Visitors from the Past

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Visitors from the Past Special History and Literacy days for schools in and around Yorkshire Paul Mackintosh, MA(Hons), PGCE

I deliver historical character days your pupils will never forget - unique, exciting and 'real' visitors from the past to enthrall your children. Through my costumed, historical characters I present exciting, interactive and creative ways to learn history and practice a wide range of Key Stages 1 and 2 literacy skills, all bound up with a large dose of imagination. I describe historical people and

events, demonstrate my possessions, answer lots of questions and tell stories in many different ways – allowing the children to participate by either acting out the parts or actually creating the adventure. For KS3 and older audiences I offer the chance to have a conversation with a well-researched historical character, to hear his stories, jokes, beliefs and attitudes, as well as learn a lot of social, religious and political history. I am a qualified History teacher, insured for third party liability (with Simply Business/Glemham) and DBS certificated. As well as my work in schools, I have been employed to deliver ‘in-character’ talks to a wide variety of audiences and am also a very experienced re-enactor (with the Tower Hamlets Trayned Bands and other groups). My characters range in time from Elizabethan sea rovers (either one of Sir Walter Ralegh‘s sailors who tried to find El Dorado, or one of Sir Francis Drake‘s sailors who circumnavigated the globe with him), through several seventeenth century manifestations – Guy Fawkes, a variety of English Civil War characters, a gentleman called Sir William Petty who lived through the Great Fire of London and the famous Yorkshire highwayman John Nevison – to an early eighteenth century pirate. The sessions are all cross-curricular in nature, involving storytelling and demonstration of artefacts, written literacy work, and role-played, imagined adventures – with certain characters focusing more on particular elements. I adopt a flexible approach, endeavouring to liaise with teachers in advance to take into account factors such as the children’s existing knowledge and ability level, school resources/spaces, groupings, timings, etc. I strive to interact with as many individual children as possible in each group and to ensure that all have the best possible experience. My language is convincingly old fashioned enough to draw children in, honed over the last 14 years of working with primary age pupils. Of course, I explain any words crucial to their comprehension, but as many of the archaic words I employ are used in context most children understand them anyway. As well as being costumed, I bring a variety of artefacts and possessions for demonstration, Q&A, and for supervised, careful handling by the children.

A pondering highwayman.
15/08/2024

A pondering highwayman.

A new news story is up! Please see ...
15/08/2024

A new news story is up! Please see ...

As per usual during the school summer holidays, I am doing a couple of weekends at Skipton Castle, and have been on a few adventures with my boys (including having just completed the West Highland Way).

I really miss my pre-pandemic summer holiday weekends at Skipton. I must contact the 'castellan' and see how things are ...
05/08/2022

I really miss my pre-pandemic summer holiday weekends at Skipton. I must contact the 'castellan' and see how things are now! I am getting lots of enquiries about school visits for Autumn term (and beyond), but being Colonel Sir John Mallory with a whole castle at my disposal was great fun.

My first of 'several many' Guy Fawkes bookings is on Wednesday, and they will run through to late November. So I have be...
11/10/2021

My first of 'several many' Guy Fawkes bookings is on Wednesday, and they will run through to late November. So I have been busy studying my thick file of notes, and making sure all his stuff is in working order (in a de-mould, stitch in time, de-rust, etc., sort of way). And this is just some of what he wears and carries!

Can you spot a powder flask? Spurs? Rapier? Lantern? Main-gauche? Costrel? Jack? Gauntlets? Match cord? Now I have a bag to pack with the fiddlier trappings! Oh, and some secret messages to write with lemon juice!

Phew! Finished at last. With 51 buttons (49 real buttonholes plus 12 fake buttonholes on the cuffs). Woollen cloth, line...
17/06/2021

Phew! Finished at last. With 51 buttons (49 real buttonholes plus 12 fake buttonholes on the cuffs). Woollen cloth, linen lining, linen thread, pewter buttons.

Still not sure I am getting the positioning of the sleeves right, but slightly too late to correct now. Maybe on the next coat?

I have a highwayman day coming up, and will be glad Nevison now has a new coat with not only fits him better but befits a gentleman of the road.

Address

Please Contact Me For My Address

WEST YORKSHIRE

Telephone

+441977625142

Website

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