BEDFORD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
names
ROGER KIRWIN as "HISTORIAN OF THE YEAR"

Roger Kirwin receiving award from Glenden Casteel, President of BCHS

On April 9, 2011, the Bedford County Historical Society held the Annual Banquet where Roger Kirwin was named as the "HISTORIAN OF THE YEAR." Over the past years Roger has made significant contributions that preserve and present the County's history. Glenden Casteel, President of the Historical Society, presented Roger with his award.

Some of the things Roger did to be recognized with this award are described below.

If you ever see a red or blue coated soldier from the French and Indian War around Bedford County, chances are that underneath the powdered wig and tricorn hat, you'll find Roger Kirwin involved in some form of historical re-enactment.

As Executive Director of Old Bedford Village from 2002 - 2010, Roger lent his expertise in bringing history to life with historical events that enveloped the public in a time warp and that provided the onlooker with a literal in-your-face experience of real history, which one had only read about in history books.

Roger Kirwin Dressed as a Redcoat

Broadening the Village's historical horizons, Kirwin gradually introduced a wide timeline of events to the Village. Roger brought excitement and a whole new way of presenting history to the county. As a result, the once lackluster, poorly attended events began to become very popular with locals and tourists, helping the Village to begin to grow financially solvent.

The historical events that Roger added to the Village include an 1820s weekend, the Revolutionary War, a 1940s weekend, Bonnie Prince Charlie & the Jacobites, a Vietnam educational program, Meet the Civil War Generals, Gunfight at the OK Corral, and a Civil War Weekend. Kirwin and the other historical groups of the County held a large French and Indian War re-enactment celebrating the 250th Anniversary. Braddock's Defeat has become known in re-enacting circles as a seminal re-enactment that is still discussed as one of the all-time great events.

Roger Kirwin first came to the USA in 1967 and spent 21 years within the Harley-Davidson Motorcycles sphere of business. Roger emigrated to the US in 1995 and became a US citizen in 2002. He spent 8 years as Executive Director of Old Bedford Village, from March 2002 through June 2010. Roger is a living historian and a member of the following recreated units: 42nd Black Watch Graham's Coy (F&I), 17th Light Dragoons mounted section (Rev. War), and 1st Battalion Royal Highland Regt 'B' co (WWI). He is a keen motorcyclist and a freelance writer for motorcycle magazines. Roger and his wife, Elizabeth, make their home in Everett.