Admire the view from Hadrian’s Wall in 360

A little while ago a photographer from the Telegraph asked me if I could stand still for a minute or two.

Well it wasn't easy but this little film was the result - Enjoy!

still famous...

Over a year since my last post - must do better!!
Here we are on You Tube again, this time courtesy of English Heritage at Housesteads

...and thanks to Stoneraise Primary School too!  Well Done Everyone!

Discovery Visits are running at Housesteads

April is the start of the Discovery Visits at Housesteads, Victor the Veteran will be there tomorrow for the first 'Meet a Roman Soldier' workshop.  I'll be running them all Summer, if you want more details use this link - Meet a Roman Soldier - it takes you to the EH page, you will need to book these workshops through English Heritage, the booking information is on the right of the page.
I know it says "meet with Roman Officer Centurion Maximus", but he's been posted elsewhere!

Rufus Aelius Victor with some recent voluntari

I am listed with English Heritage as an "Approved Educational Provider", so I can offer this workshop at other sites, but the arrangements are different, please contact me for details.

Roy
mob:  07960 125218  (please leave a message, Romans' can't always answer the phone!)
e-mail:  rlwsn@btinternet.com

Images from Discovery Visits

Both Chesters and Housesteads have Facebook pages - occasionally there are images of the Discovery Visits.
This one is of a Testudo at Housesteads and this one in from today's Voluntarii at Chesters 
Enjoy...

Comments from a Discovery Visit at Housesteads

I've delivered quite a few "Meet a Roman Soldier"  Discovery Visits at Housesteads this term.  This primary school from County Durham were so enthusiastic and the Teacher had such nice things to say, that I just had to share.

Thanks very much for the kind words.

Thank you so much for a lovely day at Housesteads. My class thoroughly enjoyed such an informative and exciting opportunity to learn how to be a Roman soldier. It was educational and fun and pitched at just the right level for an excitable group of 7-year olds. I don't think they even noticed that it was raining all day! Your knowledge and enthusiasm made Housesteads come alive for the children and I know that the parents who came with me were as impressed as I was at the high level of subject knowledge and the Latin drill commands too.

We all had a great day and I will certainly try to organise this again next year (hopefully in better weather!)

Discovery Visits 2013

The Discovery Visits at Housesteads are beginning after Easter this year.

MEET A ROMAN SOLDIER

Explore Roman military life and discover how the building of Hadrian's Wall affected the local population in remarkably different ways. Meet Roman Officer Centurion Rufus Aelius Victor and discover what life was like on the frontier. Take on the role of a recruit and be taken through duties using drama and role play. Recruits will tour both inside the fort and the remains of the settlement beyond, using replica and real artefacts found near Hadrian’s Wall to find out about the lives of the soldiers and civilians who lived at Housesteads

When: By arrangement Tue & Wed Term-time April - September

Length: 1.5 hours

for more info and How to book
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/education/discovery-visits/housesteads-roman-fort/

Tempus Fugit...

Time really does flee - the more literal translation of Tempus Fugit is 'time flees', rather than the more usual 'time flies'. The first recorded use is  in Virgil's Poem, Georgics  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgics if you  want to know more).

To round up last Autumn  -  quite busy, if a little wet and windy!

Heritage Open Days at Vallum Farm,
about 200 metres from Milecastle 18 on Hadrian's Wall

Gorgeous ice cream - check out  Vallum Farm

Epiacum,
 3 fun packed schools activity days in September

although it did rain a little...

Add to this plenty of Discovery Visits at Housesteads, a Pirate Day and celebration of Saturnalia at Bede's World.

Now I'm looking forward to 2013.

LOOK FIERCE!, he said, SNARL!!!!!

here are a few of the images from the recent photo shoot at Housesteads

Think  'Clash of the Titans' he said...

...and the photographer said "just run towards me, it'll be fine..."

I am Sparticus....
No! I am Sparticus,
I am Sparticus...

I really need to work on that snarl, no wonder the Vikings were so feared

Thanks go to the photographer Andrew Heptinstall and to Gardiner Richardson for the images.  I'm still waiting for the one of us doing press-ups!

A Roman, a Viking and a Medieval Knight all got together one day at Housesteads......

...sounds like the start of one of those old jokes, but this motley crew was joined by a Gladiator for a photo shoot to support English Heritage's summer events programme.
Thanks to photographer Andrew Heptinstall for this image   http://andrewheptinstall.com

waiting for the photos...

