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1. What was your reaction when you first learned you had been chosen to be a Roman legionary?
When I was asked to take part in the program it was a total shock to me. I thought it was a big wind-up. Were the rest of the people taking part real or were they actors? Are there going to be loads of cameras hidden all over the place? Am I going to get caught out left right and center? Are the rest of them really fit? I was the oldest, but not the most mature! Would it kill me physically? Mentally I was sure I could deal with it. I read in the e-mail I got about the program that some of these guys were American servicemen. I imagined these super-fit killing machines. I only had one week's notice, so I had no time to train. I was 40 years old, but I had some military experience so that side of it did not scare me. Then I started to wonder how they would portray me. But being the sort of person that I am, my wife talked me into doing it. Jackie couldn't wait to see me in my armor! Once I thought about it, I was quite looking forward to it. I have always been up for a challenge and this sounded really good fun as well as tough and something worth having a go at.
2. What do you believe was your biggest triumph as a Roman legionary?
I didn't really look at it from that angle -- even the challenge at the end did not make any difference. It did not matter who came out on top. I'd made some really good friends and had a great time and above all had a really good laugh!
But while we were taking part in the challenge, we had to deal with the cold and the terrible food. I think by the end of the challenge -- we all had a great buzz -- especially with what we had been through together. I was glad to have it over and done with, but it was too bad we didn't have more time to talk and laugh about it afterwards. We all had to rush off to get trains and stuff.
The charge through the gate was special for me in many ways. I know that was for all of us. All I can say that it was totally mad! That was something else, man! Seeing the looks on the faces of my four kids, watching their old man on TV running round all dressed up like Charlton Heston. They will never mess with me again! Oh, and hitting an officer of the British Police Force in the back with a wooden sword and not being arrested for it -- Russell Crowe, eat your heart out!
3. What was your lowest moment as a Roman legionary?
The first thing that springs to mind was the cold, walking around in open sandals in damp grass early in the year. It is never warm up north that time of year. I reckon it's our Alaska. My feet were freezing! On top of that, we basically had dresses on or diapers, as Zach called them.
We were then told to sleep in a newly made barrack block with fresh wattle and dorb on the walls (woven branches mud and lime). It made the room really damp and if you leaned on the walls, you would get mud all over you. The beds were wooden and had straw mattress on each. There were eight of us and only enough bed space for seven. We had to take turns keeping guard, which was a bad situation for me to be in. It was just like being at work, but I was not even getting paid for it! We were freezing but then the banter started. We were in hysterics -- eight men in a room crying with laughter. Shaun had some tequila, as it was his birthday, and I think that helped us that night.
When we woke, we were all cuddled up together. It was nice for a moment. Then you realize you're cuddling a grotty bloke and that you have to get up to clean your teeth with Roman toothpaste (mouse brains and bone), put your dress on and freezing cold metal armor, and run about training in the freezing cold. What the hell am I doing here? I took leave to do this, I must be mad! But I reckon we were all a certain type and we wouldn't be there If we could not deal with it.
4. Overall, how would you rate your performance as a Roman legionary?
My boss said I should stick to playing darts as my javelin throw is rubbish. Mind you, if we were being charged, I would have got someone. Yeah, I reckon it was OK. We all added different skills just as you do in any team. I learned that to fight well, to be effective and to keep formation, we would have all had to do things together, in the same way and at the same time.
But as individuals, once in close combat you would have to look after yourself. We all have to look after ourselves. To be honest, I tried to get the best and the lightest equipment. I tried to find the best bed. I reckon it would have been like that and today it is like that to a certain degree.
We all added different skills and different qualities. Even things like humor can pull a group together and it can take your mind off the rest of it. I feel there were times when the Americans thought I was crazy. But Theo is just as bad. In some ways, our humor is different to yours and I think I confused them (and me) at times. I heard one of them comment that I had been licking the walls (lime) too much! But sometimes in a situation which is challenging you need someone to break the ice and to get through it.
As for the training and the manual stuff, I think I dealt with it OK overall. We all did. But it was not just being good in combat that counted in those days. The Roman soldier had to build walls, carry out maintenance, and many other tasks. In the short time we were there, I think we all got on with it and got organized quite quickly. Overall, I was happy with my performance (apart from the javelin throw). So long as you give it your best, that's all you can really do!
5. If you had to choose between daily life as a police officer or as a Roman legionary, which would you choose?
I can't do that question. My chief might check out this site and I'll get the sack! Easy really, a firefighter. Life would have been really hard in those times. You would have had to be tough as old boots to get through it. Some Roman soldiers did a full career of about 25 years, but I reckon a lot of them did not get that far. The chances of getting hurt were high and they did not have a private health plan. Life was cheap and there were no home comforts for the average person -- well, not the sort we know of. I have heard they knew how to have a good time, though!
But overall, no way would I change places. Driving to London in the traffic with my music on is a lot easier than marching in armor across England and I'm sure their kits would have been bigger and heavier. Just from my short spell in it, it made it quite clear that I much prefer my life with my family and my work, my workplace, and the conditions in which I work and live. They are far better. I know we all moan, but it ain't that bad, really. I've tried the Roman thing and it was good fun, but getting up to that every day, I would bloody well hate it!
6. Has your experience as a Roman legionary affected or changed any aspect of your career as a firefighter?
Yep, I now go to all the fires riding on a huge red chariot drawn by loads of horses, and instead of a yellow helmet I have a Roman one with a great big red crest on it. Just imagine me, right through the center of London. The queen often gives me a wave.
My work mates have had good fun taking the micky out of me, I know that for sure, and it made me appreciate my food more. Some of it was OK. Theo's Texas-style pork was nice. We had some sort of biscuit that was like eating MDF. I think you would get fed up with it quite quickly, but then again they knew no different.
I did notice that a lot of their work patterns and the amount of peaple involved were similar to my line of work -- rank structure, working in groups of eight, etc. I reckon there are more things that have come through in to my working life than I am aware of today. As to my firefighting duties, no, I have to work a certain way and stick to it. I think what it did do was reinforce that in my profession and those of the other participants is that you have to stick together and work as a team to succeed and achieve.
7. Did your experience as a Roman legionary live up to your expectations?
Yes and no, really. I was a bit anxious while travelling up to Sheffield because I was not sure what we were in for. Once there, to be honest, it was not as hard in some ways as I thought it would be. As I said earlier, the weather played a big part in it, but then the Romans had to deal with the cold as well. Overall, it did live up to my expectations. I suppose I learned a lot. It was hard in other ways. But if it was easy, it would not have been a challenge. The food was crap. On the other hand, I met some great blokes and had some really good laughs. So, overall, in hindsight, yes.
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