Johnnie Cope Gets a Second Chance ... courtesy Gordon Veitch

NEVER TOO LATE FOR JOHNNIE COPE TO WIN AT PRESTONPANS!

Gordon Veitch, twice European Battle Gaming Champion from Haddington, has joined forces with the Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust to create a 10' x 8' topographical board with 400 + scaled Redcoats and Highlanders 1:10 as combatants. It will be unveiled at the Battle Symposium on September 18th/ 19th which is being held at the Prestonpans Community Centre - admission free. All the significant buildings are being handcrafted to exact scale 1:150. It's a work of art in its own right. The paths of the two original armies will be lit as appropriate.

click to enlarge the images of work-in-progressand press cutting


The game will be fully documented and available to teams from schools to compete as well as for adult gaming. A league table is being established with an annual trophy and significant prize.




"The educational power of gaming of this nature is all too often underestimated", says Gordon Veitch. "Youngsters take it extremely seriously and it not only greatly improves their knowledge of history, but it sharpens their arithmetical skills and their understanding of the tactical opportunities so often available in life. In this case, Johnnie Cope can of course win if the gamers conduct themselves in a different manner from that which that unsuccessful general adopted in 1745!"

Future Gaming Expected for Pinkie and Dunbar too

The Trustees will be extending the battle gaming approach in the coming years in partnership with those protecting and conserving the battle sites and history of Pinkie in 1547 and Dunbar in 1650. Somerset and Cromwell can lose those great battles too.



It's all part of the BIG Campaign for the Living History Centre by 2011

The Trustees propose that, once the major Living History Centre is created at Meadowmill close by the existing Battle Bing where Bonnie Prince Charlie's battle flag now flies, battle gaming will be a key community based activity there. The Battle Symposium will also learn of all the latest developments in that campaign and how the £50,000 Heritage Lottery Grant the Trustees secured is being used this coming autumn and winter.

All interested in joining this project should contact Gordon Veitch at Model Mania, 24 High Street, Haddington or Ph 01620 825931 or email to veitch@talktalk.net