News Archive 2018

March - Greyfriars Site

It has been announced that the Greyfriars site in Leicester – the original burial place of King Richard – has been granted Scheduled Monument status, protecting it from further development. Chairman of the Society, Dr Phil Stone, said: ‘This is wonderful news! Members of the Richard III Society and the Looking for Richard Project are delighted to learn that the grave site of the last Plantagenet king is to be protected from the risk of further development.’

March - Reburial Evensong - 25th March 2018

Leicester Cathedral held a special Choral Evensong for the third anniversary of the King’s reburial on Sunday 25th March 2018.

Father Alan Hawker, a Society member, who was heavily involved in the special service for Society members before the reburial conducted the service. The banners were carried from the Visitor Centre to the Cathedral, and the Society Chairman, Dr Phil Stone, laid a wreath on King Richard’s tomb.

July - Middleham Richard III Festival 6th-8th July 2018

Tickets are now available for this year’s Middleham Celebrates Richard III Festival. The Festival will be held 6th-8th July at King Richard’s former home of Middleham.

The event begins on 6th July with a Medieval Banquet. On 7th July talks include ‘The Voice of Richard III’ – with speakers Philippa Langley MBE and Yvonne Morley-Chisholm of the ‘Voice for Richard Project’. On 8th July talks include ‘The Family of Richard III’ and features talks by Matthew Lewis on Richard, Duke of York; the Richard III Society’s Research Officer Joanne Laynesmith on Cecily Duchess of York; and Philippa Langley MBE who led the search for King Richard III.

During the days, stalls and other entertainments will be available in and around the castle, and the King and Queen will once again be in residence. The Society will also have a stall so please come and say hello!

Tickets for the banquet and talks are now available from the Middleham Key Centre on 01969 624411, Monday – Thursday 9am-2pm.

29th April - Trial of Shakespeare's Richard III - King Not Guilty

In a trial of Shakespeare’s Richard III held in aid of the Shakespeare Schools Foundation at the Novello Theatre in London on 29th April, King Richard III was found ‘Not Guilty’ by the jury. The Society’s Chairman, Dr Phil Stone, attended the event and reported:

‘In a truly enjoyable evening, the Shakespeare Schools Foundation mounted their trial of Richard III. As well as specialist legal teams and great acting among the principal witnesses – Buckingham, Deighton and Forrest, Lady Anne Neville – a group of school children enacted scenes from the play to illustrate some of the ‘crimes’. They also put on a superbly funny pantomime to illustrate who all the Edwards and Richards were, how they were related, and what happened to them. Richard III was tried for the murders of Clarence and the Princes in the Tower and at the end of the trial, the audience was the jury and asked for its verdict. Much to the chagrin of the Prosecution, Richard was declared NOT GUILTY.’

The Society provided the following article for the event’s programme, highlighting the differences between Shakespeare’s version of Richard and the real man:

Was Shakespeare’s Richard III the real Richard?

‘It must be remembered that history is written by the victors. When Richard III died in battle, his supporters were silenced. Henry Tudor’s claim to the throne was weak and he blackened Richard III’s name to justify taking it.

Most historical accounts of Richard date from after the battle of Bosworth which began the Tudor Age. No one dared to defend the late king. Shakespeare used these sources and, through the genius of his writing, an evil caricature was created.

There is no contemporary evidence that Richard was deformed, that he killed Henry VI or the Duke of Clarence, or that the Princes were killed in his reign. This is not to say that Richard was a saint – he lived in turbulent times – but the real man was a faithful son and loyal brother.

His one Parliament showed his desire to rule justly and well. It was notable for its enlightened legislation which helped the lower classes as much as the gentry and merchants. The achievements of his short reign were real and had lasting impact. His legal reforms continued after his death, with some still embedded in our laws today.

There are many possibilities as to the fate of the Princes in the Tower but there is no evidence to confirm any one of them. Richard had motive to kill them but so did others – Henry Tudor, his mother, Buckingham. To kill them would have gone against Richard’s sense of family and his promises to his beloved brother Edward. The boys may even have survived their uncle and lived abroad.

Shakespeare was a great dramatist, but he never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Margaret of Anjou is an important character in the play but she had died in exile in France before Richard came to the throne. In ‘Henry VI Part II’, Richard as Duke of Gloucester, kills the Duke of Somerset at the first battle of St Albans. However, Richard Plantagenet, as he then was, was not yet three years old at the time. And so Shakespeare’s ‘history’ goes on. His Richard III is a great dramatic character, beloved by actors who have played him, but historically it does not compare with the real man.

