My first bookings as a minstrel came about more or less by accident, just an excuse to combine my recorder-playing with my love of history and a bit of dressing-up but, in 2002, I had the chance to work at Warwick Castle.

Three days a week for a 17-week season taught me a lot. I took up the octave mandola to accompany songs, and learnt a good deal about singing and presentation. Best of all, I met Tamsyn Steel, one of the many musicians I worked with that summer, and we really hit it off. We are now working together whenever we can as the duo Bag o’Pease.

At around the same time, I began to get involved in Historical Dance, initially with Jennifer Kiek, and then dancing with Nonsuch History and Dance after attending one of their summer schools. Nonsuch founder, Peggy Dixon, passed away in 2004, but there is a new Director, Darren Royston, and the group is moving forward with new shows, beginners’ workshops and much more.

Adding the Minstrel and the Dance together led to another area of exploration, the result being Null Nomine Daunce. This band offers the fun of the ceilidh with the romance of history, and is ideal for re-enactment groups, historical venues or just something different. There is music and dance from medieval to the late 17th century. Many of the dances are really easy and, with lively teaching and top quality musicians, they have definitely been (k)nights to remember.

Last, but by no means least, is my Green Man. This is very much a work in progress. The idea is to remove conceptions of who I am and what I do and use the widest possible range of folk, historical and contemporary music to tell a story or work on a theme. The costume has been created and outlines for a couple of shows based on myths or historic paths have been written. Meanwhile the Green Man has started getting work, notably with the Chiltern Conservation Board on the Woodland and Family Fun Days. Already booked for a number of events next year, this is certainly one to watch.