Member Profile: Rob Jeal

Age: 13

Sex: Male

Where do you live? Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds with my twin sister Hannah, my little sister Catherine, my Mum Claire and my Dad Mick.

Personal details: I like reading books and I like listening to music. I go to the cinema a lot and go out with my friends at the weekend when there isn't a battle. Everyone in my family is a member of the Sealed Knot

Why did you join the Sealed Knot? I originally joined because my Dad did it when I was really young. I now do it because I enjoy meeting with all the different people I know and we always go to a different place to do the battle.

What do you like about the Regiment and the Sealed Knot: I like the people in the regiment because they are friendly and funny. They treat me like an adult. I have friends outside the regiment and I have made new friends at the Apprentice at Arms. The Apprentices is where you can learn how to use 17th century weapons and learn how to be safe on the battlefield when you are of age. You can also take your test for the different weapons. You don't always pass. We also take part in pre-battle displays and help out with the pyrotechnics, medics and crowd line work. In the evening there is usually a disco or a band at the beer tent, this is really good fun and you can socialise with your friends from the regiment or others you know and stay up really late. The regiment I am in is known for being very good on the battlefield.You can watch the battle if you want and people from the crowd usually like to ask you questions about the Sealed Knot and about what we do. If you don't want to watch the battle you can stay at the campsite. You can go to the living history camp or there are sometimes fairground rides at majors (we had a battle at Wicksteed Park and got discount on the rides).

What you dislike about the Regiment and the Sealed Knot: The clothes we wear aren't the most comfortable or trendy clothes around but you do get used to them. They do look embarrassing but anyone you know outside of the Sealed Knot won't find or see you because you're always in a different part of the country, there are very rare occasions when there's one near where you live but you don't have to wear your kit all the time. I don't like the toilets because they smell, they are only emptied once a day. They run out of toilet roll and you sometimes have to queue. I don't like the fact that you are woken up early because some people get up early.

Advice for other kids who might want to join: If you come to a battle then always do your homework before you come so you don't have to worry about it at the weekend and always get an early night before you come because you often stay up late and get up early. Its a good idea to bring money because there's shops and sometimes fairground rides etc.