Every year during the weekend between the second and third weeks of January I join our Berwick Wargames Association colleagues to hold a memorial game for fellow war gamer Mick Evans.

Mick was an extremely funny, eccentric and likable guy who always regaled you with tales of missed opportunities, fickle dice, and sneaky tactics on the part of his opponent. Mick didn’t win many games but this didn’t seem to deter him as he fronted up next week with a brand new “sure-fire” tactic.

Mick is best known for his daring cavalry tactics, mostly unsuccessful, and his figure painting. His “conversion” of Airfix Africa Corps figures into Confederate Infantry with just a paint job still has us in fits of laughter. The club still holds these figures in honour of Mick.

Whilst most gamers would not want to emulate Mick’s painting prowess he said something to me one day that changed the way I paint. I was showing him some figures that I had just painted and was very proud of, when he said words to the effect of “hmm looks great, but they are all the same from four feet on the table top”. At the time I was a little offended but later realised that I am a gamer who paints to play not a painter who plays to show off his skills. I have since developed simple painting techniques that look effective but are quick and easy so I can game with the figures ASAP.

Thanks Mick, and as he would say let’s get to the game.

A fight over Offa’s Dyke (Clawdd Offa).

Needless to say when you get a bunch of middle aged wargamers together playing such a scenario, like teenage boys, much mirth was had about where to put your fingers, but enough said about that.

Peter R had gone to great pains building the dyke and like all gamers we started a vigorous debate about with side of the dyke the ditch should be on (even more mirth), Powys or Mercia. We googled to settle the debate but the pictures only help if you know which direction the photographer was facing.

Finally that respected authority Wikipedia was consulted to settle the argument!!!

As this was a Mick Evans Memorial game it had to have a twist. This time it was a rampaging goat herd that once the goat herders (do I hear yodeling in the distance) lose control of them head off in a random direction causing mass carnage.

Whilst the Romano British eventually won the real winners were the goats!!!

Vale Mick.