Iconic outlaw to promote Robin Hood Festival through ‘Tweetes’

Robin Hood will use the social media channel Twitter for the first time to promote the 2012 Robin Hood Festival.

Robin of Sherwood will publish a series of ‘Ye Olde Tweetes’ in the run-up to the festival dedicated to Nottinghamshire’s most famous outlaw, which takes place from August 13-19 at legendary Sherwood Forest.

Experts say that the move is an excellent idea to help the iconic historic figure keep pace with the modern trend of social media and further enhance his global reach to new audiences.

Bob White, Chairman of the World Wide Robin Hood Society, has teamed up with Nottinghamshire County Council to help promote the festival on Twitter. And academic Dr Rob Lutton, Lecturer in Medieval History, in the Department of History, at the University of Nottingham, will use his expertise to advise on the sorts of ‘e-messages’ Robin could have scribed in medieval times.

The county council, which manages Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, which hosts the annual festival, will begin publishing tweets from Robin and his merry men to its near 6,000 followers soon: @nottscc, using #robinhood

A couple of taster tweets and medieval examples from Dr Lutton are below:
Today’s Tweet – I, Robin of Sherwood, warmly welcome you to enjoy the fare and merriment of the annual Robin Hood Festival.

Ye Olde Tweete – Ich, Robyn of Sherwode, hertely welcome yow to joyne me yn grete fare and merye solas ycleped ‘annual Robin Hood Festival’.

Today’s Tweet – The festival is in its 28th year and will take place from August 13-19, in the land that I love, my home Sherwood Forest

Ye Olde Tweete – It hath ben 28 yere sith thys festival first byganne, and yt will taken place fro August 13-19, in myne hoom, Sherwode Forest, whiche ich right moche loven.

Bob White said: “Whatever the trend, whatever the year, Robin Hood remains an enduring figure. It is fantastic news that he is going to swap what would have been firing a message tied to an arrow for today’s Twitter phenomenon and we hope he can build up a fantastic army of online followers to add to his legions of fans in the run-up to the Robin Hood Festival.

“We launched our website (www.robinhood.info) around 15 years ago when the Internet was really gathering momentum and Robin has taken to that so this is the next natural step for our favourite outlaw.”

Coun John Cottee, Committee Chairman for Culture at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “In an increasingly technologically advanced world it is fantastic news that Robin Hood will now be Tweeting messages about our world famous festival.

“The festival will continue to have all of the enchantment and excitement capturing life in Robin’s era in medieval times – but this news adds an extra element which is sure to attract many, many more fans to the legend that is Robin Hood.”

The free event attracts thousands of fans of Robin Hood to enjoy the intrigue and excitement as medieval life is brought to life deep in the heart of Sherwood Forest.

Jousting, archery, falconry displays, a medieval rat catcher and other performers, musicians and entertainers will transport visitors back to the medieval period when Robin pitted his wits against the Sheriff of Nottingham and other adversaries to help the poor triumph over the rich.

The seven-day festival is packed with education and entertainment for all ages with a wide variety of entertainment including costumed characters taking part in the following activities:

• Live jousting tournaments (on the Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday)

• Musicians and entertainers across Sherwood Forest

• Falconry Displays (on the Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday)

• A wide range of craft stalls and activities.

Organisers hope that this year’s event in such a significant summer with the Queen’s Jubilee and London 2012, will also be particularly special for the Robin Hood Festival as Sherwood used to be a Royal Hunting Forest.

Event Listing: August 13-19 Robin Hood Festival, Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, NG21 9HN. Visit: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/robinhood

The event is free, car parking £5 all day. For more details about this year’s Robin Hood Festival visit the Nottinghamshire County Council website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/robinhood

Make sure you also follow Robin as he gets ready for the festival at www.twitter.com/nottscc