Colin Rixon

Wellesley resident Colin Rixon loves joining reenactments, collecting antique military vehicles - Wellesley, Massachusetts - The Wellesley Townsman
Wellesley —
Forget about playing a Saturday round of golf or lying on the sofa reading the Sunday paper. The way Wellesley resident Colin Rixon likes to spend his weekends is huddled in a tent, cooking with iron pots and pans while wearing a military uniform.
Participating in battle reenactments has been Rixon’s passion for nearly 20 years, and he is part of the national network of men and women who gather to recreate the lifestyle of an 18th-century citizen. The whole process, said Rixon in a recent interview, is “exhilarating.”
“You go back in time to understand how people lived in that period of time. Life was harder, [and] people were harder workers. It’s amazing to leave the twenty-first century behind [in the parking lot],” said Rixon.
Rixon’s passion for reenactments partially came from his family’s own military history. His grandfather and father fought in World Wars I and II, respectively. Rixon himself was part of the Blues and Royals, a cavalry regiment of the British Army, before coming to the United States 19 years ago.
The greatest similarity between being in the armed forces and reenacting past battles, said Rixon, is the sense of comradeship that arises from the time spent together. Some of Rixon’s closest friends also participate in military reenactments, concentrating on the Revolutionary War in the area around Lexington and Concord, as well as in Boston itself.
“You really get a feel for the Revolutionary War living in the Boston area,” said Rixon, who enjoys participating in reenactments of events that shaped where he lives now.
Besides what Rixon referred to as the “theatre” of reenactments, he also has used his military knowledge and background to teach others. In full uniform, Rixon used to talk to eighth-grade students about the role of a soldier, and also that of an average citizen, around the time of the Revolutionary War. It was, Rixon said, great to be able to give kids a broader sense of the context for the basic facts they were learning.
Those are not the only ways Rixon is able to stay connected with his military history, however. Rixon also collects World War II vehicles with four friends he met during reenactments and who share his enthusiasm for faithfully keeping to a certain period of time.
Collecting vehicles from the 1940s and 1950s began with Rixon’s purchase of a World War II Jeep nearly 10 years ago. Rixon and his friends store the vehicles, which they often co-own, in a number of locations, including Hyde Park and Holliston. Altogether they have eight fully restored and functional vehicles, which are most often seen in public at Memorial Day and 4th of July parades, as well as at military events, in the Boston area.
Through a network of fellow vehicle enthusiasts, Rixon’s group has access to both the machinery and mechanics to restore the cars they find and purchase. Because the number of people are buying and selling vehicles from certain periods of time is increasing, Rixon said, the necessary parts are usually available, though there is more competition for the cars themselves now.
Rixon and his friends are also often able to research the individual cars they collect to determine their history, especially in terms of where they were used during the war. This sense of context, as well as the military nature of the hobby, ties in with Rixon’s passion for reenactments.
The group and their cars will be in Norwood’s 4th of July parade this year. Though he was born in England, Rixon said, he definitely enjoys the holiday for its historical importance. “I’m enjoying the holiday we gave you,” said Rixon. “And whatever your background, it’s all history