Bjarni Eriksson aka Ivor Wilcox was the founder and driving force behind the creation  of the Longship Trading Company, he started the company in early 1992 along with three friends, Richard Evans, Marcus Field & Simon Blackmore, for a number of years Ivor, Marcus and Simon visited schools together, but personal and family problems lead to Simon and Marcus leaving the company in 1998. Ivor continued by himself and went on to make Longship a great success and was featured in the Times Educational Supplement as well as many local newspapers and radio stations.

Ivor began to feel ill in early December 2007 and was diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer on April 23rd 2008, throughout January 2008 right through to July 2008 he continued to make school visits accompanied by various friends and family to help with the heavy lifting and driving.

Ivor/ Bjarni finally succumbed to the disease and passed away on the 12th September 2008

His funeral took place on the 23rd September and was attended by over 150 people, and a large number attended in period costume and suitable wake took place afterwards.

Donations were made in his memory to the Birmingham Hospital Kidney kids Appeal

He will be greatly missed by his parents Rosemary & John and his brother David, as well as
Family, friends, teacher's and the thousands of children he brought his special magic to

through his teaching of the Vikings & Saxons