On Saturday 8th October, the usually peaceful area below the Main Building of Malvern College was transformed into a battlefield. Waller's Horse, a Parliamentarian unit from the Sealed Knot, the Civil War re-enactment society, visited the school and provided a wonderful display of 17th Century weapons, uniforms and tactics to the Foundation Year (year 9) who are currently studying the Civil War in their History lessons. Captain Rob Hill held the pupils and staff in rapt attention with a lively and blood-curdling talk and demonstrations. Two cavalry troopers first of all put their equipment on with an explanation of how they used their carbines whilst mounted and the design and purpose of their protective wear, including the famous lobster-pot helmet. Captain Hill then demonstrated the complex drill involved in loading a 17th Century musket and made an impressive bang when he fired off some( blank!) shots. The pupils were then entertained with a skirmish involving dragoons and infantry on one side and cavalry on the other. Other pupils emerging from classrooms for their mid-morning break looked somewhat surprised to behold horsemen cantering about the triangle, attempting to run down fleeing musketeers!

Waller's Horse explained why they were fighting for Parliament, rather than the King, and the role they would play the following day in the re-enactment of the Battle of Ripple (1643) - where, unfortunately, they would end on the losing side.


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