Ian Wedge

My background as it pertains to the activities of the group covers two aspects. The first, which is what got me initially involved with the team, is as a historical interpreter helping to put artefacts and events into context for the general public. This is something I've done for the last 20 years, working for different museums and historical sites such as Lincoln Castle, the Weald and Downland Museum, Harvington Hall, and the National Army Museum, covering a range of periods from late medieval to the Great War.

The second aspect is my involvement as part of the excavation team at Auchonvillers, having taken part since the second year of digging. Although I have no previous experience of other digs (you can tell I'm not a pro, I use the 'd' word), I was sufficiently familiar with the artefacts to be found and the techniques involved to be able to shift and sift rubble like an old hand!

I have researched several areas of interest over the last 20 years (fencing techniques of the late 16th century and the history of 616 Squadron 1938-45 being two examples), but I have never published any papers as this work has been in a non-professional capacity.