The Napoleonic Fair
A Continuing Success
by Dave Watkins
Photos by Tim Hicks
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At right, Dave Watkins, proprietor and editor of First Empire magazine, is caught counting his ill-gotten gains--anyone got any spare fingers?
There were so many people standing in line before the event, the queue starting forty minutes before the doors were due to open, that the Napoleonic Fair began before the official opening time so as to enable visitors to come in. And at the end of the day, such was the continued attendance that there was a 'soft' close, with the event winding down after the official 4pm closing time. Lengthening the opening hours for 1999 therefore seems to be a distinct possibility.
Of special interest this year were the three lecture presentations. This was a new feature for the event and, because there was no pre-booking, until it was time for the visitors to go to the lecture hall there was some question as to whether or not people would want to take time out from touring the stands and the wargames to sit down for an hour or so on a Sunday.
In fact the seating for the lecture area had been set up in the form of a 'conversation circle', with just thirty or so chairs in two or three circles in front of the area from which the lecturers would talk, but with a supply of chairs to one side.
In the event the lectures were extraordinarily well attended, and all chairs were needed and indeed some people sat on the floor. On average two hundred people attended each of the three events.
The first lecture presentation was by Ben Weider talking about the assassination of Napoleon. He had come over to Britain especially from Montreal in order to make this presentation. He was introduced by Dr David Chandler, and Chairman for the event was James Opie, Editor of Britain's Military Book Club.
In the early afternoon the Sharpe Appreciation Society presented 'Spotlight on Sharpe', a panel session with cast members from the very popular series.
The large number of people attending each of the lecture presentations was evidence of the large number attending the event itself, and this appears to have been an additional audience because the main exhibitors hall was always very busy. The number attending the 1998 Napoleonic Fair increased from previous years to a new record of 1,100, and overseas visitors included people coming from the United States and Canada, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Holland. A number took advantage of the Eurostar to come just for the day.
The two wargames were particularly well attended, with keen interest.
Rayners Lane Wargame Group (headed by Stuart Asquith) presented 'Quatre Bras - The Wargame' and Simulations Association of Sussex (headed by Alan Martin) presented on an especially large terrain 'Wellington's Fighting Retreat'. More people than ever viewed the wargames not only because of the promotion to make them better known, and due to enjoyment in previous years, but because visitors wanting to attend the lecture presentation had to pass through the wargames area to reach the lecture theatre, and hence a number of people who had not thought previously of being involved in a wargame were given the opportunity.
The only quiet part of the Napoleonic Fair was the military modelling competition, which had too few entries, although they were of high quality. It is likely therefore that this event will now be rested for a while.
At right, the recipient of the Marmont Memorial prize for biggest hangover of the fair listening to Lionel Leventhal.
Another negative point which was in fact turned into a positive one was that the hotel public address system failed in the exhibition area. Most fortunately a strong-voiced re-enactor, in his uniform as Staff Sergeant of the 9th Regiment of Foot (The East Norfolk), was volunteered to make the announcements, and what was a problem-solving solution to having no public address sytem became a small feature of the event as he made announcements throughout the day.
Plans are already in hand for the next Napoleonic Fair, to be held in February 1999.
Suggestions for enhancement are welcome and for more information contact.
GREENILL BOOKS, LONDON, Park House, 1 Russell Gardens, London NW11 9NN, Tel: 0181 458 6314, Fax: 0181 905 5245, E-Mail: LionelLeventhal@compuserve.com
The photographs accompanying this article were taken by Tim Hicks, who made the mistake of appearing before the editor with a camera and granted an immiediate field promotion to First Empire Staff photographer!
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Each year the Napoleonic Fair has had an increasing attendance, with a larger number of keen and enthusiastic visitors. This trend continued for the 1998 Fair, held on Sunday 15th February.
This year all the regular exhibitors (95th Rifles stand at left) again enjoyed excellent business and discussions, and the new exhibitors were also very successful. New exhibitors included for the first time two from France, plus several directly from the United States.
Lionel Levanthal (right) receives an INS gold medal for outstanding contributions to Napoleonic history.
At right, Paul Chamberlain (NA Research Officer) and friend caught with fingers in the till.
Next came Peter Hofschroer (at right) presenting a talk entitled 'Wellington: Did he Trick the Prussians into Fighting at Ligny?'. This was certainly a highlight of the day, and Peter Hofschroer's new book, published for the Napoleonic Fair, entitled 1815: THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN - Wellington, his German Allies and the Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras, was the 'Book of the Fair'. There was a vigorous question and answer session. Chairman for the event was Paddy Griffith.
At left, the steely gaze of John Morewood of the Nelson Society, winner of the First Empire Beau Brummel Memorial prize for the smartest exhibitor of the fair.
