A Writtle Bit of Lard

Last Sunday, our club, Essex Warriors, held its first ever Lard Day, where only Too Fat Lardies rules would be played and players from all around were welcome.

Turn out was very good with a host of games going on ranging from the new What A Tanker through to Chain of Command and Sharp Practice and David Brown was also in attendance with his group, Loughton Strike Force, playing General d"Armee.

Richard Clarke of Too Fat Lardies came with some wonderful toys and terrain for a Chain of Command game and was his usual affable self answering questions and running the game.

Harry Sidebottom, the author of classic Roman army fiction books came along and played a game or two too. Pat Smith brought some copies of his book on how to build winter war terrain (Yes, I did buy one !).

At the end of the day, a few hardy veterans headed off for a pint and a curry in true Lardy fashion !

Here are some pictures - not as many as I would have liked but I was somewhat restricted running a Sharp Practice game  but we will be putting  more stuff up on the Essex Warriors Facebook page together with a recorded interview with Richard in due course.

Hope those of you that came enjoyed the day !

Here's the Sharp Practice Peninsula game under way

Nice jungle terrain here

Richard Clarke setting up his game - he was helped by Pat Smith (better known as the blogger "Wargaming with Silver Whistle")

Richard Lewis and gang playing "What a Tanker"

Martin and crew getting set for their game

More "What a Tanker" players

our Napoleonic game sees the arrival of dismounted French Dragoons

Gravesend war gamers setting up an early WWII Chain of Command game

Loughton Strike Force fighting "General d"Armee"

No apologies for most of the pics being of my game as this is where I was "anchored" all day

We fought games both morning and afternoon with teams of players - some of whom had never played the game, others who had the rules and needed them better explained, in the flesh

Any excuse to get my troops on the table !

Some closer views of the Gravesend gamers WWII terrain

including refugees - that could turn out to be Fifth Columnists !

Back to my game ... British infantry have just fired and are now unloaded

These Dragoons find their carbines are no match and set off to get the cover of the farm buildings

Richard hard at work - he had brought along his famous French Pissoir for this game !

95th Rifles getting engaged in a fire fight

alongside a formidable formation

Mike and Bob (try and smile chaps !!!) try an different tack in the afternoon 

More "What a Tanker" enthusiasts

Using kit like this !

and then Curry and Beer ... what's not to like !!!

Do check out our social media stuff to get a bigger picture of the day.

Now then - where's that pint of mine gone ...