Field Testing the LEGXXXIII kit...

 At the start of August 2006 I took part in the Swanage half marathon to road test our costume on an official half marathon course (just over 13 miles over the testing Purbeck terrain - a round trip fom Swanage to Corfe Castle and back again...

 Here is the "before" pic, taken with a good friend and co-runner just before the start of the race. It actually displays the full (summer) costume very well, though the hiking boots I was running in are a far cry from hobnailed sandals! Obviously our winter kit includes items like fur undergarments, woolen tunics and sometimes cloaks too, as can be seen on the Stunts/choreography page.

 

 The costume held up well, though I ended up with simply my Segmenta armour and Javelin (+ mobile phone!) by the end of the race, having discarded the shield, helmet, cingulum and sword along the way...

(Shortly after this picture was taken, the elderly guy behind me steadily overtook me...!)

It's not hard to see the dilaphidated state of my kit in this "after" photo, as I rested up in The Anchor, one of Swanage's oldest pubs after the race...

 (However the four mile fun run (a standard circuit around Swanage) was a little more straightforward; no rain, and I finished in full kit this time round!)

 

Walk of Witness

 Good Friday 2006

Definitely a high profile day out, the Good Friday parade in Swanage required some soldiers to create its dramatic depiction of the first Good Friday.  Though legionaries in 1st century Palestine would more likely have been wearing bronze, leather, with not so much iron as we seem to be, the fact that our production was to be in the UK simply meant that it would be more easily recognisable, almost on a historically cultural level, to depict soldiers more like those who would have been involved in the 43AD invasion of these British Isles.

A tense moment brought to life, Jesus stands on trial before Pontuis Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea...

Forsaken.... The Son of God hangs alone on his cross, mocked by the soldiers and the crowds, whilst even the thieves hanging next to him join in the taunting shouts....

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Ham Hill 2007

Living History Day

The focus of the day's activities was the combat arena set up in the huge Stone Circle, erected at the start of the millenium. Three reenactment groups took part; Iron Age Celts, Roman Gladiators, and above, Medieval Knights. However, during the afternoon a fourth act was announced; Legion XXXIII!

 

So many people had spotted the two Joe's (Ardern and Roberts) having a practice fight session away from the main arena, that the crowds were beginning to think we were the main event of the day! (Our style is admittedly very energetic, however we were very pleased with the encouragment we got from some spectators, who thought we were outdoing the official acts!) In the end we were simply placed as the culminating act in the Stone Circle itself, where we proceeded to put on a 10 minute display that the officials afterwards told us was "the best of the lot!"

Practice really does make perfect!

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2008 Wareham to Woodbury Hillfort Charity Walk

 Pausing at the "Silent Woman" the two Joe's take some refreshment. The walk raised money for St Mary's First School in Swanage, where Legion XXXIII has previously entertained children with basic history displays on the kit and tactics of a Roman legionary (pictured below, member Darrell aka Brutus brings the Roman soldier to life for Year 5 & 6 pupils - 2005)