© Companions of the Longbow

News Update

Loads of news in this update. A  month has past virtually since the last update and we have had shoots and been on campaign to Crecy, Azincourt and Blanchetaque.

So happy reading

Andrew (AKA Le Chat)

COTL - Chairman

Le_Chat@companionsofthelongbow.com

Chairman@companionsofthelongbow.com

Douglas Retinue league

All the scores of the game etc are in the Retinue pages this week.  No pictures so not much to show here.  Apologies.

Click here to go to the Douglas Retinue pages.

You may have noticed for some time that a new shed was propped up against one of the trees in the roundel.  Was it every going to get erected, well last Sunday it was!  Thanks to Bob, Richard, Fred, Ade, Pa T-B the shed was erected and joined to our existing shed so that we now have a nice long shed to hold all our kit in.  Special thanks to Jane, Ma T-B, Anna, Kirin and Jenni for the the disposal of all the rubbish (there is still more) and the painting of the finished shed.  A good job well done by all involved...Thank you very much!

Sunday - 6th September 2009 - Shed build

Companions of the Smokey BBQ

Great turn out at the BBQ Saturday evening.  Plenty of us were there and also a few faces we have not seen for a little while, such as Alex and John.  Hope your arm gets better soon John!  Nick pop in to see us having returned from his honeymoon.  Kat, Colin and Mrs Colin turned up too.  It was kat’s birthday so we had cake too!  Nigel turned up with his girls, Rebecca and Emma and some bloke that Rebecca knew!  It was nice to see Alex, Joanna and Juliet Wright, it seemed like only yesterday we were camping with them in Crecy.  And finally there was Mark, only a couple of weeks before finally flying out to new Zealand.  A good evening was had by all, and for some later than others.  The T-B’s were late arriving at the shed build which was schedule for 10:30 on Sunday.  Pa turned up about 12 and the girls, Ma and Anna some time later.

And finally as far as the shed is concerned, equipment has been packed in to the shed and it is now nice and tidy.  Can we try to keep it that way please.

Saturday - 5th September 2009 - BBQ

Saturday - 5th September 2009 - Shoot Report

Saturday’s shoot was pretty straight forward.  Nothing too taxing and no retinue league or companion challenge just shooting loads of arrows as often as possible.  Pretty much started with target stuff ending up with a longer range shoot.  All in all a pretty satisfying day!

Earlier in the morning we saw Danielle shoot while riding her pony. See the photos that follow:

Wednesday - 2nd September 2009 - Shoot Report

Wednesday was a washout.  It was raining and very windy.  For safety the shoot was cancelled

Saturday - 29th August 2009 - Shoot Report

This is the first Saturday since our return from Crecy.  So it was a case of shooting as many arrows as possible in the shortest time.  It really was a case of volume rather than precision.  As the line went further back from the bales, the type of shooting changed from target to clout to long distance.  Overall, good physical work out!

Crecy - 21st to 27th August - Shoot Report

A great time was had by all that was there! So what happened?

Friday 21st - Arrived and pitch up camp at the football pitch in Crecy.  People took either the ferry or the tunnel.  Our ferry was the Norman Arrow operating between Dover and Boulogne and it was very fast, the travel time was only an hour.  Upon arrival there was a relatively short trip from Boulogne to Crecy.  Bob was already on site as he took the earlier ferry and had his van set up.  The supply Van was on the same ferry as Bob so Ade and Deadly were also in situ.  Having arrived we spent the next hour or so setting up our van.  I did whilst Jenni directed (no change there!).  The T-B’s arrived a day earlier than planned thanks to Anna having been accepted at Swansea uni.  (Well Done!)

Saturday 22nd - A slow day recovering from the long previous day.  Others arrive such as the Stuart and Nigel and Chris etc and we just hung around helping each other out.  We discovered the local supermarket and the French Baguettes.  Staple diet for the next few days me thinks!  A visit to St Valerie Sur mare by a few to take in some of the local sights and for others it was a day on the beach.  Not my scene, but each to their own as we took a day out to relax.  It was also the day where the Chairman’s crèche was established.  I entertained all the children for a few hours playing football etc.

