The "Sharpe" Appreciation Society
by Chris Clarke
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We are in the threes of organising trips to the Royal Green Jackets Museum in Winchester and more ambitious, a three day trip to Waterloo next Autumn - so you can see we do not sit on our laurels! Whilst on the old soapbox a couple ofpoints 1 would like to make. To anyone who is sceptical about the effect that Sharpe has on the general public, I would say this: from the feedback of members, it would seem that their deepening interest in the Napoleonic period began with either reading one of the Sharpe books or watching one of the Sharpe films, so, criticise you might, but it is an unassailable fact that without "Sharpe", to so many people this period of history would still be almost unknown, and they certainly wouldn't have wanted to know more had it not have been for Sharpe. Second point, (wake up those ol`you who have by now dropped off) - I would on a personal note like to thank all those in the hierarchy of the NA who have welcomed me (and Sharpe) to NA events, in particular Mike Freeman who has always been helpful no matter how many times I contact him with varying queries. I hope to be present at more events this coming year and hope the NA and Sharpe enjoy a long and happy association! Anyone wishing to join the Appreciation Society write to Chris Clarke, PO Box 14, Lowdham, Notts NGl4 7HU. England Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #37 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1997 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |
The Society has gone from strength to strength (a pox on those who said it would fall by the wayside after two months!), we now have over 350 members in the UK and about 30 stalwarts from the USA, Canada and Australia. We have a monthly newsletter which not only informs members about the films and books of Sharpe, but aims to inform and assist anyone interested in the Napoleonic period. We currently have articles running on:- "The use of the Congreve Rockets", "Re-enactment", "Costume in the 1800s" and "The Siege of Badajoz", not to mention a monthly contribution by Bemard Cornwell the author, and regular articles by Richard Rutherford Moore.