Team Falchion can now be seen regularly at the Tales of Robin Hood, on Maid Marian Way in Nottingham.
Richard can be seen most days, giving presentations, and talking about the arms and armour, whilst on bank holidays, various other members of the team go along to help out with fight demonstrations. Now, on most Saturday afternoons, the Team hold training sessions in public view at the Tales, and give demonstrations of our arts.
This page shows some of the activities we have engaged in at the venue.
This team photo was taken outside the Tales, by a certain Evil Sheriff...
This was the day Nick got Knighted. The Nottingham Evening Post were doing an article on us, and their photographer took pictures of the Knighting ceremony, and some close-ups of Clare, who was also interviewed for the story.
From left to right: Sir Richard, Mark, Nicky, Wayne, (Robin Hood), Toni, Emma, James, Clare, Sir Nicholas, Theo.
Missing: Gez, Daz
Hmm, the above shot was taken during the Evening Post photoshoot. Here's a more natural (i.e, less Addams Family) photo taken inside, the same day...
On Bank Holiday Monday, Richard, Nick and Clare presented demonstrations, talks and tuition to a busy Tales. Most of Richard's presentation "What Made a Knight" was captured on our video camera, so we didn't get many still photos.
However, two young ladies, Nicky and Toni, from Ravenshead, got interested in having a go, so when the crowds had died down, we gave them their first lesson.
In fact, they enjoyed it so much, they wanted to continue training with the team, starting the next weekend! Clare was quite pleased to have some more female fighters in the team, which will take the numbers to 4 out of 12 fighters.
The barstaff were dragged in to training, but they agreed only on the condition that they could hit Robin...
Over Easter Week, Richard was aided and abetted in his usual role of visiting lecturer in medieval warfare, by Nick. This double-act allowed us to demonstrate the method of arming a knight for warfare, as well as performing fight demonstrations, to help bring to life the actual techniques that Richard had been discussing.
Our first victim... er... demonstration mannequin... was Michele Walter from Australia, who was visiting relations in England.
This presentation described the process of armouring a knight for the field of battle, explaining how the armour was applied, why squires were needed, and what each layer of armour protected against.
These photos were taken by Michele's family and friends, and were sent to us by Michele, from Singapore airport terminal!
When 12 year old Aaron Goddard of Arnold showed a keen interest in our weapons, we decided to show him how we train new recruits.
To say Rich and Nick were both mightily impressed with Aaron's learning ability would be an under statement. He was shown three different weapons, and was soon performing blocks, attacks and counter attacks with all three! Normally, our team recruits learn the bardiche after three hours of sword training, and then the Talhoffer style is taught after the basics of two-handed style.
Aaron did all this in about half an hour of tuition!
So, we promised Aaron and his mum that we'd put the photos on the web, so here they are!