The Richard III Society was founded in 1924 by people unconvinced by the Tudor myths. Today it ha a worldwide membership of some 3,500 based mainly in the United Kingdom, the USA and Australasia. The Society’s Patron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester has said: ‘The purpose and indeed strength of the Richard III Society derive from the belief that the truth is more important than lies.’

18th May - Dr John Ashdown-Hill

It is with sadness that we announce the passing on 18th May 2018 of Dr John Ashdown-Hill. A prolific and popular author, John played an important, not to say critical, role in the Looking for Richard Project. It was he who tracked down Mike Ibsen, one of the two whose mtDNA helped to confirm that the remains in the car park were actually those of King Richard. When we first learnt of John’s illness, one could only wonder how long he had before he succumbed, motor neurone disease coming in various forms, some worse than others. For John, his passing was probably a blessing though he will be much missed by his friends and members of the Society. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this time. The news comes too late for the June issue of the Ricardian Bulletin but there will be a full tribute in the September issue.

Executive Committee

23rd July - Keith Horry, the Society's Non-Fiction Librarian

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of our Non-Fiction Librarian, Keith Horry, who passed away on the 19th July after a period of illness. He had been librarian since 2006. There will be a full obituary and other tributes in December’s Bulletin. In the meantime, we extend our deepest sympathy to his widow Lisa and son Gareth.

Lisa Horry has very kindly agreed to maintain the library until a replacement librarian can be found but we ask members to show patience when applying to borrow books and to appreciate that Lisa is undertaking the librarian’s role at a very difficult time.

The Society will now be recruiting a new Non-Fiction Librarian, so please see the forthcoming September Bulletin for further details.

Phil Stone for the Executive Committee

30th July - The DNA of the Missing Princes

A recent newspaper report announced that newly discovered DNA could prove whether Richard III murdered the Princes in the Tower. What is the real significance of this discovery?

The research was undertaken by Society member, Glen Moran, after hearing a talk by John Ashdown-Hill, He revealed that, contrary to previous assumptions, an all female line had survived on the princes’ mother’s side This means that mitrochondrial DNA that would match the princes could be identified.

If it were possible to examine the DNA of any of the various bones speculatively identified as those of the ‘Princes in the Tower’, this new discovery would help to establish for certain whether they really are those of the missing princes. The DNA already obtained from Richard III would also be key.

If the bones did include Richard III’s male line DNA then it would be certain that they were closely related. However, technically, they might still be another relative, such as otherwise unknown royal bastards. This is, of course, highly unlikely, but only with the female line DNA as well could scientists be absolutely certain.

The other scenario in which the female line DNA could prove significant is if either Cecily of York (the princes’ grandmother), or Elizabeth Woodville (their mother) had been unfaithful so that their offspring did not actually share the male line DNA of Richard III. Again, this is highly unlikely, although some historians and writers have argued that we should believe contemporary rumours that Edward IV was illegitimate, (For a recent refutation of ‘evidence’ for this, see Livia Visser-Fuchs’ article in the most recent edition of The Ricardian).

Could this impact on our understanding of whether Richard III killed the princes? This would depend on finding bones that could positively be identified as those of the princes. If the evidence of the bones indicated that the boys were clearly too old to have died in Richard III’s reign, then we would know that he could not have ordered their deaths. There are of course various sites rumoured to hold the remains of one or other of the princes, but whether the right body can be found and access granted for testing is of course another challenge. Unfortunately, if the boys merely fell sick or were killed by someone else during Richard’s reign, or shortly afterwards, the mystery would remain even if the bones could be found.

11th August - Bosworth Commemorations 2018

Saturday 18th August – Choral Evensong at Leicester Cathedral. A special service of Choral Evensong with rose laying to mark the anniversary of the death of King Richard II at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 will be held in Leicester Cathedral on Saturday 18th August 2018 at 5.30pm to be followed by refreshments in the Cathedral.

Preacher: The Bishop of Loughborough, Service sung by the Choir of St Wulfrum’s Grantham. All are welcome.

There will be the usual parade with the banners and Society Chairman, Phil Stone, will lay a wreath at King Richard’s tomb.

Wednesday 22nd August – Commemorative rose laying at Bosworth Battlefield led by The Right Reverend Martin Snow, Bishop of Leicester, and Reverend Julia Hargreaves, at the Memorial Sundial, Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre. Event starts at 11am, all are welcome.

