The Lockwood's Amazing Home

During my stay in the UK I had occasion to spend a delightful day and night with friends, in Tisbury, Peter and Liz Lockwood.  Peter had invited me to give a talk to the Civil War Roundtable – UK, in London.  He was then gracious enough to invite me to stay at their lovely home the day and night before the talk.  They are a wonderful host and hostess, and Liz whips up a mean curry.

As you can see from the photographs, their home is what we in America believe English country living is all about.  This may be one of my favorite places on earth, and my only regret was that my lovely wife Rosemary was not with me to enjoy its quiet splendor.

The next day I had the honor of presenting a talk to the aforementioned United Kingdom Civil War Round Table in London at the Civil Service Club.  Allow me to clarify – this is the American Civil War, not the English Civil War, and these folks know their stuff.  My talk was on the impact of the Crimean War on the American Civil War.  I was quite pleased that several folks (friends indeed) who had been with me at the Crimean War Research Society meeting the previous week, came into London to hear my talk, but thus the pressure was certainly on.

Not only was my audience filled with Civil War historians, but Crimean War historians as well.  I managed not to get hauled of the stage in disgrace, but it was a challenge.  I had some of the best and most provocative questions I’ve ever received in talks about the American Civil War – even to Americans.

Following the talk we relaxed over coffee, then an intense question/answer period, followed at their request by my telling a few rather humorous behind-the-scene stories about the “making of the movie Gettysburg,” based on my rather tiny part in that production.  They seemed most interested and we had a few laughs.

It was a great experience.  I made new friends, and, of course, afterward it involved more than a few pints in the Civil Service Club Bar, while we fought both of our wars – Crimean and Civil – once again.  As in most wars, nobody really won

The Lockwood Home

Notice the superb thatched roof.

Just a frontal view of their garden. It doesn't do it justice.

Pints after talk at Civil Service Club