News Archive 2019

18th January - Rhoda Edwards

The Richard III Society were saddened to hear of the death of Rhoda Edwards, author of the novels, Some Touch of Pity and Fortune’s Wheel, and the invaluable The Itinerary of Richard III 1483-1485. Rhoda died on 27th November 2018 and her funeral will be held on 25th January 2019 at Randalls Park Crematorium, Leatherhead, Surrey.  We send our condolences to her family and friends.

8th March - Gift Membership

We are pleased to announce that we have upgraded the Gift Membership presentation pack. This will now be packaged in a smart dark blue box containing all the information and past publications necessary to the new member. It will make a memorable gift A specific form is available for anyone who wishes to give a gift membership. This can be downloaded from the Society Membership page of the website or obtained from E-Mediacy via email or hard copy in the post. There is a one-off charge of £5.00 to cover the additional costs of the new package.

7th June - Establishing a Legal Status for the Society

All members will know that the Constitution Working Party has been looking into the most effective way to establish a legal status for the Society.

To bring about change, our Constitution requires a member-wide ballot to be conducted. Voting papers together with a reply paid envelope have been distributed to all Members by the Electoral Reform Service.

The Constitution Working Party have compiled Q&As about the proposed changes which can be accessed here.

The result of the ballot requires a two thirds majority of those voting for it to be effective.

Members are encouraged to vote and return the ballot paper in good time for the closing date of 22nd August.

14th June - Nominations for the Executive Committee

Nominations are now invited for the Society’s Executive Committee. Members wishing to be nominated must complete the application form, and must be proposed and seconded by members of the Society. The completed form must be returned to the Society Secretary, Susan Ollier, by 1st August 2019.

23rd June - Time for a Final Charge

We have one last chance to reverse the decision made by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council last year to allow building on part of the registered Bosworth Battlefield. There is a legal possibility to reverse the decision – please help us by signing the petition.

This power – part of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 – can be used at any point until building is complete so there is still time to get the permission revoked.

If you can, please sign the petition by following this link:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/261339.

At 10,000 signatures, government will respond to this petition.

At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in parliament.

Which means the more people that sign, the more chance there is of saving Bosworth!

23rd July - Events in Leicester this August

• 17th-19th August: Bosworth Medieval Festival

The annual medieval festival includes two large scale battle re-enactments, jousting and armour mounted skill at arms display, artillery display, and so much more including the Richard III Society stall! Tickets are available online https://www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk/events Tickets are valid for both days but you need to purchase one for either day. You can also visit the Ticket Office (10.00am to 5.00pm) or call 01455 290429. Price: adults £17.50, Concession £15.00.

• 17th August, 17.30: Choral Evensong at Leicester Cathedral

This service marks the anniversary of the death of Richard III at the battle of Bosworth. The banners will be carried and white roses laid. For more details http://leicestercathedral.org/events/choral-evensong-to-mark-the-death-of-king-richard-iii

• 22nd August, 11.00am-11.30am: Rose Laying Ceremony

A rose laying ceremony will take place at the Bosworth Sundial Memorial. For more details https://www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk/events/rose-laying-ceremony-2 or telephone 01455 290429

• 22nd August, 18.30: Reinterment Relived: The Dean Reflects

On the anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth, David Monteith will offer some reflections on Richard III’s reinterment in March of 2015. Leicester Cathedral at 6.30pm. Free admission, no booking required,

• 25th August, 13.00-16.00: Open Streets Greyfriars: Richard III

From April to October on the fourth Sunday of each month Leicester has a themed afternoon of cycling aimed at families in the city centre. The theme in August will be King Richard III.

The Leicestershire Branch of the Society will be having a stall at this event in the vicinity of King Richard’s statue and a talk will be given between 14.00-15.00 at either the Richard III Visitor Centre or the Guildhall. For more information please visit http://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/openstreets Further details will appear after the July event on 28th July.

23rd July - 'Easy Sunday' Music at Fotheringhay

In Fotheringhay Church, starting at 3pm, there is a programme of ‘easy listening’ classical recitals during the months of July and August:

• 28th July Piano duets – mainly French
• 4th August Nigel Stark – organ and piano
• 11th August Jill Crossland – piano
• 25th August The Ternion Wind Trio
• Further recitals in September

These are not formal recitals. Members of the audience are free to come and go as they wish, all that is asked that they make a donation towards the daily upkeep of the church. Further information can be found here.

6th August - Bestwood Lodge Commemorative Plaque

Following discussions at the Society’s AGM last year, the Executive Committee are delighted to announce the first in what we hope will be a series of plaques commemorating events in the life of King Richard. The Society has provided a plaque to be displayed on Bestwood Lodge in Nottingham, commemorating Richard’s stay there in August 1485. It was while staying at Bestwood that the King first heard of Henry Tudor’s invasion.

