In Memoriam Georgina Riall
Georgina Riall, 1942 – 2018
Fisc
Groups: Hwicce, 2002-2018
Known affectionately as Fish (rendered by her as Fisc), she joined Hwicce in 2002 after seeing the Vikings at the English Heritage Festival of History, and having started late in life and with no previous experience, she found a welcome in the camp and learned several new skills while spending a lot of time talking to the visiting public. She was capable of talking for hours, and sounded enthusiastic all the way through in a way which was infectious. Having discovered embroidery, she proceeded to produce a high standard of work on her own clothing and accessories, and occasionally provided some small pieces for others, but her primary interest was in experiencing it for herself, not for trade. She threw herself into a number of challenging experiences, including sailing on a Viking ship, and was not daunted by anything that came her way.
She was also a member of the WI over much of the same period, and a profile feature in the WI magazine summed up her approach perfectly.
There’s no such thing as a stereotypical WI member.
In each issue we profile one amazing, ordinary member to find out what inspired her to join the WI.
I spent 10 years looking after elderly relatives and decided it was time for some fun.
Georgina Riall
Since 2002 life has been one glorious long holiday, though not exotically so. I decided to live on a narrow boat, join a Viking re—enactment society, and become a member of the WI. I’ve always been a little hedonistic — a bit like the cricket, as opposed to the ant. I’d spent 10 years looking after elderly relatives and decided it was time for some fun.
Before I joined the Viking Society I knew nothing about the Anglo-Saxon era, except that Alfred burnt some cakes and Harold got an arrow in his eye. I remember seeing my first re-enactment event at Kirby Hall in Northamptonshire and thinking, wow — this is it!
From small babies in arms to the old and the bold of both sexes, period re-enactment attracts people of all ages and types. Since joining I’ve learnt to embroider and tablet—weave, and now take part in about 20 re-enactments a year at castles, halls and national heritage sites around the UK. I make all my own costumes using authentic cloth and decorative tablet braids. As a hobby, I can’t recommend it enough.
Being an Anglo-Saxon must have been pretty tough. There were several dreadful winters, no flushing toilets and dentistry was non-existent. When your teeth fell out, that was it. The public ask a lot of questions so it’s important that we’re boned up on history.
