A Very Late Salute

 I had intended to do a write up for Slingshot 352 (May/June) of my day at Salute 51 back in April but never seemed to have the time. I have therefore decided to post something here and maybe distil, smarten it up for Slingshot 353...maybe. Salute is one of those wargaming shows that, especially if you've never been, is a mind blowing experience.

I first went to Salute back in 1983, when it was held in the Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall. I was 14 and announced to my parents that I was off to London on the train to indulge myself in all things wargaming and RPG-ing. At the time I lived in a small town in South Wales called Caldicot (and as I write, I am sat in another small town, Undy, only 4 miles away) which had the thing that all teenagers needed in the 80's most...a railway station. Back in the 80's, the taxi of dad didn't exist as such and it certainly wouldn't go from South Wales to London and back in a day (although strangely it did do roughly the same distance when several steam-railway conventions popped up...). At the time, I was a 'paper-boy' and had a paper round so was earning money to supplement my pocket money. I had saved hard for a year to get myself enough money for the train, food and money to spend at the venue on the day. I planned it with military precision and knew to the penny how much I had and what would happen if I spent too much here or there. Of course, I did have an additional secret stash of 5p pieces for the phone box as an emergency only. Those were the days when kids were allowed to be kids and boundaries seemed to be limited only by imagination. I planned everything, saved hard and told my parents exactly what I was doing and did it. It all seemed to work back then...

Fast forward to 2024 and as editor of Slingshot I fancied a trip to Salute to slough off the post covid blues and to meet real people and see wargaming stuff up front and personal. I also needed a break as by this time I had been sole carer for my Mother and Father in Law for 4 years since the first lockdown. They never really came out of that closeted lifestyle even when things 'improved' in 2021/2. Unfortunately part of that timeframe also saw them succumb to Dementia and declining health which necessitated more and more looking after until I was almost a full time unpaid carer. My wife's own health took a tumble and she was unable to help and faced her own substantial challenges at the time. Still, in April 2024, I had managed to steady the ship in terms of help with the in-laws and with my wife being of better health and so felt able to attend. Incidentally, I had tried to attend the Society of Ancient's Battle day in the previous month but had fallen foul of carer duties that time. In all seriousness this was going to be the first proper wargame convention I had attended for probably around 20 years (the last ones being Salute and Attack back in the early 2000's).

Fast forward to the 13th April, and managed to organise some time to disengage myself from all of the duties I normally do on a day to day basis. Without boring the 3 people who might read this, work and home life is complicated and incredibly stressful. At the time I was looking after 2 elderly parents (in law) with dementia and battling to get support from outside agencies which is a very slow process and requires a lot of patience and a softish wall to bang your head against. I had also not long been involved in a road accident that really shook me up with broken bones and the like. I therefore need my hobby time to keep me upright and functioning. Editing Slingshot is actually a joy as I can lose myself in the hobby and hopefully bring a bit of joy to others who read it. Painting also helps me frame the stuff I have to deal with as its mindful although I havent done as much of late as I would wish to (but slowly increasing this). Visiting wargame shows was something as a lad and young (ish) adult that also fired my enthusiasm and allowed me to indulge dedicated time to the hobby and also, more importantly, see the goodies upfront and in person... 

The train was the obvious choice as the thought of driving from South Wales to London and then parking was not high on my list of enjoyable things to do. Being on the train would also mean I could relax and look forward to the show itself. The only wrinkle was that I had sold my 3-D printing set up (unused!) and was bringing with me to the show to meet up with the buyer in person. That meant 2 large bags and a rucksack which didnt fill me with the joys of spring on having to lug around with me. Still, money from the sale would greases the wheels of show purchases so not a bad trade off. I managed to get a cheap early train from Newport to Paddington which would allow me enough time to then get the Docklands train down to Excel, into the convention centre, meet up with my buyer (I know how that sounds...) and have some breakfast before joining the queue to the show itself. Phew...

