I have been studying the new primary curriculum and intend over the next couple of weeks to re-write the web site pages to reflect how my characters will work within it.

The good news is that there is not only scope for inclusion of my characters, but that they seem to fit the new history and literacy curriculum better than before! Sir William Petty is obviously going to remain in demand, as the Great Fire of London is actually mentioned as an example of a significant national event in the Key Stage 1 History Curriculum document.

Guy Fawkes is also key to an event “beyond living memory that is significant nationally,” so he will continue to keep me busy in October and November.

My pirate Captain Burwash and the highwayman John Nevison remain great characters for literacy topics (in Key Stage 1 and 2 respectively). Highwaymen and pirates were never in the old history curriculum, but lots of schools use pirates, or the sea, for topic work to inspire literacy and other areas of learning, and the highwayman poem should remain a very popular piece for Key Stage 2 literacy work. There is also mention in the new Key Stage 2 curriculum of possibly studying “crime and punishment” through history, and my highwayman character certainly shines a light on the seventeenth century aspect of that particular topic.

My English Civil War characters will be of good use for Key Stage 1, especially as part of the Key Stage 1 study of “significant historical events, people and places in their own locality”. A LOT of Yorkshire schools are near a castle or battlefield from the Civil War – that’s an event and a place of local significance. In the Key Stage 2 curriculum it again mentions a local history study from beyond 1066, but also requires a study of some history extending beyond 1066 – both of these studies could happily involve the English Civil War.

As for Captain Eynos, my late Elizabethan character, he will still be great as a stand-alone character for inspiring motivated literacy work – the creation and recording of an exciting adventure story. More than this, as he is a contemporary of Sir Francis Drake, having all the right costume and artifacts for the period, I am now working on the creation of a new character – one of Drake’s crew who circumnavigated the globe with him on the Golden Hind. This very neatly fits the Key Stage 1 history curriculum requirement for “significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements”. One example the document gives is a comparative study of Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong, but this works just as well with Sir Francis Drake as the earlier adventurer. Already one school has booked me for their “To Infinity and Beyond” topic as Drake’s sailor. You can’t go much further on the earth than all the way around it!

I am very excited about the new academic year, and look forward to visiting schools old and new in my various guises.

Skipton again! What I mean is another post about my Skipton Easter weekend, not that I have been again. I am going again, three more times in three different guises this summer, but this is still about the last visit.

These images are from the ‘unofficial’ pictures of the weekend, taken by Ruth. There weren’t that many (managing two little boys somewhat distracted her), and they were all taken during one conversation with one family. When I saw them I was surprised to see just how many different expressions I unconsciously employ when telling historical stories.

If this is all from a few moments, I dread to think what umpteen other, stranger expressions I employ during an entire day of conversation. (Also, I wonder, does anyone really like seeing pictures of themselves?)

My two little boys obviously found my stories amusing.

This last weekend, I was demoted from Governor of Skipton Castle, to a mere soldier of the garrison at Sandal Castle. Quite a transformation, certainly in terms of the amount of silk, black-work, braid and lacy bits!

Although I play my Civil War characters less than my others, I do very much enjoy them, and at the moment am learning all about the battle of Naseby for a future booking. Imagine having to read history books. Bliss!

Click on the following link to find out more about the Civil War Castle Governor.

It may have been Easter but the sun shined like Summer last weekend for my weekend at Skipton Castle as Colonel Sir John Mallory. As usual I very much enjoyed myself, talking to folk from beginning to end of my two days. We had some great enacted stories, with some dramatic ‘deaths’ from the children actors, although I have to say trying to teach 24 children in 4 ranks of 6 how to counter-march was somewhat difficult! Maybe if I had several months to do I could get results!

I perused maps, demonstrated musket drill, described this siege and that battle, talked about fashion (in both clothes and tactics), and on the Monday I even had interest in my collar – close up photographs, the lot! I think the images may even be going into a little magazine.

Here is an ‘official’ photo taken at the end of the day (thank you Sebastian) in which I am proudly wearing my new scarlet silk scarf. It wasn’t difficult to hand stitch, but at a good 12 feet long, it did take a bit of time!

 
Click on the following link to find out more about the Civil War Castle Governor.
 

I wanted to show you some dramatic pictures created by children during ‘wet play-times’ and then given to me when I return to continue the session with them. Obviously caught up in the story of the Great Fire, they felt the need to commit to paper the images conjured in their minds by the tale I tell.

Here you can see the fire taking hold of one house, as thick black smoke pours from one side and the slate roof turns red with the heat!

In this picture you can see a house of the better sort, a mansion house by my reckoning, engulfed by the fire. Also, if you look closely you can see a very foolish fellow standing a little too close. I am surprised he looks so composed.

This is my favourite image, one drawn on two sheets of paper which were then cunningly fastened together to become one long strip. It depicts the River Thames crowded with boats, wherries and barges as people attempt to escape the fire with their possessions.

I do believe these would make great illustrations for a poem from the time:

Great London that hath stood in state

Above six hundred years

In six days’ space

Woe and alas

Is burned and drowned in tears

Note: I suppose ‘In four and a bit days’ space wouldn’t have worked so well. The author must have applied for a poetic licence 🙂

Recently Sir William Petty met with a large company of artists who were kind enough to sketch a multitude of portraits for him so that he could decide which sort of portrait he wanted.

Here I present the many faces of Sir William …

Isn’t it interesting how this eye witness of the Great Fire of London looks so different through different witnesses eyes?
Click on the following link to find out more about Sir William Petty and the Great Fire of London.

Next time, some pictures of the raging fire drawn by inspired artists during ‘wet play times’.