You needed to be very brave to attend our meeting on 22nd September as there was the deadliest array of weapons on display as ever was seen in the Church Hall. The speaker was Paul Harding of 'Discover History', assisted by Helen Lee. The talk was on "The Battle of Evesham".
We knew from previous visits that Paul was always full of enthusiasm for his subject. Dressed as a 13th century soldier, he didn't disappoint as he gave us a blow by blow account, using authentic replica weapons, of the battle between the army of King Henry III and Simon de Montfort and his rebel forces, in 1265.
King Henry ruled in the same manner as King John, despite the Magna Carta and the barons began to plot to overthrow the King. Simon de Montford held a Parliament at Oxford in 1256 where the barons were able to air their grievances. The King was not very pleased about this. As a result, the two sides gathered in Evesham on August 4th, with a terrific thunderstorm overhead. Simon de Montford with his army of 5,000 lined up in the loop of the River Avon, while the King's army of 10,000 soldiers, led by his son Prince Edward, lined up on the higher ground at the neck of the loop where they had the advantage.
The foot soldiers with their crossbows began the battle, followed by the archers with their longbows, shooting 11 arrows a minute, and then the knights on horseback, in their heavy armour, who fought with lances and swords. It was a very bloodthirsty battle with a great loss of life. As might be expected, Simon de Montford's army was defeated and he was killed. However, after fighting for a cause he believed in, he is now known as the Father and Founder of the House of Commons.
As he was giving his talk, Paul had his audience gripped with horror, as he demonstrated how the various vicious weapons were used. The barbed arrows were particularly awesome! The Battle of Evesham came to life in our own Church Hall. We can't wait to see more of Paul's presentations of live history in the future!
Fifty-one people attended the meeting and Paul Share, the chairman, said that we had a very interesting programme of talks this year when we will be celebrating 50 years of the Romsley and Hunnington History Society in May 2016. There will be an exhibition in the Church Hall in July 2016 and Julian Hunt and Ruth Harper would like to know if anyone has any photographs of the village taken in the 1960s or 1970s.
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 27, at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Hall, when Andrew Hamilton, who gave a talk on the First World War last year, will give a talk, 'Stolen Lives - Individual Tragedies of the Great War'. Everyone is welcome.
Pat Evans