Members – Meet our committee members

After many years in re-enactment ( I started over 30 years ago on and off). I wanted to do something different for the re-enactment community and our world. It all pivoted around skills and education.

Born pre pandemic The Militias of Anglia is a not for profit organisation specialising in complementing any 17 th Century Re-enactment or Living History display event. We started with 9 interested souks conducting drill exercises on a Heath with the intention of delivering trained men to the battlefield.

The Militias of Anglia is dedicated to creating historical experiences that engage, educate, entertain, empower and enrich. Working with schools, museums within the East Anglia Region and event/festival organisers and other re-enactment societies across the UK

I started my 17th Century rennactment journey with a simple conversation born out of curiosity back in 2015.

I had alway had a keen interest in history, starting out attending 1940s events, becoming an avid lindyhopper (which I still am to this day). It was during such an event I met a lady who introduced the idea of 17th Century rennactment. ‘How do I get to do that then?’ . She remains a very dear friend to this day.

From this conversation, it was not long before I was offered a guest pass for the weekend to ‘give it a go’ as it where, and see what rennactment was all about.

As I arrived, I was greeted by friendly faces and lots of offers to help pitch my tent. It wasn’t long before I was sat around a fire sharing a drink and getting to know people. As the morning arrived, I was approached by a man asking me, ‘do you recal what you asked last night?. I was a little perplexed at first, then i was reminded that I had shown eagerness towards firing a canon. Well, before I knew it, I was handed a pile of kit and given 30 mins to get dressed and meet up by the canon for an induction. Who would have thought it, my first muster and I fired a canon?- just wow!

Years on, I have beed affiliated with several groups, tried other areas of rennactment to include musket and more over, living history, which I just love!

I was introduced to TMOA back in 2021 at a small event in Thriplow as a guest of a member. I was made to feel very welcome and have been an active member ever since.

My advice would always be to ask, have a conversation and ask questions. The renneactment community is a wonderful mixture of people, different skill sets and ongoing opportunities to learn new and wonderful things. If you have ever been curious- just do it!