Last Friday the mark-makers girded their loins and went back to school – Knight School.

The activity had been announced two days previously with with due ceremony and aplomb (including Game of Thrones theme music, ancient challenge scrolls and oaths of allegiance).

The 2014 summer team building event took us to Warwick Castle, where we were met by a local Knight (Liam, lovely bloke). We practised three different battle crafts as a group, and then split into our four houses: Stark, Greyjoy, Lannister, and Baratheon (obviously.) The houses had been chosen by lottery, and each one had its own artwork.

We had a go at longbow archery…

were schooled in ‘bill drill’…

and were put to the ultimate test: swordplay.

At the conclusion of an epic tournament, the Lannisters were victorious at bill drill, using ruthless tactics and cunning to beat their opponents.

In a display of both military and dramatic prowess, the Starks demonstrated the most skillful swordplay and the most impressive theatrical demise…

The Baratheons, although clearly a house of fearsome rogues, were defeated on all fronts, redeemed only by David’s individual prize, for great feats of courage in all aspects of the battle (or something).

The Greyjoys triumphed at archery, and took the overall prize on points accrued throughout the day.

Other individual prizes were awarded to Chloe for enthusiasm in all her undertakings, to Dean for bill drill skills, to Ali for marksmanship, to Alex for excellent swordplay, to George for great performance in training.

Our training finished just in time to watch the trebuchet demonstration, where the mediaeval siege equipment was only slightly upstaged by modern pyrotechnics. We then adjourned to a great feast. And some pizza.

It’s always great to try something new and get everybody together, and this was undoubtedly a success. Thanks to Nic, David, Peter and Chloe, ye olde organising committee.