ON the list of things in life that I never considered doing before, re-enacting historical battles was definitely one.

So it was with some trepidation that I put on some stout boots and made my merry way to join the Sealed Knot's recreation of the Civil War's Battle of Ripple.

In Ripple I met up with David Tomlinson, commanding officer of the Earl of Manchester's Regiment, with whom I was to serve.

David sorted me out with a bundle of clothes, consisting of a tied string white shirt, a woollen jacket, woollen britches and some huge socks which refused to stay pulled up.

The best bit of my outfit, however, was a dirty great metal helmet with a peak tapering to a point at the front and back and a big fin across the top. Such was its appearance that it took a great deal of effort to refrain from jumping out from behind doors shouting "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!".

I was distracted from my Python-esque fantasies by the arrival of my weapon for the day, which was, in effect, a really big stick.

These Sealed Knot types may call it a pike, but I know a 16-foot stick when I see one. Real pikes had nasty spikes on the end, but for obvious reasons SK pikes replace these with blunt wooden replicas, or even just a bit of silver paint. Nevertheless, they were still big enough to cause some discomfort, and were alarmingly not made of cardboard.

Other members began to gather, so I grabbed my pike and stood shabbily to attention. Needless to say, I stuck out like a sore, untrained thumb and nearly dropped the pike on the chap next to me.

This chap turned out to be Wayne from Dudley, one of several thoroughly friendly blokes who helped show me the ropes.

Wayne demonstrated how to manoeuvre my pike into the various carrying and standing positions and using this new-found knowledge, I joined the parade down to Ripple Church, where a memorial service was held for the society's founder, Brigadier Peter Young.

After the service, there was time for lunch and a chat to other members of the society.

One such was Debbie, a chemistry PhD student from Fromes Hill. This was her third event with the Sealed Knot.

"It's like you take yourself out of life for three days," she explained, when asked what the attraction was.

"You can switch off. You just get drunk and have a laugh."

It was at this point that the different types of people involved in Sealed Knot re-enactments became clear.

There are some that are into their 'living history' and even eat period food. There are others interested in the history of the Civil War and there are some for which the events are merely an excuse to drink and fight, albeit in a friendly way.

Somehow, the groups coexist quite happily. Those interested in the history are more than happy to sit and direct battles from underneath the wide brimmed hat of an officer, while the mead-swilling warmongers are only too pleased to be told in which direction to ram their pikes.

And so to pike-ramming. Wayne was on hand to show me how to hoick the pike upwards and point it forwards at head height while advancing on the enemy. The hour of battle had come.

As there were too many Parliamentarians at this event it had been decreed by those in charge that I should be a Royalist. Fine by me. I know my history, we win this one!

So for King and country I joined the rest of the regiment and headed for Ripple field.

Wayne assured me that all would be fine and to just stay at the back. So, stay at the back I did, as two large chaps on horseback came charging round the rear of our unit. A cry of "horses!" went up and the training kicked in.

We dropped down on one knee and levelled the pikes outwards, stopping the dastardly Parliamentarians from getting too close. They hacked at the pikes with their swords, got nowhere, and rode off again.

The most exhilarating (and painful) part of the day was the pike push. After a few manly growls, the two sides collide and push into each other until one lot collapses. Then they do it again, for about an hour until the end of the battle, when the losers all die.

The pike push is not for the faint-hearted. Some of these lads are very big, and push very hard, and pikes have a nasty habit of not going where you'd like them too. By the end of the day I'd had a substantial clout round the jaw and my legs were covered in technicolor bruises.

But, despite my initial reservations, I'd had a thoroughly good time. All the people I met were very down to earth and simply out to enjoy themselves.

After the battle there was chivalrous applause for the dead and despite a fair bit of real blood being spilt during the fight, smiles abounded.

It certainly makes for a more exciting weekend than a cup of tea and the Antiques Roadshow.

Anyone interested in joining the Sealed Knot can contact Dave Oxley on 01253 298131.