Mike wrote, directed and presented this 9 minute video, which introduces the new Medieval Technology Park at the Middeladlercentret, Nykøbing, Denmark. The park showcases working models of large scale medieval machines. These have been recreated from designs depicted in medieval manuscripts and show a remarkable degree of engineering ingenuity.
I have a heavy heart and I am filled with deep sadness to report that John Waller has died. He was my staunch and beloved friend for 45 years. It is almost inconceivable that such a bright light shines no more, though I suppose that is the nature of extraordinary incandescence; it is so intense that it can fade before its time. He was a mere 77 years old. He was taken to hospital a week ago and in the end his heart gave out on him; a strange irony for a man whose sheer guts and drive and charisma and passion were powered by a mighty heart. His heraldry was a lion rampant and he was indeed a lion among men. Now that the lion’s roar has stilled, he leaves an aching void.
Many followers of this page will know John either in person or by reputation from his time as Head of Interpretation at The Royal Armouries in Leeds. His time there and the legacy he left was a crowning achievement. John changed things and he changed people; his was a radiant personality and all who encountered him felt its glow. He was that rarest of beings – an original thinker. He was also a pioneer. John created a unique approach to historical understanding – of working out how things worked ‘by doing’ and then corroborating that with diligent research, cross-referencing the text of treatises and chronicles with visual clues in art, with handling original objects, with empirical testing, and always, always questioning everything. He had an instinct for the past, a feel for it. He understood the innate beauty of movement, of objects and of indomitable spirit. He relished tales of brave deeds and spoke of long dead heroes from antiquity as if he knew them personally. He simultaneously inhabited the past and the modern world.
The entire global re-enactment movement, the Historical European Martial Arts movement, the dramatic fight community, the presentation and interpretation of objects in military museums all stem originally from John Waller. In most cases he was the first to do it; in other instances he changed it forever. When doing it first, he may not always have had the right equipment or access to all the research materials, but he did it first and he did it with an enquiring mind and integrity. Today there are extensive research resources online, today there is arms and armour of every culture and period available to buy on the shelf. Such are the luxuries of 2nd and 3rd generation followers; the pioneer has no such support. Among his many talents John was very adept at making things and I think he enjoyed this as much as anything, whether working with leather, wood or metal. If it didn’t exist and he needed it; he would make it. Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s when he lived in Sussex, a visit to his house always encountered a production line of all manner of things from saddles to quivers to lances to sword hilts and scabbards and, of course, arrows.
Archery was his most abiding passion, the spark that lit the fire. He was also enormously good at it, as he was with all physical things. John was a natural athlete; strong, vigorous, immensely capable and fearless. He had a distinctive, leonine grace when he moved that was both splendid to watch and always challenging when you were at swordspoint. He and I had a great many sword combats in those early years. John also had tremendous physical and mental courage. He was a brave man.
I first met him in early 1973. The previous year the BBC had aired Robert Hardy’s ‘The History of the Longbow’. John together with some other friends were in it, riding horses and shooting bows in historical action sequences. As far as I know it was the first time this device had been used in a documentary. Once again John Waller was a pioneer. I contacted the BBC who put me in touch with him. I was 22. John, at that time, was starting up a medieval centre in Sussex, with horses, falcons, swordfighting, archery etc. I had a place at law school that I was going to take later in the year but instead I bought a caravan and moved to Sussex to work with John. I learned a lot that summer and forged a lifelong friendship. By the end of the year we were both taken in a different direction by other opportunities, working together for a while at Pinewood Studios. We worked together closely for a great many years on various projects and even when we went on our separate paths, we always kept in close touch. I spoke to him just a couple of weeks ago and had no sense this tragedy was coming.
I’ve been going through some old photographs to find some from the early years. There’ll be images enough from later times. He had many roles and existences. Here I’m just sharing some early personal memories. Sadly because I have move house a great many times, my old photos are in boxes not always easy to find. However I share a few here of my time with a man who I will always remember with profound love and affection.
He was the best of men. He had a noble life, a worthwhile life, a life that made a difference, a life that has left a mark. He was a gentleman and he was my friend. Thank you old friend for all you gave me. My heart goes out to his wife Rosemary and his son Jonathan.
4 days ago ·
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