Living history
08.10.2013 12:46
People re-creating Scotland's past
By Steven McKenzie
BBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter
Hundreds of people re-enact periods of Scotland's history in their spare time. Why are they so fascinated by the nation's past that they want to re-create it?
Friends, Romans and infantrymen are gathered within the stout walls of Fort George, an 18th Century artillery fort near Inverness.
It is early August and Historic Scotland is hosting one of its biggest weekends of the year, Celebration of the Centuries.Thousands of people arrive to see re-enactors and living history groups portray life from the time of the Iron Age through to World War II.Children get their faces painted by Pictish women while people queuing at an ice cream van watch soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars drill in the fort's parade ground.
A Roman legionnaire, on a break from his duties with The Antonine Guard re-enactment society, takes to an outdoor dance floor with his wife while a 1940s dance band plays the soundtrack to the war-time years.Meanwhile, in the event's main arena, a group dressed as World War I soldiers open canisters of coloured smoke to help them explain the horrors of a poisonous gas attack.Other re-enactors include John Lyons, of The Historic Saltire Society and who is portraying King Robert the Bruce. There are also ladies dressed as elegant 16th Century aristocrats and even pirates.Later, tourists and re-enactors stand shoulder to shoulder at the fort's battlements to watch an aerial display by a Spitfire, the poster plane of World War II's Battle of Britain.
"I think that in today's age, groups like ourselves play a huge part in widening understanding of Scotland's varied and diverse history," says Kevin Grant, of The Antonine Guard.
"The internet has made information readily available at the click of a mouse, however, groups like ours and those of the differing time periods bring an immediate strong visual presentation and a lasting one.
"We feel we play a strong part in making history accessible and fun."
He adds: "On a personal level it also allows us to actually feel in a small way what it would have been like, in terms of wearing and drilling in the armour and just how strong and physically fit these men were.
"At some point in their life who doesn't want to be a Roman, or a Viking, or a knight?"
Kevin finds that, in general, people are surprised by how much the Romans and their empire are wrapped up in Scotland's past.
The Romans posted auxiliary soldiers from France, Belgium, Spain and Germany on the Antonine Wall, which runs from Old Kilpatrick on the north side of the River Clyde to Bo'ness on the Firth of Forth.
A unit of Syrian archers was based near Croy in North Lanarkshire.
"Some of the best military remains for camps and fortification are in Scotland and many important archaeological finds have been discovered here," says Kevin.
Taken from:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-23756794