Contemplation

Salvette Frater,

” Its all gone quiet ” said Rhubarb

“Too quiet” said Custard

Well not anymore. I know that many of you guys see applications like Facebook and Twitter to be the main forms of social interaction these days but please don’t forget that this blog is equally important.

 

This was started originally to log our progress on our epic trip to Rome. It then continued in the hope of recording what we are, our Victories and Defeats. Our trials and tribulations. Our hopes and dreams. The story of where we are going and how we are getting there.

Do you not think that we are worthy of a story?

All the things we have done, are you not proud of them? Do you not want people to know?

Roman Tours Deva Victrix is something unique. An enterprise that I am proud to be a part of. If we don’t record what we are, we leave it to others to tell our story for us. For good or bad.

Do you want to leave to chance that someone will remember you?

That something you did that made you so proud would be forgotten or mistakenly attributed to someone else?

 

Record here who you are. Make sure of your place in the history of Roman Tours Deva Victrix. Do not fade into obscurity, write your place, so history will knowwho you are and that you were there.

Beataius Minervae,

Gaius Flavius Longinus

“On my own I stand alone. But I am Many. For We are Legion”

Music Dance and Death

Salve Frater,

Once again our main event of the year “National Archeaology Days”,  at our home of Deva, has arrived with frightening speed.

Once again we take to the stage of our Amphitheatre to recreate a small part of what it meant to the world when Rome reigned supreme.

This year sees the return of old friends in the guise of our fabulous dancers of Ya Raqs, the VIII Augusta and our newer friends of the Legio XX Hibernia and the Deva Sempre, all of whom do us a great honour with their presense.

This event plans the return of our Gladiators to the arena of Death, for a performance that celebrates our heritage and hopefully will elevate the importance of what we do for the City of Chester to its rightfull position.

As always the success of this whole endeavor rests on the shoulders of each and every one of us. While some have roles that are center stage these are of no greater importance than those who work in the shadows and ensure that what we produce is proffessional.

This year has seen an extremely frustrating battle, waged by our Centurio, against those who would see this event fail. At great cost both financial and personal he has ensured we have a chance to make this spectacular event happen.

Now is our chance to repay that trust and make him proud.

Cast all doubt aside.

Look deep inside, seek your pride and the spirit within.

Appreciate the efforts of those you would call Frater.

This is another battle to fight, another frozen moment in time, a shared experience, a reason to stand with pride and say “I was there”

When we share a common goal and take to ourselves the spirit of the Legion, then none may stand against us.

Come join us at the Amphitheatre this Saturday and Sunday and lets make some History.

Gaius Flavius Longinus

” On my own I stand alone. But I am Many for We are Legion”

London to Chester Chariots

Sunday saw The Emperor, the Centurio, Pheromonus, Ferrox,Decanus Caderus and myself travelling south towards the town of Milton Keynes and the Capital Londinium.

Our mission was to take the new high speed service from London to Chester, the following morning, in a combined promotion of Virgin Trains and Tourism in our Fortress home of Chester.

While The Emperor, the Centurio, Pheremonus and Ferrox sampled the dubious hospitality of London, Caderus and myself spent a pleasant evening bewildering the fellow guests at our hotel who were bemused to find a pair of off duty soldiers in the restaurant for dinner.

As we strolled into the station the following morning to yet more startled stares we were pleased to receive a warm welcome and after posing for photos for the Milton Keynes Citizen and a short video interview we joined the London contingent on the train home.

We arrived in Chester to a flurry of media activity, which seemed to last almost as long as the journey itself, before retiring to the hospitality of the Queens Hotel who were the sponsors of the competition we ran for the passengers on the way home.

All in all a pretty unique experience.

Beateius Minervae,

Gaius Longinus

Welcome to the New Year

Salvete Frater,

Once again we pass from the Old Year to the New, the time of Janus where we contemplate the Tears and Joys of the Past and the Hopes and Fears of the Future.

As the Sun slowly grows stronger and the promise of the restoration of the Light, made long before the Winters Darkness, comes to pass. We look now to the plans we must make for the New Year, the seeds that must now be sown that will become the fruits of our labours, the Roman Tours Deva Victrix Events yet to come for 2009

In order to succeed we need to grow, to develop and expand upon not only the Victories of the previous year but also the lessons learned from the mistakes we made.

We grow and change because change is life and the enemy of change is the enemy of life. Without change we stagnate and die.

We share a unique bond, a unique situation.

We are flexible, it is our greatest strength. Unlike the rest we do not fear change but embrace it

We Re-enact but are not just a re-enactment group.

We interpret, we entertain.

We ground break.

We are the frontline elite troops for Romans in Britain.

Where Roman Tours Deva Victrix leads others follow.

What we do others eventually copy.