11th August - Richard wins Bosworth this year!

The annual Bosworth commemoration will this year be a little different, with an ‘alternative’ version of the battle – with King Richard emerging victorious – will be staged at 11.00am on the mornings of Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August.

Press Release

This year’s Bosworth Medieval Festival is set to present a twist on the history-changing Battle of Bosworth – by exploring what would have happened if the outcome had been different and King Richard III had won the day. The Festival takes place this year on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August, with lots of activities for visitors of all ages, jousting, archery, cannon fire demonstrations, living history encampments, guided tours, author talks, a medieval craft market and loads of exciting fun, hands on games and competitions for children.

Both days of the Bosworth Medieval Festival end with a minute’s silence, followed by a full re-enactment of the famous battle of 22nd August 1485, complete with massed infantry, archers, cannon cavalry and commentary, to commemorate those who fought and died in 1485.

In the re-enactment – as in reality – Richard III dies fighting surrounded by his enemies and Henry Tudor, with help from the Stanleys, wins the day and the crown of England.

This year there will also be an alternative battle at 11am on both mornings. The Wars of the Roses Federation, in conjunction with Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, will explore what led to King Richard III’s defeat by presenting an alternative Battle of Bosworth, in which the Plantagenet monarch manages to win the day and successfully defends his crown.

The true outcome of Bosworth was a turning point in English, European and international history, but in a special interactive 30 minute debate session on each day the audience will be led in a discussion about what might be different today if Richard had been the victor on 22nd August 1485. These debates will be at 10.15am on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday and are available to Medieval Festival ticket holders at an extra cost of £3.

Councillor Richard Blunt, Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet Minister for Heritage, Leisure and Arts, said: ‘Bosworth Medieval Festival is a great event, with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained, The morning battle showing an alternative outcome to the Battle of Bosworth is an excellent new addition to the weekend’s programme.’

Heritage Development Manager, Richard Knox said: ‘The Battle of Bosworth was a pivotal moment in English history, bringing the Tudor dynasty to the throne. This year, as well as re-enacting the Battle of Bosworth and remembering those who fought and died in it, we will be looking at what would have happened if Richard III had been victorious.’

‘Would England have remained a Catholic country if the Tudors had never come to the throne? What would our legal system look like? Would we have a very different society to where we are today?’

‘The alternative battle outcome and the interactive debate sessions will offer visitors a new insight into the Battle of Bosworth and we are really excited to be able to add this to our popular Bosworth Medieval Festival programme.’

Tickets for Bosworth Medieval Festival can be booked online at www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk or by calling 01455 290429 between 10am and 5pm. They are also available in person from Bosworth Battlefield, 1620s House and the Century Theatre. Buy before midnight on 17th August and save 10% on all ticket prices. Please note that a £2 transaction fee is applicable for telephone sales.

23rd August - Historic Bosworth Battlefield site threatened

Sadly, we have learned today of plans to build on part of the historic Bosworth Battlefield site, where King Richard lost his life 533 years ago yesterday.

While the public consultation period for this has now ended, we are hoping that if enough objections are raised, even at this late stage, the council will take note and reject this application.

If you wish to contact the council and raise an objection, please email the following:

helen.knott@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk (case officer) and also copy to planning@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk Please quote planning reference 18/00425FUL.

The planning meeting regarding this application is to be held next Tuesday 28th August, so time is very much of the essence.

Please also be aware that our Chairman, Dr Phil Stone, will be contacting the Council on behalf of the Society, so your emails should come from you personally, not the Society.

26th August - The Battlefield of Bosworth under Threat

The Richard III Society, along with many others such as the Battlefields Trust is appalled to learn of the planning application by Horiba Mira Ltd to build a testing facility for driverless cars on part of the site of the historic battle of Bosworth where in 1485 King Richard III lost his life and crown. We have written to the relevant planning authority, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, to voice our strong objections on behalf of our worldwide membership.

It is even more disheartening that news of this application was only made public on the 22nd August, the very anniversary of the battle, just a week before it is due to be considered by the council’s Planning Committee on the 28th August. There are many interested parties whose views should have been sought earlier and it is of considerable concern that so little time has now been allowed for those voices to be heard.

The site of the battle of Bosworth is of vital national and local importance, the land under threat even more so given its proximity to the area n0w identified as being where King Richard III fought his last stand. Bosworth is one of just 46 battlefields given registered status by Historic England.

The Richard III Society urges Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and all those involved with this planning application to take note of the outpouring of objections from interested parties who care about the integrity of the battlefield and its value to our heritage.