The plaque will be unveiled by our Chairman, Dr Phil Stone, on Monday 19th August at 2.00pm. This is just two days past the 534th anniversary of Richard leaving Bestwood before heading to Bosworth. Members are very welcome to attend this event – we ask if anyone planning to attend could please let either our Communications Manager, Amanda Geary, know, or our Branches and Groups Co-ordinator, Sally Henshaw know so that we have some idea of numbers.

We look forward to seeing you there!

18th August - John Audsley

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John Audsley on Sunday 18th August. He was 97. A former member of the Yorkshire Branch, until his death, John was for many years a Vice President of the Society. There will be an obituary in the December Bulletin. Meanwhile we extend our condolences to his family and friends.

The Executive Committee

31st August - Society Legal Status: Result

The result is a resounding vote in favour of the proposal that the Society becomes a Company Limited by Guarantee, In a turnout of 83.8%,

• 2,542 members voted for the proposal,
• 41 voted against, and
• 79 didn’t fill their papers

Under the present Constitution, a two thirds majority of the votes cast is required to carry the resolution. With 98.4% in favour, this was considerably more than the required two thirds majority. There will, of course, be a discussion at the AGM of the result and where we go from here. In the meantime the Q&As compiled by the Constitution Working Party about the proposed changes can still be accessed here, with further questions answered here.

The members of the Executive Committee thank the membership for their expression of confidence.

13th September - Two Faces of Fotheringhay Concert, 5th October

On Saturday 5th October in Fotheringhay Church, York Waits will be performing music from the time of Richard III and Mary, Queen of Scots. Further Information.

13th September - Plantagenet Heartlands Tour, 8th-14th September 2020

Led by James Friedenthal

The Croydon Group warmly invite all fellow Ricardians and friends to join us on our trip to Anjou. This is our third adventure and is once again arranged for us by PAX Travel, who will provide us with good local guides.

Our tour will take us to many places associated with the Plantagenets and will culminate in visiting their royal mausoleum at the abbey at Fonteraud.

We shall be based mainly in Tours with visits to Poitiers, Blois, Amboise and Chinon.

We will transfer for the last night to stay at the beautiful L’Abbeye Royal Hotel in the grounds of Fontevraud Abbey, where we shall hold a celebration group dinner.

Seven days, six nights. Transfers and touring by private coach in France. Guided visits and entrance fees appropriate to the itinerary included.

Flights from Stanstead to Tours (ATOL and ABTA financial protection).

Price – £1,059 single room supplement – £258 (limited availability)

Please contact PAX Travel for full details and a booking form, quoting ‘Plantagenet Heartlands Tour’ or give James Friedenthal’s name.

PAX Travel Ltd, 2nd Floor, 102 Blundell Street, London, N7 9BL

Tel: 020 7485 3003

email: info@paxtravel.co.uk

website: www.paxtravel.co.uk

16th December - Gold Half Angel

The Richard III Society was delighted to hear that Buckingham Old Gaol museum has been successful in its fundraising efforts to secure the Richard III half angel coin which was recently discovered locally. The coin will now go on permanent public display at the museum. The Society donated to the appeal and now looks forward to working with Buckingham Old Gaol museum on the coin’s display.

Our Chairman, Dr Phil Stone, said: ‘It’s great news that the Richard III half angel coin has been purchased by Buckingham Old Gaol and that it will be displayed for all to see rather than going abroad. Coins of this nature and quality are very rare. This is a true triumph for history and heritage and members of the Richard III Society will all look forward to getting the chance to visit the museum when the coin goes on display. Well done Buckingham!’

23rd December - Bosworth Battlefield Developments

The Richard III Society have recently been made aware of two potential developments which are likely to impact on Bosworth Battlefield.

The first is a proposal to construct a large solar farm on land adjacent to the registered battlefield. Obviously anything that helps promote more renewable energy is to be welcomed and as this is not actually on the battlefield there are no grounds on which to object. However, we have contacted Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to request that if this development goes ahead, then a proper archaeological survey is undertaken prior to work commencing. We have also requested adequate screening of the solar farm to limit its impact on the battlefield.

The second development is at Stoke Golding, where Tudor was crowned after the battle. This proposal would see six houses built behind The White Swan pub, a plan which would encroach onto the registered battlefield. As the area has already met its target for building new homes, and none of these proposed houses classify as ‘affordable housing’, the Society is against this development and have written to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

Obviously, these applications appear to be a worrying trend, coming just a year after the plans by Horiba Mira to build a driverless car test track on part of the registered battlefield were approved by the council. The Richard III Society hopes to work with our colleagues at the Battlefields Trust and the Henry Tudor Society over the coming year and beyond to try to prevent any further development on this important historic site.