A successful show to celebrate 950th Anniversary

Well one week after the mother of all events, (in Stamford Bridge anyway), I have finally found the time to write up a post on the fantastic and hugely successful Battle Weekend Show on 24/25th September 2016.

 We can't go on without first thanking the weather, any outside event is so dependent on the weather, it can make or break it. We were lucky AGAIN! this is the 5th battle show and we had blue sky and sun most of the time, had it been the same weather as the monday after we would have had a different story, so once again THANK YOU mr weather...
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of East riding, Charles Forbes Adam offically opens the show and gets his very own honour guard... alright for some!
The two day event has took over 10 months to plan, with the last three months taking most of the time and stress to actually work out all the finite details. I think what we achieved in such a busy and at times a difficult year has been amazing and the team, despite some differences in what we wanted to achieve has pulled it off. It has been a very, very steep learning curve..
Thanks to Charles who enjoyed it immensely and took an active interest in our efforts and the history behind the battle...
However, I want to thank all those involved from inside the Society who, wrote, called, cajoled, persueded, and sometimes begged to get things organised, returned, ordered, built, and all the rest of the behind the scenes work that takes so much time, especially if you are also working during the week.. Well done to all.
Archbishop of York safe behind a wall of vikings. A big thank you to him for taking the time to attend and look around the event. Picture courtesy of York Press.
There has been great feed back form all involved, from the vikings who came to retell to story of the battle, to traders and other heritage societies and of course to the residents of Stamford Bridge and all the visitors from far and wide who travelled to our event. 

The BOSBHS wreath laid on the 25th Sept 2016, exactly 950 years from the day of the battle itself, thanks to Fran Wakefield, the village Rector for a service and speech and to Caroline Fox, Vice Chair, East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a speech and a wreath at the memorial.
We decided to go with this venue and format about 6 months ago, we took a huge gamble financially and in aiming to put on an extra special event to commemorate the 950th anniversary year. We also had Tom in mind throughout the planning and then the actual weekend, and I can safely say he would have been very, very proud of what we did and how we did it.
A very proud key society member, Steve, stands in front of the replica viking boat, all ready to burn. She was gone within the hour but so worth it! The children from Stamford Bridge school added to the colour by designing and painting their own shields...

 A part of what we discussed a year ago all came to fruitition and by the end of the Sunday night when the boat burning was in full flow, the sun was setting and the fabulous fireworks were exploding over head there was more than one tear in the eye...

 Here's some reviews and public feedback:

BBC Look North, click here to link and see a short film:   video
"Thank you for terrific event at the weekend that you and your team organised.
It was well worth the trip from Dorset and we were able to combine the occasion with meeting some dear friends and went with them to the event. We all enjoyed the whole affair. The camp, the stands and the re enactment were all excellent. My particular favourite moment was the address by the Archbishop. His improvisation with the re enactors was delightful. I participated in the 900th anniversary at Hastings, the events 50 years on are much more colourful. I don't intend going to Hastings this year. Good luck for the future."

"I just want to write a few words to “Congratulate” you and your team of volunteers on a well managed weekend. Spectacular in every way, and as a resident of Fox Glade an incredible sight to witness. Your management of all potential sensitivities as far as Fox Glade residents were concerned is to be congratulated as there were no issues.With best wishes for the future of B.O.S.B. Society. I was pleased in a small way to have supported Tom and your team, ...you have moved on to a bigger and better event, and what a tribute to you all and in memory of Tom. Well done and many thanks for a super weekend."
"Just to say thanks for having us along for the 950th anniversary of the battle. I thought the marque we had was just the right size and I think it worked really well. All of the authors really enjoyed the days they were there. I also thought the whole event was even better than last year and the new location is perfect. So, congratulations to the organizers - so, that'll be you then. I hope the weekend was a success for the society. My only disappointment was that I couldn't find anybody selling spear pies!"

 "...Wonderful, our family learned so much - it was truly like stepping back in time, many thanks to all for a very special day"

 "..the Re-enactment was great, I came with my husband, daughter and baby on Saturday and my youngest daughter came with her 4 boys on Sunday (you may have noticed a family with a helmet with horns - we knew it wasn't authentic but it did come from an EH shop!)"

 "Splendid, hard-working re-enactors at the Stamford Bridge 950th weekend"

"Thank You for having us at your wonderful 950th commemoration event  . A great success..."

"So friendly - everyone was so very happy to chat - we had a brilliant time"


"Really good pics"


"Well done to all. Xx"


"Great job everyone. Really enjoyed the event, was in any case well worth the trip over from Netherlands!"


"Twas a good day"

"...A big thankyou to the society and its volunteers for making this into such an enjoyable event. The 'camp' was fascinating, and folk were so ready to explain things, and despite 60 years of study, I learnt new things.   It was also good to meet old friends, plus those I only knew as contributors to one of the magazines.
A thoroughly enjoyable day, thank you!"

"What a fantastic weekend! The BOSBHS team must be so pleased that all their hard work paid off so handsomely."
I want to Thank all the following who in some way and capacity added to the production and organising of the show, a special thanks to the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu who attended on Saturday and gave a speech to all and then toured the show field, and enjoyed a portion of fish and chips too!

Rosti, Severfield UK, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys, Co-operative, The 3 Cups inn, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, especially the press and events teams, Willow Gifts and Post Office, Stamdford Bridge, Rockinghorse Shop, Fangfoss, Kay West, Mrs Gilbertson, Mrs Herbert, Mr Cockerill and Ardent Fireworks, Pocklington who ended the show with a totally surprising and fantastic fireworks display... if i have forgot anyone - please forgive me.

 Chris Rock Chairman BOSBHS

A note to all those so called "Yorkshire" companies whom we contacted many months before the show and asked for support and help (by either a small financial donation or material help). They either refused or didn't bother replying to our request, you should be ashamed that such an important and Yorkshire historic event was considered unwarranted for your support; our core mission as a society is to tell Yorkshire's part of the story of that one crucial year in 1066. It was a missed opportunity for you to fly the flag both for your company, your county and your heritage... I won't list you as you will know who you are.