Extract from ABC News
Feel good
Alpin Grant, better known as King Alpin Wülfhammer, has built a medieval property on his farm in Dardanup. (ABC South West WA: Bridget McArthur)
In short:
Scottish-born Alpin Grant runs South West WA's only medieval social group on his Dardanup farm, which features a tavern, a mead hall and a fighting arena.
Mr Grant and his wife, Laura, are the "king and queen" of the Balingup Medieval Carnivale that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
What's next?
The couple is keen to continue developing the festival and bringing awe to the local community.
As a boy growing up in Scotland, Alpin Grant dreamed of being a knight.
The idea took root as he watched a Viking ship run aground on the shores of Arbroath, at a medieval festival.
"These guys … jump out of the ship, have a fight in the water and on the beaches," he recalled.
"Then they would drag the boat up to be burned later that night."
Alpin Grant attended medieval festivals as a boy in Scotland. (Supplied: Alpin Grant)
The re-enactment lit a fire in him and, unlike most people who shed their childhood fantasies as they get older, Mr Grant leaned in.
By day, the 32-year-old works for a mining company in Western Australia, but the rest of the time, he can be found doing "medieval things" and running the South West's only medieval social group with his wife, Laura.
The Kingdom of Athera meets weekly on their farm in Dardanup, south of Perth, which has a fighting arena, a tavern and a mead hall.
The group specialises in sword combat, leather crafting, painting, woodcarving, brewing and blacksmithing.
"I always say it takes a special kind of stupid to get in the ring and hit each other with swords,"he said.
"It's the passion that comes with it — you get to live out your kid fantasy of being a knight in shining armour and hitting each other.
"And I provide a space for that. It's really my thing."
Alpin Grant has embraced the medieval scene in WA since moving from Scotland. (ABC South West WA: Bridget McArthur)
Mr Grant is under no illusions about the historical realities of Dark Ages living, but relishes being able to "pick and choose the best bits".
"There is nothing more adrenaline pumping than hearing that sword clang right in front of your face,"he said.
"Smelling that burning steel two inches from your nose and knowing that could have been my head if I didn't block that."
The Grants were brought together by their mutual fascination with the Dark Ages and have since been crowned King Wülfhammer and Queen Revna of the annual Balingup Medieval Carnivale.
They were originally approached by the festival committee to help breathe new life into the event, which is now in its 30th year and features market stalls, sparring, archery and a blazing dragon.
Alpin and Laura have a love that goes back centuries. (ABC listen: Story Stream)
"I said I'd do it on the condition that I got to be king. I thought that was a pretty good deal," he said.
"People usually ask me if I'm a real knight. Well not really, but in this world, yeah, sure I am."
'Woodstock of medieval festivals'
Ros Benson started the Balingup Medieval Carnivale in 1995, and has seen it grow from a small, "quirky" festival for locals to a major celebration.
"It was just an event for Balingup to celebrate our creativity and wackiness," she said.
"Now it's probably the biggest income earner for Balingup."
The Balingup Medieval Carnivale is known for its "quirkiness". (ABC South West WA: Bridget McArthur)
Ms Benson said local residents were still the beating heart of the festival, something she is keen to preserve.
"Because we're such a little town it means everybody who is able is volunteering,"she said.
"We can't get too much bigger without growing to a bigger town ourselves, which we don't really want."
Mr Grant said the carnival was the "benchmark" event and people planned their yearly costumes around it.
"The effort that goes in is sometimes astonishing," he said.
"It's basically our Woodstock. It's pretty much the event of the year for us medieval enthusiasts."
Alpin Grant says some people plan their yearly costumes around the Balingup Medieval Carnivale. (ABC South West WA: Bridget McArthur)
In an era where the nine-to-five grind dominates most people's day-to-day lives, Mr Grant said the festival was a source of escapism and camaraderie.
He said he had been particularly pleased to see more young people joining in.
"Groups of teenagers, young adolescents [are] just going out for the day and getting out there, enjoying something new and exciting with their friends," he said.
"It's a nice breath of fresh air … something so flamboyant, drums and loud costumes and all of that does wake you up."
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