Newsletter Number 82
December 2003
From The Colonel
Dear
All,
This
is the last time I write to you as your C.O. but I know that I am passing the
regiment over to a very capable pair of hands in Martin and I hope that you will
all give him the help and support that you have shown me over the years.
Although
I am retiring as C.O. I shall still be your Colonel and as such will have
an input into regimental affairs along with all the other Officers and hope
that you will still feel able to come and talk to me if you have any problems.
I will continue to bring Concorde along with all the equipment and
Margaret will be there cooking breakfast for the troops.
When
we were at Cheriton in March we went through the calendar of events for the
season and only managed to come up with Berwick, Romford and Pulham but things
really mushroomed from there - we seem to have been away for so many week-ends
and it seemed just like the old days when we had a muster every two weeks.
I don't know about you but I feel totally exhausted by it all and should like to
thank everyone who organised an event for us this season, your hard work is very
much appreciated.
The
Whitehall Social Evening will take place on Saturday, 24 January 2004 and is at
the same venue as last year - Eltham. We have booked a group - different
one but same music. As the event is open to the whole of the Oxford
Company we are hoping for a few more bodies this year. The tickets are the
same price as last year, ie., £15 and these can be obtained from Pippy.
Sleeping arrangements are as per last year and if anyone has a camper van they
are more than welcome to park it in the car park overnight.
The
parade will take place on Sunday, 25 January. Form up will be in the usual
place at 10.00 a.m. (for Hoptons). The parade will take the usual route
along the Mall, Horseguards Parade and into Whitehall for the service and giving
of Commissions and awards. As I say every year, this is a MAJOR MUSTER so
I would appreciate everyone making the effort to attend.
Of
course you can make a complete week-end of it by coming along to the Social
Evening as well. For those of you without transport I will be at the
hall on Sunday morning (9.00 to 9.30) with Concorde for those who need a
lift to Whitehall.
I
am not sure if you will receive this newsletter before Christmas, but in any
event Margaret and I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a
Very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
Thank
you all once again for your valued help and support during my years as C.O. and
I look forward to seeing you all on 24 January
Yours
in Loyalty
George.
Editorial
Well! Enough if that crap!
Easily the longest season I can remember, and that’s
without me even going to the final two events of the year at Sheffield and
Bolingbroke. From the Scottish Border in March to the Dorset coastline in August
have we exhibited our particular skills to anybody wishing to watch, and
as the old geezer mentioned on the previous page with a muster virtually every
two weeks it took (if not exactly your breath) a large amount of your hard
earned readies! I’m really
annoyed that I didn’t get to Bolingbroke for two reasons, firstly there was so
much build up to it and secondly it was that old git George’s last muster as
our Commanding Officer.
It really doesn’t seem like twelve years ago that
‘George the Greek’ took over from Fred Palfrey at Whitehall much to my
surprise at the time because in those days there wasn’t a Soldiers Council to
spread rumours and the like and most foot soldiers were kept in the dark about
the machinations of the Officers. However here we are with ‘Black
George’s’ reign finally over and the ‘Bearded Wonder’s reign just about
to begin at Whitehall.
So then where are we, and what have we achieved under the
stewardship of ‘George the Git’ in these years; Well! Fair enough we still may not be the most
authentic of re-enactment groups but I’ll tell you that we have made massive footsteps
down that particular avenue in the last ten years and no small amount of credit
goes to George for his support in our efforts. Without old ‘Tearful’ we wouldn’t have any equipment at
any of the events; from the time when we had just a few soldiers tents to the
huge amount of Living History stuff that (he) we now transport, always at the
forefront of the Living History sight is that familiar greybeard hauling stuff
down from the truck or sometimes on top of it throwing stuff down (ok I admit,
normally trying to impale somebody!). Why does he do this? Christ knows, but he
does right!
So then! I don’t think we could have been plying our
Living History qualities to the standard we have now attained without that &£**!!d
in the black!