While we must not fear to dream our efforts must be as one.

Common purpose.

Common mind.

For without someone to watch his back the greatest warrior is vulnerable to the lowest wretch.

Together as one we march forward into this fresh experience. Once again we feel the fire begin to burn within our blood, that same fire that welds us together Frater to Frater.

Prepare your weapons and armour, sacrifice to the Gods and when the call comes meet me on the Field of Mars at the fortress of Deva and together we will make the Empire live again.

On my own, I stand ALONE

But I am many. For WE are LEGION.

Gaius.

Marching On

Greetings Friends,

Its been a long and exhausting month which has brought both trials and tribulations and victories and joy.

The unit has been deployed to a number of events:

Chester’s Lord Mayors Parade.  Where we had the honour to march in the footsteps of the Mercia Regement who had just returned from duty in trouble spots abroad, each one a credit to our country.

Chadkirk Festival:  A fantastic event for all those in attendance, good weather the sense of Frater at a high and of course the Y Raqs dancers again stealing the limelight.

Birdoswald Fort: A long journey for the lads who made it but once again superb teamwork and flexability to produce a first class presentation despite the terrible weather.

Beeston Castle:  Although local still not easy and after such a frantic few weeks still heads held proud.

On the 31st of August we will be  at Ordsall Hall, a precursor to one of our most prestigious gigs of this year. For on the 2nd of September we travel to London, to the new Hadrian Exhibition to help host the special Sponsors evening.

After such a hectic schedule this one will test our metal, our commitment and profesionalism but I know that when we board the coach I will see the confidence, determination and pride that I have seen in the past carry all before it.

We Marched on Rome. Now we march on London.

 And after that Victory is won?

 WE MARCH ON. On my own I stand alone, But I am many.    For WE ARE LEGION

Beataius Minerva,

Gaius Longinus

Duty in the West

Salve Frater,

Directly upon our triumphant return from Rome I recieved my posting to one of our auxilliary detatchments to the west of Deva in the lands of the Decengali.

From the heat of Rome to a land of a thousand different levels of wet.

Have been given the task of upgradeing this facility, major construction. Hard work only brightened by the unusual good weather recently.

I’m due back at Deva for the celebrations for the Festival of the Goddess Minerva (my personal deity) on the 25th and 26th of this month and I’m really looking forward to it, a pleasant afternoon in the bathouse in particular. A bath, a massage, wine, women and some games of dice. That reminds me Marcus Nepos you still owe me my winnings from the game in Rome. I’ll collect  at the celebrations.

Beataius Minerva Frater,

Gaius Flavius Longinus

Another day in the Legion

After trying to navigate around Roma’s modern transport system, we finally arrived at camp @ 20:30. Some of the lads had a good nights sleep, the rest were kept awake by the snoring from the rest, one snorer per room thanks to Mummius.Food provided by the camp was excellent, and it vanished within 30 seconds of being placed on the table.
Brutus has topped up his tan as he arrived at 12 and had to wait for us, as they wouldn’t let him on site until we all arrived.all the lads were up with the larks and managed to beat the Germans to breakfast. Only the last S left before being ready for the off.
2 members of the legion tried to embaress the Legion by breaking their chairs, due to be mildly overweight.

The Legion would like to thank all our sponsors for getting us to where we are today, we will not let you down.

This entry written by every member of the “Victrix”

now we know how Varus felt

Lost in the culture of Germany and finding out just how the legions must have felt all those years ago.
Out last night to discover that here in Germany you can order pizza and spaggetti and have them delivered made of icecream.
Now we know how Varus got screwed over the Tutoberg Wald.
All posts may well be coming from Marcus Nepos’s account as internet connections round here are as common as furry frogs.
Gaius Flavius Longinus

Over the Top

Salvete,

My real name is Gary and I carry with pride the name of my adopted ancester Gaius Flavius Longinus.

As one of the longest serving members of this unit I have watched Paul (Ocratius Maximus Gittus), our Centurio, perform some apparently unbelievable tasks.

This adventure is his greatest miracle to date

My Centurio is takeing me to Rome, something I would have thought impossible only a month ago.

He (and his equally determined other half Charlene) are deserving of our most gratefull thanks for what they have put themselves through to make this happen.

We are now rushing headlong into this unique experience. Although worth doing for itself, we do actually have a job to do. Being the best we can be.

We now have a chance to show not only the City what they are missing out on but the chance to perform on a global stage.

Stand tall, stand proud. You are about to begin a new chapter of the Deva Victrix story. Lets make it a tale of glory that we can bore people to death with for years to come.

“On my own I stand alone, but I am many for we are Legion.”

Beatitas Minervae,

Gary.

Gaius Flavius Longinus. Decanus. X COH LEG XX v.v.