day at the library

well nice staff here the people here been well into the romans have not stop with the q and a i hope we have show just how good the romans are the kids have had a good time

Ferronius

Tamworth

Well guys, this is me on my first official show & tell after 12 months with the Legion.  I’ve got to say its been a brilliant day up to now.  All the staff are really friendly and can’t do enough for us and the visiting public are showing genuine interest and are asking lots of probing questions.

Walking around Tamworth for lunch brought a few funny looks but hey, all in a days work!!

Anyway, my public awaits me, so from the first soldier to blog whilst actually on a tour, I bid you a fond farewell.

Aurelius Lucius Brutus.

Tamworth Library

Roman Tours presented an absolutely fascinating day for everyone at Tamworth Library on Saturday September 27th, 2008. Adults and children of all ages attended and were enthralled to learn about the Roman world and how the Romans actually lived. It was a superb day and very much appreciated by us all at the library.

Ian Burley.

Our new patron

Hi all, I know ita a while since I last posted but I have a nice little announcement to make.

You may or may not have heard but I can officially announce that I have secured us another Patron for Deva Victrix.

The person is a respected, world famous author and is very keen to work with us and has already said he is looking at coming to the Gladiator Funeral and Saturnalia, calendar permitting.

So without further ado, I’d like to announce that alongside our other Patron, Conn Iggulden, I have secured us a certain Mr. SIMON SCARROW.

The guy is an absolute legend and for us to have him with us is a massive coup and can take us that next step further than all of the other groups.

We are already good guys. We just got better!!

Onward and upward for Deva Victrix.

Valete,

Aurelius Lucius Brutus.

What is going on here???

CLEAN! suggestions as to what is going on, or being said please…. Remember schools read this blog also.

Marcus

“Unseasonal” Weather for Salt Day in Drotwich!

It’s been a fair while since I joined Deva Victrix for the trip to Rome, and after a busy season with Legio VIII Augusta it was great to see most the gang again when a small contingent of our legion came along to help out at at the Droitwich Salt Fair. As my rather dreadful pun in the title suggests, the weather was great – warm bright sunshine all day – not what we’ve come to expect in a year that has seen far too many outdoor events cancelled due to flooding, etc.

Whilst John and Nick Backhouse took it in turns with me to stamp Roman coins and to demonstrate our “Scorpion” 3-span catapulta for visitors, my lovely wife, Cathryn was kept busy all day writing visitor names for them in Roman “Vindolanda script”. She even found time to sneak off for some supplies to keep us going.

What a lovely crowd the people of Droitwich turned out to be! We’ve all done shows where the ice cream van has generated more interest than we have, but not this time: There were loads of really interested people asking all sorts of questions all day. This was certainly one of the best events I’ve done all year. Even the Children’s Roman Army seemed almost ‘tame’ – although that may have just been the rope barrier between us giving me extra confidence!

The media glory went, of course, to Deva’s own Marcus, who appeared in the Worcester News write up. But we can’t complain about that: After all, he was at the vangard of the coffee and sausage/bacon butty supply chain – which is much appreciated if, like me, you didn’t get a break all day! Maybe putting on some armour and doing the march wouldn’t have been such a bad idea after all… at least it wasn’t quite as hot as it was in Rome.

Thanks to Gittus for the copy of the “Trip to Rome” video. I will certainly try to make it down to the reception in October.

G. Flavinus Squamatus

Coh VI Legio VIII Augusta

Ya Raqs

I am pleased to say the EXCELLENT Ya Raqs Dancing Girls have at last caught up with the 20th Legion and got themselves a blog…..

It can be found here http://yaraqs.blogspot.com/

or via the link further down on the right.

Marcus Nepos

Back with the Legion

It’s been a long, long time since Rome now and A LOT has happened since I have been back.

Unfortunately I have not been able to partake in many Deva Victrix events this year due to work commitments. This led to me feeling slightly disjointed with the Legion. It was the wrong way to feel!

After joining up with the lads again for both Manchester and the British Museum I have realised how proud I am of the 20th Legion and how much I am a part of it! It has made me realise that we are a unique, highly professional and impressive group. Although we are still not getting the full credit we deserve I think that as Marcus has previously said we are raising the profile of the 20th Legion and Deva!!!

I am once again rearing to go, get back in the Seg and fight to promote our unique Roman heritage. Who knows what next year will bring us and Deva if the Gods look favourably on us.

Strength and Honour!

Titinius Felix

Our March on the British Museum

It was good to be back on the coach from Jones Coaches, especially to see it was the same coach used to take us on our March on Rome. Jones Coaches being the professionals they are, got us to the British Museum 1 hour early.

We had a brief practice, at our normal loud volume to announce our arrival, and in the forecourt of the Museum we sounded good. Knowing us we could have been heard in Tottenham Court Road.

During the actual drill performed in front of the Sponsors, 2 of us had technical problems with the over boots that had been worked out to protect the indoor marble floor from our studs, where we had to fall out of formation, or we would have looked like we were wearing flippers. Once repaired we obviously had to fall back in. All done with our normal High Standard of professionalism.

After escorting the Sponsors in to the Museum, we were on Guard duties throughout the evening, at various points within the Museum itself. I can say that it has been a long long time since I had to stand in one place wearing so much weight, and I now remember why I hated it, but saying that, despite all the aches and pains, I wouldn’t have missed the evening for anything.

Once again we have raised our Profile, and in front of some very important people and companies, I believe that we can only get better and higher than we are now, if we continue in this way, not only will we keep climbing a slippery ladder, but raising the profile of our beloved home “DEVA”

And to show I am not just saying how good we were, but below is a copy of the email send to Centurio in regards to the evening.

Marcus

Date: 3 September 2008 11:28:39 BST
To: <info@romantoursuk.com>
Subject: British Museum – 02/09/08

Hi Paul,

I hope you all got back without too much trouble last night?

I received an email from the client and they were delighted with your performance. I have attached part of the mail below but I wanted to pass on my thanks onto you for all your hard work in the lead up to the event and on the night itself.

I guess the greatest praise I can give you for last night is simply to have observed how the general public and our hosts/guests reacted to the Roman characters and centurions.

The Roman characters, horn players and centurions were fantastic. I would say they performed far beyond our expectations and were friendly, efficient and pleasantly ubiquitous. I must chuckle though as I think some of the centurions may have travelled home in full costume. Just what someone may have made seeing a centurion walking towards them (after they’ve probably had one too many) must have made some question their sanity at that precise moment!

The costumes were amazing, so authentic, and everyone conducted themselves in a cheerful, professional manner which made the event such a success.

I look forward to working with you all again,

Best wishes,
Karen

Karen Rogers
Jillie Bushell Associates
15 Claylands Place
The Oval
London
SW8 1NL
UK