At the very least the Planning Committee should put this application on hold and allow a proper and comprehensive assessment to be made of its impact on the battlefield, its archaeology and its tourism value. To give approval without such consideration and to ignore the many objections received would be a betrayal of our heritage and set a dangerous precedent.

The Richard III Society

Download and read the press release.

12th September - Parliamentary debate about Bosworth Battlefield

A debate in parliament about the protection of Bosworth Battlefield will be held in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 12th September at 4.30pm and will be led by Chris Skidmore MP. Chris states: ‘The battle site is remarkably well preserved – as recent archaeological investigations have shown, there is still much evidence buried beneath its fields. As the discovery of Richard III’s remains under the tarmac of a car park in Leicester demonstrate, our hidden past can unearth remarkable finds. Yet this planning application for a huge driverless car testing track due to be decided on 25th September threatens to tarmac over a historic battlefield – setting a dangerous precedent for battlefields and archaeological heritage across the country that deserves to be protected for future investigation.’

Please can we urge our members within the UK to contact their Members of Parliament immediately and ask them to support this debate.

The planning meeting of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to decide the fate of this portion of Bosworth Battlefield fast approaches, and Bosworth is in real danger. Once lost, it is lost forever.

Please join us in making our voices heard!

September - Open Letter to the Planning Committee

The battle of Bosworth was one of the most significant events in English history. It is remarkable for the fact that it featured the final cavalry charge of the last English king to die in battle. This event led to the end of over three hundred years of Plantagenet rule, and the beginning of the Tudor era.

Despite being a Society with a research focus firmly on events of the past, we are in no way opposed to technological progress. It was indeed more recent advances in genetics and DNA fingerprinting which allowed King Richard himself to be identified once his remains were located beneath the Social Services car park in Leicester in 2012. However, we are concerned that something as historically and culturally important as the battlefield, which has a direct relevance to the king now buried in Leicester Cathedral, will be be adversely impacted by this development. We appreciate the need to test this new technology, but by its nature, and bearing in mind the speed of future technological advances, it is likely to become quickly obsolete, whereas the damage done to the battlefield will be irreperable. We are therefore concerned that the battlefield will be lost for a project which may be important in the short term, but is unlikely to have a significant lasting value across centuries to come. This being the case, surely an alternative site can be found, where our heritage will not be destroyed?

We appeal to the Councillors on the Planning Committee of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to listen, not just to us, but to many of the local residents who have recently commented publicly and signed a petition against this development along with other groups who feel as we do and whose work supports important local tourism in the area. Amongst those are the Battlefields Trust, the Richard III Loyal Supporters, the Henry Tudor Society, and many, many other experts in their fields who hold such strong opinions on this issue they have sent us the statements of support that are included with this letter.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council are the custodians of this unique and historically important place. We implore you to make the right decision and protect the battlefield for future generations. Our trust is in you to ensure that the site can be enjoyed in years to come, as it has been over its long and revealing history,

10th October - Society Memorial Service for Dr John Ashdown-Hill, 16th November

The Society Memorial Service for the late Dr John Ashdown-Hill will take place at Westminster Cathedral on Friday 16th November at 2.30pm. Society members are invited to attend along with John’s family and friends. Please confirm your attendance with the Society Events Co-ordinator Jeanette Melbourne.

Following the service, a reception will be held in the Cathedral hall at 3.30pm, where refreshments will be served. The capacity of the hall is limited, therefore if requests to attend the reception exceed capacity a ballot will be held to ensure fair selection.

25th November - Society Shop new items and Christmas last posting dates

The Society’s Sales Catalogue has been updated with new items such as White Rose earrings, Society mugs, and Middleham and Fotheringhay mousemats – all of which would make lovely gifts for Ricardians everywhere!

Please click on the link at the top of the page to access the new catalogue.

Christmas last posting dates for UK and worldwide orders are:

• Tuesday 4th December – Africa, Middle East.
• Friday 7th December – Cyprus, Malta, Asia, Far East, Eastern Europe (except Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia).
• Saturday 8th December – Caribbean, Central and South America.
• Monday 10th December – Australia, New Zealand.
• Friday 14th December – Canada* Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and USA.
• Saturday 15th December – Finland, Sweden.
• Monday 17th December – Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland.
• Tuesday 18th December – UK, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg.

* There may be a significant backlog of deliveries to Canada due to industrial action currently taking place in that country. Please factor this in when ordering fr delivery to Canada.