News and Updates | Tha Engliscan Gesithas

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The English Companions sitting around a table for their annual feast and AGM — Gesithas in Tamworth for their Feast and AGM

The English Companions held its annual Symbel (Feast) and Folcgemot (AGM) on 14^th September in Tamworth. We have been meeting in Tamworth for the last few years, celebrating the Mercian Royal Centre and enjoying the exhibition in Tamworth Castle with loan items from the Staffordshire Hoard on display in a “mead-hall” room. We enjoyed eating together, hearing poetry and stories, and also taking a look back at the past year and a look forward to the coming year.

with a number of visitors talking to the Companions, doing crafts and reading displays — Companions’ tent at Stamford Bridge

On 28^th September our Yorkshire group was able to join in the Battle of Stamford Bridge event organised by the local Heritage Society. After a few days of heavy rain we were relieved that even the sun seemed to want to join in, and we had a very busy day running craft activities and talking to visitors about Anglo-Saxon history and culture. In fact we were so busy we ran out of craft materials! This event is a wonderful chance to talk to people about this very important battle and the effect it had on the later, better known, battle at Hastings.

The Yorkshire Gesithas are now planning ahead for the Battle of Byland event at the Sutton Bank Visitor Centre on the North Yorkshire Moors on 13^th October. The Battle of Byland also took place on the 14^th October, the same day as the Battle of Hastings, and at the event we talk to people about the changes in military tactics and equipment between the two, as well as discussing anything and everything Anglo-Saxon that visitors are interested to ask about!

Calendar cover for 2025 showing obverse and reverse sdes of the York gold thymsa — Companions’ Calendar 2025

Our 2025 calendars are still available. Members can find details about how to order in Wiðowinde, or you can contact us via the contact page for information on ordering. The calendars cost £6 each but postage costs vary according to where you live, with examples of costs of calendar + postage below:

Postage for the UK is £9.19 for 1 calendar, £15.19 for 2 calendars and £21.19 for 3 calendars.

For Europe the cost of 1 calendar plus postage is

£11.55 in Zone 1 (Denmark, France and Germany)
£12.05 in Zone 2 (Austria)
£12.45 in Zone 3 (Switzerland).

For the Rest of the World the cost of 1 calendar plus postage is £13.45 in all zones.

You can also pick up calendars at our events, and avoid postage costs.

Companions’ Events in 2024

We hope to meet as many visitors as possible at one of our events to chat about Anglo-Saxon history, language and culture:

Battle of Hastings Wreath Laying, Hastings, 13 October, details of arrangements in Wiðowinde for members; this is also the battle re-enactment weekend by English Heritage.
Battle of Old Byland Event, Sutton Bank Visitor Centre, North York Moors, 13 October – More information can be found on the North York Moors event webpage

Members will also have the chance to join in Zoom socials or visits arranged by their local groups. More details of all such events can be found in Wiðowinde or via the Zoom group mailing list.