IT'S Monday morning in the office and everyone's talking about what they did during the weekend.

Janet enjoyed a barbecue with the family, Dave says he decorated the dining room and then someone asks Wagg' what he got up to.

"Well, I went over to Belgium and fought the Battle of Waterloo," says the heavily-whiskered veteran of many a clash with Bonaparte's finest.

In fact, he might have also added that it had been a close-run thing - but there again, the Duke of Wellington beat him to that quote by a clear 192 years.

Wagg' Ellis-Jones - he's rather reticent about his real Christian name - is Worcester's most celebrated re-enactor, a familiar figure often to be seen striding in a soldierly manner through the Faithful City resplendent in the full dress uniform of brigadier-general of the British Army.

In fact, he one of several rambling soldiers who regularly thrash the Frenchies, from the plains of Spain to those fateful fields not far from Brussels where Boney well, met his Waterloo.

But Wagg doesn't necessarily have it all his own way. For he could well come up against his mate Brian Bullock trying to batter down the gate of La Haye Sainte farmhouse in order to get at those stubborn redcoat defenders.

Bearded Brian is a big Worcester chap and therefore perfect in the role of a French sapper, which is the equivalent of the pioneer corps on the British side. But they're good friends, really Wagg and Brian are leading lights in Worcester Re-enactors, an organisation that is now attracting interest from far and near.

The group, comprising about 25 members, has been running informally for about 20 years, but became official with the first Living History in Worcester Show in 2005.

And they're not just concerned with the Napoleonic Wars, either.

When the late Brigadier Peter Young formed the Sealed Knot in 1968, he started the cannon ball rolling for any number of similar groups.

Brigadier Young lived at Ripple, near Upton-upon-Severn, and was acutely aware of the historical significance of the Worcestershire area when parliament and the monarchy took up arms against each other in the 17th century.

The Sealed Knot was concerned with the English Civil Wars, but soon to join their ranks were the American Civil War Society, the WWII Living History Association and the 1879 Group, a small group of dedicated enthusiasts with a consuming interest in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

Then there is Eye on the Past, a group based at Avoncroft Museum near Bromsgrove.

They present elements of mediaeval and Tudor military and domestic life.

Wagg said: "We have links across the world with other similar organisations. Since the advent of the internet, things have really taken off. For example, when we fought the Battle of Waterloo in 1995, 10,000 people took part - all in period costume. We have actually re-enacted the fighting at Hougomont and La Haye Sainte.

"All our uniforms are authentic and we take great care to script our battles."

Fellow member Mike Bentley nods in agreement. He's a French fusilier and says he does it purely for "escapism".

In fact, re-enactors pursue their hobby for a number of reasons. It needn't be because an ancestor fought in a particular battle, said Wagg. More often that not, it's because a person just likes to dress up. And people from all walks of life take part, too - the group numbers among its ranks a graphic designer, team instructor, lorry driver, ceramic artist and a period interpreter.

Worcester Re-enactors meet at a different pub each week, returning to their regular base, The Saracen's Head in the Tything, on the first Wednesday of each month.

Guests are always welcome to get a glimpse of what makes for an unusual hobby with the added bonus of a great social life.

So if you'd rather mow down the enemy rather than the lawn this summer, you know where to go.

FACTFILE* The Worcester Re-enactors give presentations to schools and Scout groups.

* The group staged a 17th century Murder Mystery night for the Red Cross.

* One hundred re-enactors from around the country attended a costumed ball at the Fownes Hotel, Worcester.

* The re-enactors help out Worcestershire drama groups with kit and support local history groups.

* Worcester Re-enactors boast that they boost the profits of publicans around Worcester every Wednesday night!