Another Mel Brooks masterpiece!
“Robin Hood is one of Britain’s greatest myths and legends. A fallen nobleman who, aided by a band of outlaws, lived in Sherwood Forest and robbed from the rich to give to the poor, while at the same time defying a corrupt sheriff and a king who many felt had no right to rule England. He is essentially an archetype, a symbol of freedom against tyranny. His legend has endured for centuries because he is a timeless symbol of a noble, selfless individual who brought their own brand of justice to the people.
As with many folk tales, from the Greek writings of Aesop and Homer to the tale of King Arthur, his legend is one of social commentary. In this case Robin Hood represents the redressing of the imbalance between the haves and the have-nots. It has also helped boost Nottingham’s tourist industry for years”. Citation.
On the other hand we know that Sherwood forest does exist, but I have to say I was bitterly disappointed when I visited in 1997! At the time I would have had more trees on my own property in Heathcote! Not as well managed in the last 200 years or so as it should have been, the thousand year old trees there are reaching the end of their natural lives and the smaller trees that would replace them have been cut down, leaving gaping holes in the forest.
Although propped up by guide wires and props the Major Oak is anywhere between 800 – 1100 years. Meaning it has stood through the Vikings, the Battle of Hastings, Agincourt, Waterloo, the births and deaths of Shakespeare, Henry VII, Dickens, Darwin, Newton, Chaucer, Cromwell, the two world wars, and over 50 monarchs.
Here are the six major characters in the story.
Robin Hood or Outlaw leader from Footsore Miniatures range
Outlaw noble or Robin Hood in armour.
Little John
Will Scarlet
Friar Tuck
Maid Marion, although I have to say she looks like she would be more at home with a cauldron boiling up eye of newt! Slave2Gaming has a Maid Marion that I am going to pick up instead.
More of the band and villagers to follow.
Great work Dave, have visited that tree also, and it is still hanging in there just
Thanks Dave! Not sure that the leaves aren’t stuck on!
They look great!
Thanks Matthew.
Very nice, Dave! 🙂 I’ve never been to Sherwood Forest, although I’ve seen Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall that’s featured in the Kevin Costner film!
Thanks John. Always the way. I have never been to Ularu but every pom that visits does!
I used to drive past Sycamore gap regularly as I lived in Haltwhistle and worked in Newcastle. I would often go along the military road. The child who climbed the tree in the film got up there with a ladder… you cannot actually climb it without one!
Lovely work on the fig’s Dave, strangely there was a report on the morning news a while back about ancient tree’s a many 800 year plus trees are being cut down around the country to allow for more housing developments, this country’s Politicians that claim to hold it’s proud history in such high esteem really don’t give a sh*t as long as money is passing under the table!
Cheers Roger.
We have been both lucky and not with trees. On the new estate we live on the Local Council made the developer create a park around every old tree. The area is scattered with 500+ year old red gums. The parks created and the close proximity to the plenty gorge national park have created a unique location. The Council has won many awards for sensitive development.
On the other hand the State government (the problem with three tiers of government!) is tearing down about 25 trees for road widening when there was another option which, you guessed it) was more expensive! These trees have been here longer than any human habitatio, including first nations, and we just cut them down.
Very nice work- allegedlly Robin Hood isn’t buried very far from me: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood%27s_Grave I’m only about es from it and go past it all the time.
Cheers,
Pete.
Thanks Pete. Nice piece of “history” and a great link.
Very nice Dave.
Nice work and those Footsore minis are quite the treat!
Thanks i like them.
They look great! I wish I’d picked up the GW Brettonian not-Robin Hodo models back in the day. I think they’d still hold up exceptionally well today as well…
They do. Although Robin Hoodie in looks I think they were more styled after the French Gaspard de Besse or Louis Mandrin which fits more with the Bretonnian influence.