1. Hobbies Exhibition arrives at Bellocq
Exhibition
Following a successful exhibition at the Hall of the Moutete, the Festi-Hobbies
will be on show at Bellcocq from 13 to 14 July.
Originally launched at Moutete in 2009, and shown again in 2010, the
Hobbies and Collectors Exhibition returns this time albeit with a different
theme. Michel Borderes, the main organizer, a man who never runs out of
ideas, it would appear, decided to revive the exhibition by rotating it each
year, in a different place in pais Ortes’s territory. As a result, the new 2013
edition will take place at Bellocq in the sports hall and also in the surrounding
countryside. The event which will be called “Festi-Hobbies” will be a National
celebration, and as such there will be a large spotlight shone on the history of
France which will include the involvement of historical military re-enactors.
New Event
Actors Partisan Guard is an established historical re-enactment association
who will preview their new show at this years event. The recreated Pyrenees's
battalion includes the 70th
half-brigade of General Jean Joseph Amable
Humbert who disembarked in Ireland in 1798.
“This was the only successful landing on Irish soil by French soldiers hoping
to liberate Ireland” says Patrick Charlot who hails from Aydie in Vic-Bilh.
An author and keen student of Humbert’s life, Patrick Charlot is also a
passionate historical re-enactor. Furthermore, Patrick has forged great links
with Ireland and because of this, he and 15 of his comrades in “Partisan
Guard” have been officially invited to Ireland to participate in a huge historical
re-enactment of Humbert’s 1798 expedition titled ‘In Humbert’s Footsteps’
which takes place in county Mayo in late August.
Following the invitation, Patrick Charlot and his comrades began meticulously
identifying and recreating the exact same uniforms worn by the soldiers of
Humbert’s army. While the buttons had to be manufactured in Italy, all the
uniforms were made in Charente, and all the leatherwork was done manually
by members of the association. The first time that these new uniforms will be
worn in public by members of the partisan guard association will be at
Bellocq. The group will also set up a typical military camp of the day while
their naval member worker (who incidentally bears the name of Chauvin- hero
named) will revive to the public, traditional crafts including forging and
woodcraft.
According to Michel Borderes, there will be 50 exhibitors in the Bellocq sports
hall each one selected “for their originality and the quality of their expertise”