All went to plan and I found myself sitting in one of the concessionary coffee bars in the main concourse, exchanging texts with my buyer (all very MI5...) as to where to meet and what I looked like. I struck up a conversation with a few guys from the Penarth Wargames Club who happened to be sitting next to me and it was actually nice to have a chit chat about the hobby, clubs and life in general. Fast forward one hour and I had divested myself of the 3-D printer stuff, pocketed some hard currency, finished my coffee and wandered off to the entrance hallway for the show. Wow...

There were a lot of people. I mean a lot. I can remember my previous visits at other venues and thought they were busy but this was on a new scale. I have to point out at this juncture that the South London Warlords should be applauded for the organisation of the event and from the get go it was well laid out and impossibly organised as wargamers come in all shapes and sizes and trying to herd thousands of them is a trick worthy of cats.    

The picture above doesnt do it justice but this was my bit of the queue.

Also, the Warlords took their security arrangements very seriously

Once in, I felt overwhelmed with the enormity of the layout as there were literally hundreds of games and vendors laid out in the arena waiting for the assembled hordes to descend. Looking back at it now I am sure that enough money with those vendors to keep a small island republic afloat. As in years past, carrier bags full of stuff were carted around the hall throughout the day and the smiles on the vendors faces were happy but very tired ones come the afternoon.

I had no particular agenda other than to:

a) actually wander around and visit vendors wares in person (this really doesnt happen otherwise in the days of electronic sales and few physical shops)

b) pop in and say hello to the Society stand 

c) take loads of pictures

d) to try not to spend too much with reference to point a) 

I was amazed at the mix both of vendors and and games being run. There was a kind of pirate vibe running through the show although it wasnt overpowering (good). Also there was much that wasnt historical and certainly not ancients orientated. That wasnt a turn off for me as I had spent a fair amount of my younger years doing Sci-Fi and fantasy roleplaying before 'specialising' in ancient wargaming. Having checked the layout and doing a quick 'once around' the hall I then settled down to the serious job of immersing myself in the show. 

discussion on the merits of dice. (the coiled rope was a subliminal nod to the pirate theme of the day!)

First off I decided to pay a visit to the small auditorium that had been set up in the hall for various events throughout the day which kicked off with a discussion on wargame design. I found it fairly engaging but not particularly insightful although I had to laugh when all the participants were asked to name their favourite dice and to a person they all came back with different choices (from memory, D6, D8, D10, D12 and D20).

Richard manning the Society stand (no pirates were harmed during this show)

After that 'warmer upper' I decided to pay the Society stand a visit and found Richard Jeffrey Cook manning it, er, manfully with additional support throughout the day. I then made a few circuits of the hall looking at all the games on show and merrily took a few snaps. It has to be said that the quality and sheer impressiveness of some of the games (too poor a descriptor as a lot were really fantastic dynamic dioramas with dice!) was awesome.

Battle of Ilipa using Strength and Honor rules (never heard of it...)

Excuse me Lady, you doth put me off my shot....

 Also whilst perusing the show I came across wargaming royalty (bow, scrape, etc)

Royal Bacon (Martin Goddard aka Peter Pig...oink)

Mark Backhouse and Guy Bowers (I can crush your armies with just these 2 digits...)

Simon Miller of 'To the Strongest' fame

After looking at these I then allowed myself some time to search out the traders and managed to poach a few 'show bargains' although that's what I told myself anyway...

Making a beeline for Baccus

By the middle of the afternoon it was time to go as I had a train to catch and a lot of responsibilities waiting for me at home. So I couldn't tarry any longer and made my way to the various stations along the way back. Unfortunately, the sting in the tail/tale is that upon my arrival at Newport train station I was greeted with a voicemail telling me to get back to my parents in law's house asap. I got there to just walk in on a paramedic calling the time of death of my mother in law, who as it transpires had had a heart attack half an hour earlier. She had really bad dementia (as does my father in law) and so in a way it was a quick passing but painful non-the-less. A bitter-sweet day and yet I know there would not have been anything I could have done to change the outcome but there you are.

At the risk of tempting fate, having been to a major wargame show for the first time in ages, I am now minded to go to another if the opportunity arises. Attack in Devizes is this month and a close-ish possibility. Another would be Colour in September. I'll keep an open mind and see where it takes me on the day and if the planets align...