And another thing! Although we have not been the hugest of regiments in the ECWS under the zealot like control that
‘Adolf Arrison’ has imposed on us troops we have always consistently fielded
more than our fair share of soldiers, officers, cannon crew and baggage trayne
personnel. Our regimental numbers have never seriously decreased over the last
10 odd years and we never have any problems recruiting at even the strangest of
events! And what is Georgies role
in all this recruitment, maintaining of the regimental numbers, standards and
discipline. Well okay he doesn’t exactly do anything about recruitment, or the
numbers for that matter but he’s always willing to yell and bawl at other
people until the jobs well done. And that’s something to write home about!
But for me, the thing that has always struck me about
Hopton’s over the years (despite some wrangling with some (well alright one)
members!) is the simple fact that we have been such a crazy, happy, mixed up
bunch and had so much fun for now so long and that! I think is definitely a
testament to one Georgie Harrison, for over 25 years a member of our regiment
and for the last ten the Commanding Officer. Well-done Georgie don’t forget to
pack the van tidily for Whitehall now!
There you are then Martin, no act to follow!
But seriously, when it’s all change at the top, it’s
traditional for the likes of us editor type people to welcome in the new act and
help them in whatever needs they may have and in this case we are no different.
Really this should be as seamless as a pair of old fading seamless tights, being
that we are replacing like for like in that both the old and the new incumbents
are relics of a bygone age of man when beards were popular, shouting at people
essential and dying your hair grey was the pre requisite to being a leader of
men!
By the way Martin, don’t forget to bring an alarm clock
to musters in future for the early morning breakfast routine, you really have
missed out in so much fun in the past!
Whitehall then! Somewhere in this flimsy issue you will
find details of the Whitehall Banquet and Parade, I realise it’s Christmas but
if you could get the cheques off to me ASAP it does make my life just a little
easier, Thanks be to Dodge for once again organising the Saturday night, so I
expect he’ll want a pint or two in return.
See you after Christmas; hope Santa brings you what you
asked for. If he doesn’t then you haven’t been a good Hopton have you!
Dates for your diary
Obviously a little thin on the ground at the moment, but I
promise you I keep getting emails stressing that we do indeed have events lined
up for 2004 but that I’m not allowed to divulge any information at this point
in time. So keep an eye on the web site come January as that is where I
generally get things put out first. Apart from that hot off the press we have:
(Warning
Order Enclosed)
Diary of a Teenage Pikeman
Musketeer, Aged 22 ¾
Names have been changed to racehorses of 1857-1934 to preserve anonymity of those involved and to make the story more interesting.
Thursday
9th October 2003
Dear
Diary, it’s been a while since I wrote one of these things. In fact, it’s
been so long that I’m tempted to change the title to Diary of a
Twenty-Something Musketeer but I think it might lose the comic relevance.
Today
was the Societies Fair at the University, and I set up the Electrical
Engineering Society stand at 3pm after stealing a display board from Civil
Engineering. Stick to building targets boys ‘cos you can’t defend your
poster display hardware! At 8.30pm, the fair was finished and I was feeling
pretty shattered. Went for a few celebratory pints with the others before going
home to pack my kit ready for Bolingbroke.
Have
managed to lose the PIN number for my train ticket so sent a txt to Colombo at
midnight to ask him to go on the Net and get it for me. No answer, so start
panicking.
Friday
10th October 2003
Woke
up this morning with a sore throat but thought nothing of it. Received a txt
from Colombo to say he can get my PIN at 8.30. Train at 9.22 so plenty of time.
I threw the cat out of my room, gathered up my huge kitbag, removed cat from my
room again and went to wait for the 16 bus. No 16 bus, so decided to walk to
next bus stop to catch a 418. The 418 was crammed full of students who didn’t
appreciate me disguised as a homeless camping addict with no taste in wool
boarding their bus and knocking them over with my kit. If only
they knew what little I knew about what little they knew! Colombo txts the PIN
and I plough the students out of my way at the bus station. The FastTicket
machine surrenders my ticket without a struggle and I stagger up to the platform
to wait for my train.
The
rail network delivered me without incident to Kings Lynn station in just four
hours of reasonably heated comfort. I then wait for half an hour while Colombo
negotiates the lunchtime gridlock. An impatient bus driver beeps me for standing
in her way while throwing my stuff in Colombo’s car, so we cut her up at the
lights and then we’re off to Bolingbroke!
