A SAXON re-enactment group, based in Tintagel, is on the lookout for keen new warriors to join, in an aim to relive local history.

Emma Knight, aka Sigewulf Waldhere, ‘Jarl’ of the Warriors of Tintagel, is looking for enthusiastic new recruits for her re-enactment group, which she set up in February 2016 after moving to the area, keen to spread her passion for medieval history.

Emma told the Post: “My fascination with arms and armour started when I found out the meaning of my surname when I was a little girl. I became proud of my name and lineage, and often toddled around with a stick, pretending it was a sword.”

As Emma got older, she joined a local group in Leicester, where she formerly lived, called Vikings of Middle England.

“When I moved to Cornwall, the only thing that I missed from Leicestershire was the re-enactment. What’s a girl to do? I know — I shall build my own group, where men and women can compete together on equal levels; no more disguises for the ladies.

“It occurred to me that everybody seems to do medieval and Viking re-enactment these days, so I decided to go with Saxons.”

The Post learned that the pagan Germanic tribes — the Saxons — settled in Britain in 400 AD, just after the Romans pulled out of Britain, and helped rebuild Britain as it is known today.

The Warriors of Tintagel re-enact battles and skirmishes between the native Britons and the early Saxon invaders. The group also provide living history displays and story telling, along with all the training needed to become a skilled warrior.

As well as putting on shows to entertain, Emma also likes to educate. She said: “Our history is very important and must not be forgotten, nor our ancestors.”

When the group was first set up in February 2016, Emma had a core group of eight enthusiastic people who she has grown to love as ‘family’.

Emma continued: “I was the only one with any re-enactment experience, so training these fine people from scratch was an exciting challenge. Some people find it strange for a female to train in combat and to lead a warband. If you take a look back through history, there were many female warlords and leaders. Two famous females are Boudicca and Joan of Arc.

“I’ve never seen any differences between men and women. Some women are stronger physically than men; some men like to cook and do gardening, whereas some women don’t. Some women like to wear chainmail and weild swords and axes — it’s down to the individual.”

Emma is now looking for keen new recruits to join her group, to take part in living history, combat or both.

The group train every Friday evening at the Tintagel Social Hall, from 7.30pm to 10pm. Combatants must be aged 16 and over, and younger members can be involved with the living history side.

The Warriors of Tintagel also do charity collections on behalf of the Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur, or for North Cornwall Children’s Hospice.

Emma added: “I hope to bring re-enactment back to the Tintagel area for locals and holidaymakers to enjoy. This wonderful community has welcomed me with open arms and I am a firm believer of giving something back to the village.”