RESIDENTS can step back in time this weekend and take part in a range of Saxon-themed activities at Verulamium Park.

Saxon and Viking re-enactors will bring moments of history to life and residents will get a chance to discover how people lived in Saxon times.

Demonstrations will include the training of the Saxon Fyrd – an army of working men called up to fight – a court session before King Ethelred II and a battle between Viking and Saxon warriors.

Refreshments will also be in keeping with the era and include a hog roast and Saxon beer.

The event has been organised to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the first recorded written use of the word Hertfordshire in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle. The Chronicle is a collection of historical events presented in chronological order which was originally compiled on the orders of King Alfred the Great in approximately 890AD.

Councillor Mike Wakely, portfolio holder for sports, leisure and heritage, said: “This is a fantastic event that will provide visitors and local residents with an insight into everyday life in St Albans during the Anglo-Saxon period.”

A small parade of Saxons and Vikings will set off from Christopher Place at 10.30am on Saturday and Sunday before the events kick off between 11am-4pm in the fields closest to Verulamium car park in St Michael’s Street.

MP Anne Main, patron of the St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust, will open the event.

Visitors are advised to use the city centre car parks or alternative modes of transport as there is limited parking at Verulamium.

n A group of Vikings were spotted roaming a golf course in St Albans last weekend.

The 20-strong group were actually friends from the city who were enjoying a day out at the nine-hole course, at Westminster Lodge, in memory of a friend who died recently.

Adam Stock passed away at St Francis Hospice in March following a battle with liver cancer.

Duncan Read, one of the group members, said: “It was a day to remember the humour of the great man so Westminster Lodge was very kind to allow us to wear viking helmets, Adam’s favourite party hat!”

As a thank you for looking after Adam in his final few days, his close friends organised the get-together to raise money for the charity. Westminster Lodge donated half of the admission fee for the round of golf to the charity.

Duncan continued: “We had a fantastic morning and would like to thank Westminster Lodge for all their help.”

They rounded off the day by going for a curry.