We
made it as far as Kings Lynn Tesco, where we stop to buy provisions. Got a bit
of a headache, so I stock up on Benylin, paracetamol and tissues. Back on the
road to Bolingbroke and we arrive in time to see Hyperion, Firdaussi and
Sandwich of Sir Cameronian Salmon-Trout’s Regiment struggling with a large
tent in the wind. Colombo and I decided to sit in the car and wait for the wind
to drop. After offering Sandwich some helpful advice from a distance, the wind
hadn’t dropped, so we put up my indestructible stealth tent (with special
“widow-maker” grey guyropes) anyway. We then wrestled with Colombo’s
awning, which desperately wanted to be in another county. Once that was done,
the uncontrollable shivering caused me to go for a lie down. I shivered in my
tent while trying to sleep for a few hours before heading off into the dark to
share a hot chocolate with Colombo. I was starting to get the impression that
something was not right with me, so I went to bed early in the hope that a good
night’s sleep would sort me out. I haven’t seen anyone from my regiment
(Lord Singapore Brown Jack’s) yet, but I think I’ve heard them.
Saturday
11th October
1am.
God, is the party going to go on forever? It must be Sunday night by now! Am
convinced that the landlord only possesses two CDs. Have decided not to listen
to people enjoying themselves while I’m ill ever again.
3am.
The generator had an irritating rattle, but fortunately that shut up at about
2am. This was followed by a series of loud conversations at 2.30am that were
typical of a re-enactment campsite. Still awake, but might pass out soon.
6am.
It is cold. I have put on everything I own but it is still perishing cold. I
hope that the three hours sleep I’ve just had will do the trick.
8.30am.
I troubled Colombo for breakfast and had a cup of instant tea. Didn’t eat
anything and the tea doesn’t sit well on an empty stomach. Having scrubbed the
fur from my teeth (why do I get this whether I drink or not at musters?), I get
my kit on and form up. I was the only Brown Jack amongst the Salmon-Trouts, and
they were getting impatient. They were complaining that Brown Jacks used a
different time to everyone else. Was feeling a little woozy so didn’t point
out that I was a Brown Jack and I was ready. The sun came out and I began to
regret deciding to wear three shirts. Suddenly, the weight of all the equipment
I was carrying caused me to feel faint so I staggered over to Melton,
Salmon-Trout CO and explained that I was going to lie down. Hopefully, this will
be passed on when the Brown Jacks arrive.
Having
ditched my kit, I fitfully tried to sleep while the Salmon-Trouts complained to
each other about the lack of Brown Jacks these days. The Brown Jacks turned up
and everyone was happy again, except me as I listened to them march off to the
castle. I tried to sleep all day, interrupted only by Salmon-Trouts returning
from the castle and then forming up with Brown Jacks again after lunch. The
battle was difficult to picture by listening to the dull crumps coming from the
castle, so I gave up because my head was spinning. The number of people still on
the campsite surprised me during the day, especially the content of their
conversations that I wasn’t listening to. Ahem.
4pm.
A nice day snoozing in the sunshine means I’m full of energy when everyone
gets back. I managed to eat a packet of crisps before donning my third shirt and
going to the Council of Warre meeting. By the end of the meeting, I was a
shivering wreck again (nothing to do with the meeting, I just ran out of
energy), which was apparently noted by some of my colleagues. Afterwards, I
excused myself from a hot chocolate with Colombo and went straight to bed to
listen to the party. Found original PIN number in bottom of my bag, but can’t
think why I would put it there…
Sunday
12th October
I
actually had a reasonable sleep last night, although the trusty grass-at-night
coloured guy ropes claimed a few scalps at chucking out time. I hauled myself
out of my tent to congratulate Lemberg of Sir Diamond Jubilee Donovan’s
Regiment on his piece that had been reproduced in the Parliament Scoute, as he
was eating his breakfast with Doncaster. Lemberg helpfully suggested that I
might like to come up to the castle for light duties, which sounded a good idea
to me. Cheered up immensely by the chance to actually see the castle, let alone
take part, I wandered over to Colombo’s car to trouble him for some breakfast.
