Reenact This

Every regiment in the Sealed Knot knows recruiting new members is a vital part of keeping the hobby alive, but there are other ways to find new people. Making our own for instance. Yes, you might say this week’s guest was born into reenactment, and that’s because he pretty much was! We’re joined by John this week, a pikeman, and one of the many members of the Sealed Knot who has always been a member, or at least for as long as he can recollect. We talk about growing up in the Sealed Knot, avoiding pike based injury, and what keeps John coming back year after year.

There’s a lot to take in for a new recruit at their first Sealed Knot Event, but as any member will tell you, a little enthusiasm never hurts. That’s certainly one quality this week’s guest brings with her, as Laura joins us as a very new member of the society. We discuss her first weekend with the Sealed Knot, navigating the campsite in a wheelchair, and discovering a truly amazing new hobby!

While most people might think reenacting is one hobby, in reality it’s hundreds of different ones all stitched together. This week’s guest Andy knows all about that since he’s turned his passion for reenactment into a passion for period leatherwork, which he displays for the public in the Living History areas at various Sealed Knot events. Andy tells all about how he found his hobby within a hobby, talking to the public on living history, and why Plague Doctors don’t get invited to many parties.

Finding the perfect role in a Sealed Knot regiment is surely the dream of every member of the society, but which role is the most important? Pikeman and Musketeers will debate this all day, only ever agreeing it’s never the officers. However, when all is said and done, truly the best of any regiment is to be found carrying a drum. You might disagree, but this week’s guest Jane will surely have something to say about it given she is a Sergeant of Drums. We began our conversation by finding out how long Jane has been a member of the society.

For many members of the Sealed Knot, a weekend of reenacting revolves around a battle from the English Civil War. However, not everyone finds themselves on the side of the Roundheads or the Cavaliers. Believe it or not, some actually turn up to make sure everyone else fighting the battles stays as safe as possible. Our guest this week, Dave Gill, is one such individual, having gone from fighting battles, to patching up the various injuries of combatants as a Sealed Knot Medic. We discuss firing muskets, patching up pikemen, and where to find the best view of the battle!

One thing members learn fairly quickly in the Sealed Knot is that there’s plenty of different roles to be played. This week’s guest Alyssa is a good example of this, having spent many years enjoying the relative comforts of pike pushing in the pike block. However, she’s also an accomplished horse rider, making her perfect for the cavalry too. We discuss the joy of carrying a pike, the excitement of cavalry charging, and find out which is the very best part of fighting a battle from the English Civil War.

Just as there are many different ways to join the Sealed Knot, there are many different types of new members. One that many will have seen through the years the is the slightly reluctant, slightly unsure, new arrival. Today’s guest was once a such hesitant new pikeman, unsure of exactly what they were stepping into, However, it wasn’t long before Jonathon Gregson, or Twiggy as we know him, was pike pushing like the best of them! We find out how Twiggy found his way into the Sealed Knot, his first impressions, and how he became a vital part of his regiment.