10 October, 2015.
Even if you are not renewing your membership for 2016, it is requested that you inform the Secretary or Treasurer in writing, as a courtesy.
Keep the coming weekend, 19 and 20 September 2015, free for the event of the year: the St Ives Medieval Faire. Last year the Fair, the first time it was held, was a huge success and this year promises to be even better.
Jousting Tournament
The trebuchet will be firing again, the birds of preys will show what they can do and much, much more is being planned. I expect the highlight to be Jousting Tournament, where knights in shining armour on magnificent horses display their skills. And for those who wish to venture outside of the medieval period, the Routiers will present a Pike and Musket Drill.
Bring the kids, who will enjoy an extensive offer of medievally themed entertainments. It really is a great day for families to experience the past in real time. The Jousting Tournament is very real and spectacular action, beating any video game of today.
After all the excitement and a walk through the Medieval Village you might feel thirsty. The Tavern caters for the adult thirst. What about a 4 Pines “Sir Andrews Gruit” or maybe a “Mad Monks Mead’?
Of course attending all the attractions of the St Ives Medieval Faire is exhausting, so for the first time on Saturday evening there will be a feast as a unique opportunity to enjoy a full dining experience of medieval food and entertainment into the evening.
While sometimes in Australia, these medieval events can be rather kitsch, this one stands out for offering a real inight into the middle ages. Looking at the Medieval Village, visitors can understand how people lived then. And the displays of various aspects of warfare and jousting show the grimmer side of the times.
For the full programme and to order your tickets, go to http://stivesmedievalfaire.com.au/.
Tomb of Richard III, Leicester Cathedral (D Preis)
Thank you to our friends of the Canadian Branch of the Richard III Society!
They alerted me to an article in our paper, the Sydney Morning Herald, that SBS is showing ‘Richard III: The Burial of the King’ on Friday.
This documentary, hosted by Jon Snow, shows the Reburial Service, in which Richard III was laid to rest in Leicester Cathedral on 26 March this year. I was lucky enough to watch the service live on TV in the UK, in the company of other members of the NSW branch.
This is a programme not to be missed by anyone interested in this king. And a ‘Thank you’ too to Ben Pobjie of the Sydney Morning Herald, for giving Richard III a more balanced write-up than what is frequently found in the media.
The August branch meeting of the NSW Richard III Society was held on Saturday, 8 August 2015, at the Sydney Mechanics’ Institute. Chair Judith welcomed all members and visitors and introduced Christine who has volunteered to as Treasurer at the AGM in October with the election of new officers. Words of concern were expressed for our several members who have been facing serious illness over the past year and the sincere hope for their successful treatment, full recovery, and swift return to our meetings.
Those present were asked to stand for a minute’s silence to honour our recently deceased long-time active member, Johanna. The Celebration of Life pamphlet from her service at St Thomas Aquinas Church in Bowral was distributed to those who knew her.
Renewal forms for Friends and Members of the NSW Branch of the Richard III Society will be distributed by email soon, along with nomination forms for the upcoming election of new officers at the AGM to be held in October. Judith asks that you please complete and return your membership renewals in a timely manner, that is, before the next meeting. The fees will remain the same as last year, which is good news.
The annual service commemorating the Battle of Bosworth and remembering Richard’s life and reign will be held this year at the very welcoming congregation of St James Anglican Church, 173 King Street, Sydney at 11:00 am on 23 August 2015. Refreshments will follow the service, and members may go to lunch together nearby afterwards. The branch will arrange an appropriate contribution to the Church in gratitude for their hospitality.
There will be a Bring & Buy table at the 12 December meeting, so you have time to start thinking about what you would like to contribute. Prices will be very reasonable, and proceeds will go to the branch coffers. It will be a good opportunity to share books you will not be rereading, or give novelty Ricardian items a new owner. Please be prepared to take home anything that does not sell, however, as there is no provision for storage on site.
Our guest speaker was University of Sydney English Professor Margaret Rogerson who gave an illustrated presentation on her area of particular expertise, being the Medieval Mystery Play Cycles of York and the ways in which Richard III may have been a supporter during his residence. Professor Rogerson is the author of Playing a Part in History: the York Mysteries and many other academic papers on the topic, and kept us deeply engaged.
Member Jean shared with us her recent experience visiting Leicester. She related how welcoming the people were everywhere she went, how pleased they were to have tourists as a result of all the attention on Richard III these past two years. Jean visited Leicester Cathedral, the Visitors’ Centre (including the famous council parking lot where Richard’s body was discovered), and took the 2-hour guided tour walking around to points in the city with any connection to Richard’s life.
After the raffle was drawn, members enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea provided by Joan, including lots of delicious homemade treats that everyone appreciated.
The next meeting will be the AGM on Saturday, 10 October 2015 when the executive committee will be stepping down and their replacements elected.
Members of the New South Wales Branch of the Richard III Society ad their friends are invited to share in remembering Richard’s life and to commemorate the Battle of Bosworth
Refreshments will follow the service
The Richard III Society has published a 72- page record of the reinterment week of Richard III. This Souvenir Booklet is being dispatched to all Society members this week and should reach us soon. This will be invaluable to everyone.
Tomb of Richard III, Leicester Cathedral (D Preis)
The September Ricardian Bulletin, with the Society annual report, is due to be dispatched in the first week of September.
On 8 August 2015, our guest speaker will be Associate Professor Margaret Rogerson, who is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney. She has written many academic papers and articles about early English drama, with particular focus on the York and Coventry plays. Her topic will be the Medieval plays of York. Margaret is the editor of The York Mystery Plays: Performance in the City.
Our Secretary Rachel, Treasurer Judy and Webmaster Dorothea have all advised us that they will not be standing for another term on the branch Executive Committee. At the next AGM coming up in October 2015, all of these roles will need to be filled by other members.
Each of these roles is necessary for the ongoing administration of our Branch, and we are asking for nominations to fill these roles. All officers need to attend meetings of the Executive Committee which are held every second month before the General Meetings. The Secretary and Treasurer need to be full Society members. If you can serve Richard III in one of these important roles, please contact Chairperson Judith.
