Friday 10 January 2014

Northern Militaire 1980s?

While digitising family photos I found these beauties taken at Northern Militaire in the 1980s I think. The venue was Queen Elizabeth Court if I remember correctly. I've no inside shots just these of Viking re-enactors having a battle for the crowds and a march past of Napolepnic re-enactors.

12/01/14 Update
By the power of the net, I now know these photos were taken at the Swinton venue at Lancastrian Hall.
 









11 comments:

  1. I remember seeing a similar re-enactment at Swansea University in the early 80's or even late 70's.

    At this time they were a great crowd puller and something very NEW.

    As an aside Sue, my Wife had a blue Vauxhall Viva at the time. We have fond memories of that 'rust bucket'.

    Tony

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  2. That's some great stuff there thanks for sharing.

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  3. Thanks for posting that. I was there somewhere! 2 pics of programmes from '76 and '83 on my own blog here; http://deartonyblair.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/the-late-70s-my-own-history-and-games.html

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  4. Great pics would of been good to watch! Very unusual at the time I would of imagined.

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  5. I was there too, but I think its 79 in Swinton, only because of the dog - Smiley:)
    Still a re-enactor and still in the same Soeity

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  6. I used to go to Northern Militaire but i think it had moved to Salford by the time I started going. It still had Vikings (or loonies in linen as as I like to call them). It used to be my local show way back when.

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  7. Great photos, brings back many memories of my days in the NFPS :)

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  8. Had another good look, it was 78 at Swinton, as one of the lasses on there gave birth in 79 and her kiddie didn't go with her after he was born

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  9. I was there - the Viking with the raven's wings on the helmet. The wings were kindly donated by the Guiser Jarl of Shetland after he had used them for the Winter solstice festival in Shetland. Great times! Can't remember being there hahaha

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  10. I thought '79, but willing to accept comment from Sandieg above. Location is Fountain Square Swinton, Manchester 27. The square is the external public space to the Lancastrian Hall where the Militaire was held from 1975 - 81/2. It then moved to Oldham for a couple of years, where it was far less successful then back to Manchester;_to Walkden M28.- a neighbouring Borough to Swinton just a couple of miles along the A6 at the even larger Pembroke Hall (demolished about 10 years ago).It lasted here until about '88, Then to Salford College of Technology another 4 miles along the A6 towards Mcr city centre where it realy seemed on it's last legs and ceased around 1990. After a hiatus it briefly returned to Salford Technical College- (now part of Salford University)in the early 90's, but spluttered out after a couple of very weak years. John Leigh was indeed the brains behind it and the main organiser - he worked at Chloride Industrial Batteries with my father, and used to always get me complimentary tickets. Programmes were printed by a chap called George( another Chloride Industrial Batteries employee) who also ran a wargame figures shop called 'HillTop Command Post' (also in neighbouring Walkden) stocking mainly Hinchcliffe 25mm He had a small printing press in the back of the shop and was always late with the goods - often arriving un-stapled too. My abiding memory of the Militaire was being allowed after school to go along and help set up Peter Gilder's Gettysburg game on the big stage of the main hall in '78 after it had featured in Edward Woodward's TV show 'Battleground' earlier that year. As I write I see the Lancastrian Hall is derelict and no doubt awaiting the funds to demolish it. It always strikes me that such an event would seem so alien today and no doubt health and safety and political correctness would have the hordes picketing it and every ne'er do well with a claims form for 'personal / emotional trauma injury' sustained by the firing of a large cannon on the hour every hour, clogging the routes to the legal aid centre. ( you could feel that cannon right through your chest cavity from 100 yards away- marvelous!), yet I remember having to queue right out to the far edge of the pavement of the A6 to get in early on a Saturday, so massively popular was the event in its day. Different world, it really is. Mike.

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