event OPERATION GAOL HOUSE
OPERATION GAOL HOUSE
PHIL BUCKNALL HEADS TO THE GAOL IN RUTLAND, WHERE HE REPORTS FROM THE LATEST GAME IN AID OF PILGRIM BANDITS. OCTOBER THE 6TH SAW ME driving cross country at an ungodly hour and through some pretty crappy weather to get to The Gaol in Oakham. For those who have never been before it is an ACTUAL gaol as well; obviously no longer in use as a prison but it does represent a pretty unique gaming arena with a mix of outdoors, CQB and indoor areas to fight through. The reason for the early start was the second instalment of the Pilgrim Bandits Invitational games run by John Turrell of JTAC Custom; the first was held at Humber Airsoft earlier in the year in glorious sunshine in an old quarry with a FOB constructed out of HESCO barriers, so it was quite the contrast to the second game. Once I’d managed to find the place - which wasn’t as easy as I thought given its rather unique construction - but it was reassuring to see a good number of players already there and setting up, both from the Pilgrims side (wearing camo) and the Bandits (non-camo
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xmas 2018
wearing) in the ample and heated safe zone. In fact 60 out of the 80 that booked in made it to the day, so it was a good turn out for a site that is quite compact. The comforting smell of bacon wafted through the area too as there is catering on site for breakfast and also lunch with hot and cold drinks available throughout the day, as well as snacks. I was here with the Pilgrims side and it was really nice to see so many players from the first game back for more of the same and to raise money for the Pilgrim Bandits Charity; a very worthwhile cause and to bolster the money raised by the game there were patches, mugs and coasters to buy to commemorate the game as well as two raffles - a free one that all players were entered into and another one with some pretty nice prizes on offer. The free draw was for a rather nice custom pistol from Pew Pew Hub and Elite Shooting Centre and a Nuprol Raven 1911. Both of which went to