WHO’S WHO IN GERARD’S?

Gerard’s is a regiment rich with interesting characters from the Commanding Officer to the Cake-maker General. Our youngest members are not yet walking and our oldest boasts that he has been alive longer than God! This page will introduce you to just a few of us but includes the all important Commanders - The people who do the shouting and make the regiment tick.

COMMANDING OFFICER - Steve Hall

Rach and I joined the Sealed Knot, and Charles Gerard’s, in 1995. Our first battle was in Taunton, where the camping wasn’t quite as well organized as it is now, and we ended up camping in the middle of Parliament! Our second muster was the spine tingling anniversary event on the original battlefield at Langport – we were hooked from then on in! Since the arrival of Dominic, this has become our family hobby and he gains as much from it as we do.

SECOND OFFICER IN COMMAND - Chris Jones

I joined up in 1994 after having bumped into friends from my days at Wolves Poly. First experiences include walking into a beer tent and feeling like I knew everyone; watching 3000+ people march by and fight the 350^th anniversary of the battle of Marston Moor; driving 450 miles to Fyvie castle for a battle in Scotland where the sun never seemed to set and the party never ended. I’ve lost count of the events I’ve done since and the hundreds of wonderful people (including my wife) I’ve met over the years, in England, Scotland, Wales and the Low Countries, not to mention the very surreal battle we fought in South Virginia, USA. All those years of fun and the buzz is still exactly the same. Nowhere else will you find the same levels of camaraderie and support, adrenalin and exhilaration, commemoration, new skills, knowledge and the sheer joy of “Knotting”. And I’m proud that our son, born June 2009, can be raised in the same spirit of adventure and tradition amongst some of the best people alive.

Chris “Splotte” Jones, 2iC.

WEBMISTRESS and TOKEN DUMB BLONDE - Lenny Ledgerwood

I was born into Gerard’s in 1981 – the oldest of the 3^rd generation of Budgies! I grew up feeling safe and cared for by the extended family that is the regiment and feel privileged that my daughters will have that same experience. As a child ‘knotting’ was the best fun – muddy puddles to jump in, loads of friends to party with, silly games and fantastic songs. As an adult ‘knotting’ is still the best fun – I’m still jumping in muddy puddles, partying with loads of friends, playing silly games and singing fantastic songs! Who says childhood needs to come to an end?

ADJUTANT - Cathy Wallington

I joined the Sealed Knot in 1987, for the first time, as a student and took a full part in the Regiment and social life. I spent 9 years doing several different roles, from camp following, drumming to live firing a musket, oh and even being responsible for the cash! I married back into the Sealed Knot in 2003, having had a ‘real-life’ break, and now take on a much quieter role. We have 2 young girls who thoroughly enjoy going to “Daddy’s Bangs”, as it is affectionately known in our household, and it is very much a safe and friendly environment for small ones (and much older ones) to play and enjoy themselves.

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, MUSKET OFFICER and REGIMENTAL NERD - Dick Porter

I joined Gerard’s and the Sealed Knot in 1989, having been press-ganged into the Swansea University 17^th Century Society the previous Autumn on my first day at uni. My first muster was at Margam Park that year, and involved large quantities of mud, beer, and driving home with the car’s fuel tank containing nothing but fumes.

After finishing university real life conspired to prevent me from attending events for a while, but since reappearing I have been promoted through the ranks — culminating in being given command of the musket. I also deal with the regiment’s membership paperwork, assist Lenny with the technical side of the web site, and behold the regiment’s quest to pack simultaneously as many people as possible into my tent.

MUSKETEER - Pippa Roberts (AKA Nibley Pip or Young Weevil)

Why did I want to join the Sealed Knot? Since I was young I have always loved the idea of living in the past, I love visiting places with historical significance it gives me a tingle down my spine and I always imagine what it would have been like to wear the clothes and eat the food etc. I sometimes think that I was born in the wrong century.

I went to see a Sealed Knot battle at Sudeley castle and I remember saying to my mother, “I want to do that”.

A few years passed, I finished school, went to college to study animal care and then go on to train as a veterinary nurse. When I finished all of the exams and study that had taken up so much of my time, somewhere back in my subconscious was this little voice saying what about joining the Sealed Knot. So I got on the internet and e-mailed some regiments. I got quite a few e-mails back but one stood out more than the others, it was from Gerard’s. It said that there was a member who lived but two miles away from me, it said his name was Splotte, a big ginger chap who drinks like a fish. “That’s the regiment for me” I thought, and the rest is history.

I am now a fully fledged musketeer and love it, I still get a rush of adrenalin every time I go on the battle field! Gerard’s is such a warm, friendly regiment, its like another family to me. Superb on and off the field!

PIKE OFFICER - Paul Murray

I joined Gerard’s Regiment and the Sealed Knot in 1996 after a chance meeting with Chris Jones in a Pub in Wolverhampton. We had been friends since school and despite the fact that I hadn’t seen him for a couple of years I seem to remember he had a filled in membership form with my name on it in his pocket. My first muster was Nantwich in 1997. I had been warned to expect freezing temperatures, rain, sleet and mud only to find my self sitting in a pub beer garden at lunch time in shirtsleeves in 70 degree heat in the middle of January! They say “the sun always shines on the righteous”, oh hang about I think Parliament won that day so that can’t be right.

I then spent many years working my way up to the rank of pikeman before finally being cornered and forced to start climbing the greasy pole to my now lofty position of Lieutenant and Officer in charge of the best pike block in the Knot. The high point of my time in the Knot has to be meeting my wife Vicky, well at least she says it has to be, and we now have two young boys who both look forward to camping at the weekend in the big green house as they fondly call the tent. For sheer spectacle and fun however the muster at Cheriton in 2005 will take some beating. Gerard’s pike block fought off a Parliament brigade all afternoon in searing heat and hardly had the energy to march back to the camp site after the battle.

CORPORAL IN CHARGE OF DRUMS - Vicky Murray

I joined the Knot back in October 1997, whilst in my final year at University studing History. Little did I expect that what started out as going for a drink to get help on an essay would end up 13 years later, married to a fantastic gentleman whom I met that night with two wonderful small children, Edward 4 and Henry 2, and some of the best friends a person could be lucky enough to meet, and honoured to call friends.

CANNON OFFICER - Gareth Warren

How did I come to join the SK?? Actually old boy it was a bit of a wizz. An old SK Gerard ‘Big Jeff’ also instructed ATC cadets which was what I was doing when the subject came up. “What are you doing this weekend?” he said with menaces. So next thing I know I am in borrowed smelly woolly things, a converted miner’s helmet, wiring gloves and holding a huge piece of wood. An hour and a half later I come out of this muddy scrum with a shorter piece of wood and no miner’s helmet and this same smiling giant says “sign here”.

There started the saga — them were the days — a shared large ‘officers’’ tent for the pikemen. A red caravan as the settler with a choice of a westlers burger with or without cheese! Also nylon doublets with stiff epaulettes and a wide stomach holding scarf. Cowbridge football socks, bright yellow nylon uppers and off white wool bottoms and of course wooden cloggs!!

Anyway enough of this old news this is all pre-war (and pre officially women on the battlefield.)