Spring is on the way and SCA continue to work towards some special community events. Do look out for posters on notice boards and around town, as well as local social media platforms for all information.

Easter Picnic and Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Monday 21 April, 2pm to 4 pm - Free
A ‘Cracking’ afternoon for the family (children under 12yrs), with an egg hunt, decorated egg, and Easter bonnet competitions! The bar will be open from 1:30pm, and families are welcome to bring a picnic. There are prizes and goodies for all children taking part.

Quiz Night with Pie & Peas, Saturday 26 April 7:30 pm
Tickets £10.
A very popular SCA event, with well-known quiz master Peter Hinde. Tickets available in advance from behind the bar at Ceddesfeld or from Pat (01740 620607), Sarah (01740 622185) or Peter (01740 621709).

Mediaeval Fayre, Saturday 17 May - 10am to 4pm - Village Green and Ceddesfeld Hall and Lawns
Dragons and damsels will be making an appearance in a big way! The fayre will begin with a walking procession - vibrant, colourful and lively, to include children from local primary schools, nurseries, and sports groups. The parade will culminate in demonstrations and performances, with Olaf the Ice Dragon and Princess Chardonnay and some rather large bubbles!

Two SCA tombola stalls, will be full of bottles, gifts, and vouchers (donated by very supportive local businesses), whilst around the green there will be various craft and gift stalls as well as the traditional fun fair. In the showground arena, mediaeval knights will demonstrate combat skills, local groups will do battle in the tug of war and a fantastic falconry display will entertain the crowds - not to be missed. There’s country dancing too!

Ceddesfeld lawns will be open, for everyone to enjoy. Attractions include Walworth Falconry, face painting, circus skills workshops, Chi Taekwondo workshops, ACLE and Escafeld Living History, with ‘Knights Table’ and displays. True North Trades (have a go at working on the anvil) and an opportunity to develop dragon training and feeding skills, is a new attraction for this year. In the main hall, a morning breakfast of hot sausage or bacon buns, tea and coffee will be served and a cafe in the afternoon. The bar will be open from 11am.

Business Community Support and Volunteers – Mediaeval Fayre 2025
The SCA Mediaeval Fayre is organised by a small committee, who wholly rely on local people as well as various community groups, organisations, and businesses to get involved; to engage and volunteer to help in making the event successful and sustainable.

Several local shops, services and groups already do get involved every year, which is fantastic. Without donations and sponsorship as well as practical help from volunteers with setting up, taking down, manning stalls, running activities etc, the event could not take place.

Please do get in touch if you, your business, organisation, or your group, can offer any help with the activities.

While sorting through some archive materials for Middlesbrough Museums, Lynn Lamport, this month’s Speaker, had come across a fragment of red military uniform which she was eventually able to trace to a young man who had enlisted into the Welsh Fusiliers; a 16 year old Shropshire lad who took the Queens Shilling in 1840 and, leaving his job as carpet weaver’s apprentice, was sent off to wage war in India.

In Cardiff Castle Military Museum, Lynn then found the diary he had kept from joining up until his return to Britain 20 years later. Lynn’s attention to detail is exemplary and she was also able to uncover many contemporary drawings, paintings and lithographs to illustrate the young man’s stories of his military journey through India, Burma, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He had married a young girl with whom he had 10 children and who accompanied him on his travels. Injuring his leg in battle he was eventually sent home and spent several years on military policing duties in Wales and Ireland, before retiring to take over his grandfather’s property business.

In her work to discover the link with the North East, Lynn found that four of his grandchildren came up to the Middlesbrough area to work and assumes that on his death many of his artefacts and mementoes were shared among his family and thereafter were donated to a local museum. During a chat with one of his current descendants, Lynn found something extraordinary.

One of her Great Uncles, her Grandad’s brother, had been married to one of the soldier’s granddaughters! Although she has no memory of that family, perhaps it explains her need to follow through and spend so much time and effort on investigating the Weaver who went to War. . .

Our Lunch Group visited the Green Tree in Tudhoe village for lunch this month. Another great venue and more delicious food! We are hoping to make a return visit later in the summer when Keith Simpson has invited us to walk the Village Green and visit some of the fascinating buildings he told us about during his visit in January.

The Photography Group reviewed wide angle photography and different picture formats this month. Come along to Ceddesfeld Hall on the second Friday morning of each month if you are interested. If you are perhaps thinking about buying a new camera, you might like to come along and have an informal chat with members of our group.
They’d love to share their knowledge! Our Monday afternoons, Bridge sessions continue and we have a committed and enthusiastic group who enjoy learning all the conventions. Tuesday evenings are for the more able player; do come along.

Our next meeting will be on Friday 4 April in the Parish Hall from 2-4pm when Bob Pullen will be telling us about The Brain and Behaviour. If you are retired or semi-retired, you are very welcome to join us. We look forward to meeting you then.