Sunday 23rd - Fair day at Crecy!  It was an early start, we had to have the HAG arena ready by 9am and that meant we had to be there setting up by 8:30.  The day started quite warm.  As we set the arena up it was beginning to become obvious that it was going to be a hot day, and so it was.  We had an arena for HAG and for displays, so we could show off too.  Kirsi from the museum was in attendance to help with translations.  We were expecting here son Tom to arrive soon, but he had a late night on Saturday so he turned up late.  Things were slow in getting started but speeded up as the day went on.  It was not particularly busy, but it was very hot and the companions were beginning to tire with the heat.  Another factor with the limited number of customers was because we were placed too far off the central part of the fair.  At 5pm we were finally able to shut down the HAG and pack things up.  We were all pretty tired and needed to just chill out and relax.  

Scots evening that was planned for Sunday Evening was curtailed to Scotch evening were we chilled out by having a drinking session of Whisky.  Plenty was drunk by all and I can confirm that the bottle of Dimple went down well.  I was able to sleep like a baby that night!

Monday 24th - Monday was a day off, chill out, do what we want to day!  Some of us went off to Valerie Sur Mare for a day out.  We ended up playing Crazy golf which took a few hours and was loads of fun.  Others went off on their own.  Fred went off to find a relative who died in the first war and to see the memorial in the Allies Cemetery.  It seems this was a successful visit!

We all return back to camp by 6:30pm where we prepared for our trip to a BBQ arranged by our hosts, the Crecy Fate committee and the mayor etc.  A great evening where we were entertained by our hosts.  Drink and food was provided and we all made new friends.   We received an Invite back for next year and we discuss the position of our HAG for next years activities.  Another long day was over and another good night sleep was required...

Tuesday 25th - Battlefield tour day.  We all set out on the battlefield tour starting at the museum in crecy.  Alas Chris and Nigel hod to leave and they missed out on the tour.  So at the museum we had a chat about the battle at Crecy where Philip Preston explained how the French and the English came together to fight at Crecy and also about the battle itself.  From the museum we went to the battle field and shot a few arrows off.  We then went on to Blanchtaque to shot a few arrow there too and finally we met up at Azincourt, where yet more arrow were shot.  At Azincourt, we persuaded Juliet and Alex Wright to have a go and shoot a few arrows into the battle field.

We returned back to camp and I decided that Scots night could take place now that everyone was refreshed and able.  Sir William Douglas and Clarence argued as usual but finally agreed to elevate to people to the peerage.  Sir Fred for services rendered to the Scots crown (Bacon butties) and Lady Elenor La Zouche for being Elenor!  It was an entertaining evening!

Wednesday 26th - Anniversary of the Battle at Crecy!  Some of use went to shoot arrows at the battlefield or to be there as a mark of respect.  Others went to Amiens to have a look around.  The church there is bigger than Notre Dame in Paris and John the Baptist’s head was there on display.  Eurgh!  Despite trying to look very hard we were unable to establish the cost if the nice little candles, only the big candles were priced up! (Private joke, ask Chaton Blanche for more info).  That evening we settle down to a camp fire and general chit chat.  We tried telling jokes, but unfortunately the quality of the jokes left a lot to be desired!

Thursday 27th - Pack up and go home.  Last day at Crecy and the return trip home to look forward to.  Most left in the morning and as our ferry was late into the evening there was no rush for us.  However, our keeper of the purse managed to change the ferry ticket at my expense so we could get on the earlier ferry.  We ended up on the same ferry and the guys who left in the morning!  We all returned home pretty late, tired and happy with our activities in France.  We will be back to reclaim our lands next year...Images from Crecy follows.  Click here for full set