Fully fed on past their sell by date sandwiches and crisps, I found my CO,
Galtee More, and explained what I was up to. He seemed quite pleased that I was
up and about! I had missed Doncaster and Lemberg, so I picked up my musket and
waited for some passing Donovans to show me the way to the castle.
Once
at the castle, I found a sunny spot and set about protecting the powder store
from incursions by curious children.
After
some lunch, it was battle time and I joined the garrison to fire volleys at the
Roundheads. My enthusiasm was somewhat dented by the fact my musket had a
hang-fire and I missed the entire early phase of the battle while I wormed it
out. By the time it was fixed, the garrison had marched out and I was left with
Persimmon and Blink Bonny of Prince Palatine’s Regiment to fire at will over
the wall under the watchful eye of Yorkshire TV. If anyone sees my diseased face
on the telly, please let me know.
When
the battle was over, we marched out to salute the crowd and then back in again
to lay a wreath in memory of those who fell at Bolingbroke during the siege.
Everyone marched off again and I was dismissed to make my own way back by
Doncaster. I managed to catch up with the tail end of the Brown Jacks and
Salmon-Trouts, where Sansovino invited me to fill a gap in the pike block. Much
better than walking back!
Some
furious tent-dismantling later, Colombo and I were at Kings Lynn in time for me
to catch the 20.26 to London. I waved goodbye to my friend, promising a musket
cleaning session at Christmas. I did feel that going to bed about now would be a
good idea, but that small mercy was going to have to wait until 2am after a
leisurely two mile walk home from Bath station carrying all my kit.
Monday
13th October
Dan
Trail(er) Blazing
Not sure how
many of you ordinary people knew of our little Officer secret as we emerged from
our little Officer tent (with such nice wallpaper) at Corfe in September. but
one of the things we decided to spend some of your money on is a trailer for the
Living History Department (hereinafter known as LHD). Well! At the time of
writing thanks to Ebay, Sothebys, Trailers International and a Dodge we are in
the final stages of purchasing just such a thing.
Now I
don’t know anything about trailers except I used to have one with a tent
attached (that was when people laughed at me!!) but the one we are going for is
apparently double axle and big and wide and pretty and just about everything
else a nice trailer should be. It also cost loads of money and that to me is the
important thing because if it costs a lot we can boast about it, even though we
don’t know what we’re boasting about. Once again (twice in an issue!) thanks
be to Dodge for his efforts in trawling through the internet locating said
trailer and organising the purchase thereof.
Rumours have
it that Dodge has bought a second trailer exclusively for his own collection of
costume dating from the 1990’s and featuring some staggeringly garish ranges
of ‘off the belly numbers’ in such a fantastic array of colours it would
have given Andrew Lloyd Weber enough reason to write another musical!
Pip
The Regimental Big Money Making Scheme
The Lottery and
Bonus Ball thingies will start on the weekend following the Whitehall march.
This gives me the chance to collect some of the promised filthy lucre with which
to fund it. If you want to be part of it, and let’s face it you have to be in
it to win it, keep some of your Christmas money put aside to give to me and I
promise I will look after it like it was my own. If you are going to join the
Lottery scheme then you will also need to sign a bit of paper to say you are
part of the syndicate as otherwise only the ticket holder doesn’t have to pay
tax on the winnings.
We
the undersigned are equal members in the Lord Hopton’s
Regimental Lottery syndicate sharing equally in all wins according
to the rules of the syndicate.
Pete
An apology
Every now
and again slightly more than an eclipse but non the less every now and again I
receive an article for the newsletter, it’s not as if I have editorial
discretion about what goes in and what stays on the cutting room floor. The low
down is, if I receive it, you can bet your bottom dollar it’ll go in, and
probably the very next issue.
So if I can be judged on those guidelines you can’t really blame me for not using the above article can you. I don’t understand it either, I’m not that sure whether it’s complete either but it’s all that came through the electronic post and it emanated from non other then the I.T. wizard of Oxspring.