Imagine that - a Viking, a Gladiator, a Knight and an Roman, all at Housesteads and all doing press-ups!  A photo opportunity like no other and all for the launch of English Heritage's programme of Summer Events.  As soon as I have an image or a link, I'll post it so you can all have a laugh.  I'm not very good at this snarling business!!

Roman Roadshow CANCELLED

The Teacher Twilight event at Housesteads Roman Fort has been cancelled - only 2 teachers could make it! Hopefully English Heritage will be able to run it sometime in the future, if they do I'll post the details.

Teacher Twilight Event at Housesteads Roman Fort

Do you want new ideas on teaching the Romans? Do you want to meet experts who can bring the history of Hadrian’s Wall to life? If so, English Heritage would like to invite you to our FREE teacher's twilight event. Discover what exciting offers are available from attractions along the Wall.
Have a look at the Teachers Event Flyer for more information and how to book your place.
Hope to see you there.

Did the Romans do the Olympics?

The Olympic Torch made a little detour from the pre-planned route today for a quick visit to Housesteads Roman Fort.  Deftly finding a gap in the rain, Charlotte Proud from Gateshead, nimbly dashed past Rufus Aelius Victor who just happened to be on guard duty near the north wall - well there you go!

Roman Roadshow Teachers Event - 27th June 2012

Come and find out how we can help you teach the Romans.

English Heritage are hosting a Teachers Event at Housesteads Roman Fort.  In partnership with The Deja Crew, Vindolanda, Segedunum, Arbeia, Hexham Abbey and others, we aim to Engage, Enthrall and Educate.
The event will be from 4:00 to 6:00pm on Wednesday 27th June at Housesteads Roman Fort and is FREE to attend.
 It's essential you contact Zoe Spring (01904 601962 or zoe.spring@english-heritage.org.uk) if you want to come along.
I'll post more details soon

Discovery Visits 2012

The Discovery Visit season for English Heritage is off to a fine start.  Despite the Winter closures we've had half a dozen groups already.  There have been a couple of changes, there's only myself delivering the workshop now and the 'Discovery Visit' is only available at Housesteads, there are now different arrangements for Chesters.  However your school can still book for

Meet a Roman Soldier - Housesteads

Explore Roman military life and discover how the building of Hadrian's Wall affected the local population in remarkably different ways. Meet Roman Officer Centurion Maximus and discover what life was like on the frontier. Take on the role of a recruit and be taken through duties using drama and role play. Recruits will tour both inside the fort and the remains of the settlement beyond, using replica and real artefacts found near Hadrian’s Wall to find out about the lives of the soldiers and civilians who lived at Housesteads

   http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/education/discovery-visits/housesteads-roman-fort/    

for details and how to book

For educational visits to Chesters Roman Fort, there is the option of working with me as an 'Approved Educational Provider'.  Contact English Heritage directly on the new Bookings Number 0870 333 0606
they will pass on my contact details and we can arrange your sessions
(please note: the prices quoted on the EH website do not apply to workshops arranged this way)

Discovery Visits 2011

The Discovery Visits at Housesteadsand Chesters have begun again. The first one was on Valentine's Day - 14th February, when 55 children from Tyneside donned their tunics and joined the 'First Tungrians' for the day. It only snowed at little! More are booked after Easter, when hopefully the weather will warm up a little.

for more info or to book a workshop - http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/education/discovery-visits/housesteads-roman-fort/
or
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/education/discovery-visits/chesters-roman-fort/

Discovery Visits on Hadrian's Wall

For the last two years Maximus (Steve Richardson - http://maximusvi.terapad.com/ ) and myself have provided Discovery Visits for the English Heritage sites at Housesteads and Chesters. This year promises to be our busiest yet.
In costume, we explore Roman military life and discover how the building of Hadrian's Wall affected the local population. The Centurion Maximus or the Evocati Maximus Secundus will help the new recruits take on their role and explain their duties as soldiers of the Roman Empire. Recruits will be drilled and trained, before being shown the inside of the fort.
We use costume and objects, both real and replica to help immerse the childen in the experience and we hope to provoke curiosity about life on the edge of the Roman Empire.
Our first visits are as the weather picks up, towards the end of April and we are busy well into June.

For more details and how to book a Discovery Visit to Housesteads or Chesters, visit the Englilsh Heritage website at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.19524