New Stamford Society meet

Well, another wet weekend which put my plans for touting the new society meeting this Thursday in the village hall up the spout. Went down on saturday with my A frame, plus large poster, a satchel full of leaflets and handouts and bags of enthusiasm. However my timing was out, i set up at 12 noon and stood till half one, with the heavens opening up just as i got there. Did my best to engage folk but they were no walkers as such and those that did come just jumped out the car to use the loo or dash to the shop! no time or inclination to stop and chat about what we are doing. So went home wet and dejected and decided to come back on sunday, but a little later in the afternoon this time.

Sunday. Arrived about 2.30pm and the sun was out and my hopes were full of a good day.....by 3.00pm i was hiding under a shop sunshade to stay dry....., again any locals and vistors were in no way wanting to stop and talk and so i decided to give up and go and see Tom Wyles to get dry and chat over the meeting details. Lets hope the poster and web invites work better than direct contact, shame as it would have really worked if only for the blinking weather working against me...grrrrr

Wet Easter weekend

Well the easter weekend was a real washout. I had planned to go down to Stamford on the Easter Monday to set up an 'A' frame board with details of talk n walk tours, and do some on the spot advertising! But as usual this time of year we cant plan anything ahead or take for granted some decent weather, as it was Stamford was deserted, talk about a ghost town! So will keep the plans on hold until the first Sunday in May and try again....

Well today was the first 'public' guided tour of the battlesite at Stamford Bridge. I have done some previous ones, with pre-booked parties and even an educational one of 34 'A level' history students (this one was to cover for David Cooke from the Battlefields Trust who could not get through because of the heavy snowfall). Considering the level of interest from the way the leaflets have been going I expected a better turnout, the blog site advertises the walk for the first sunday of the month from April 2012, doing two a day at 12pm and 2.30pm. Two people turned up for the 12pm one, none for the 2.30pm one, however, despite the disappointment it went well, particularly when I showed them the types of weapons and armour the men would have wore, - it was a real hands on moment.

The weather was perfect and the village busy, next time I know what to do, with better publicity before hand and some 'A' frame boards at the Main Street monument and public car park, this way any folk out for the day can join in without prior notice. Dave Thurlwell from the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, Murton Park did me a real favour by lending me a typical shield, spear, sword, axe, helmet and a chainmail byrnie, - thanks Dave! Hopefully from small acorns large oak trees grow, so watch this space....