Branches & Groups: Introduction

The Richard III Society functions at a local level, both within the United Kingdom and in other parts of the world, through its regionally organised Branches and Groups. Each Branch or Group within the Society has its own annual programme of events. Many of these are open to non-members of the Society. Such local events provide an excellent introduction to the Society and its activities for those who may be thinking of joining. Branches and Groups are also delighted to welcome visitors on a one-off basis to specific events and activities which may interest them. For any query regarding Branches or Groups please contact the Branches and Groups Liaison Officer, Jacqui Emerson.

On a local level (and nationally or regionally overseas) branches and groups have been established and are open to members to join as desired. There are over twenty in the UK and there are branches in America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Recently the Continental Group has been reformed. The activities usually combine a programme of meetings and talks and, in the UK and Europe, visits to Ricardian sites.

Here is a list of the branches, groups and overseas associated branches. If you would like to learn more about an individual branch or group please click on the name to view their profile. Clicking any links in the branch/group description will open the respective site(s) in a new window or tab.

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Click the name of the branch/group to find out more about them.

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American Branch

Website: http://www.r3.org

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Beds & Bucks Group

The Group was first started in 1982 and currently has about 35 members. Despite our name we are open to all and members regularly attend our meetings from North Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire as well as Bedfordshire & Buckinghamshire. We meet monthly, usually on the third Saturday of every month—except August and December—and we have an annual subscription of £3.50. Each year we try to have a mixture of talks and visits either directly relating to Richard III or to the late medieval period. Talks and discussions are held at members' houses.

Secretary: Roger Bradban.

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Bristol Group

Bristol Group meetings take place on the third Friday of each month at 7.30pm and are in members' homes in the Bristol/Chippenham/Swindon area. Refreshments are provided at all sessions! Meetings can be in the form of talks given by members or guest speakers or discussions/short papers with several members contributing.

Secretary: Keith Stenner.

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Canadian Branch

The Canadian Branch, founded in 1966, has over 60 members across the country. Despite the geographical distances between us, members stay in touch through the newsletters and via e-mail. Toronto-area members host meetings in their homes on the second Sunday of each month, from September to June. It's an occasion for us to meet and share our common interests, present and discuss research papers, and plan Society activities. On or near the date of King Richard's birthday (October 2), we hold our Annual General Meeting and Medieval Banquet in Toronto. In June we celebrate the founding of our branch with a potluck picnic. Canadian branch members also receive our newsletter, the RIII, three times a year, and have access to the Buyers Library containing over 200 items, including books, papers, audio and video tapes and DVDs.

Website: http://home.cogeco.ca/~richardiii/

Secretary: Sheilah O'Connor.

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Croydon Group

The Croydon Group was founded in the 1980s by Roy and Shirley Linsell. We met regularly at their home until they retired to Seaford in Sussex. We try to meet from time to time and also participate in the London Branch activities. Our membership is small but we focus on keeping in contact. Anyone who lives south of Croydon is welcome to join us.

Secretary: Denise Price.

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Cumbria Group

The Cumbria Group is small, ten members, but nevertheless we have interesting and stimulating meetings. We do our own research and presentations; afterwards there is always a lively question-and-answer session and discussion. We do not meet during the winter in view of possible bad weather and road conditions. In summer we have outings planned by ourselves - to places of historic interest connected with Richard if possible, and usually medieval. These outings are very popular. As we are a small group, the dates of meetings are usually arranged only a month ahead to everyone's convenience, and are held in our own homes, which provides a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Secretary: Marjorie Smith.

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Devon & Cornwall Branch

The Devon and Cornwall Branch was founded in 1979. All meetings are held at The University of Plymouth, which is situated in the city centre. Our meetings are friendly and open to all members. The meetings run from Noon until approximately 3pm.

Branch Events:

9 March Guns & Roses: A talk by Tomas Eriksson on the use of black powder ordinance and how it was employed by both Yorkist and Lancastrian forces during the Wars of the Roses.

11 May : Branch members research on Richard III's visit to the West Country in 1483. We will meet to pool information. With a view to possibly offering a short talk to external interested parties.

13 July Keith Stenner: Richard III as Soldier.

12 October: Annual General Meeting.

December: Christmas Lunch.

Secretary: Anne Painter.

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Dorset Group

The Dorset Group was founded by our late President Patrick Bacon in the early 1980s. We are a small, friendly and enthusiastic group meeting in each others homes bi-monthly at 2pm on Saturday afternoons. February, April, June and August meetings have a volunteer speaker from our own Group and October (Richard's Birthday) and December (Christmas) meetings are socials with everyone bringing food and/or drink, medieval if possible. Meetings are held in Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown, Broadstone, and Blandford. We also have several visits each year to places of Ricardian or Medieval interest. In addition to this we often support other events especially those arranged by the Richard III Society and locally those arranged by the National Trust especially at Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy. Members from our neighbouring counties of Wiltshire, Hampshire and Somerset are most welcome to join us but will require their own transport.

Secretary: Babs Creamer.

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East Midlands Branch

We meet at 7pm on the second Friday in the month at the Adult Education College, Wellington Street, Leicester. We have a programme of speakers and visit places of historical interest. A monthly newsletter is produced to keep our members up to date with any exhibitions or events of historical interest in our area and beyond. The annual branch subscription is £7. All are welcome.

Branch Events:

No meetings will be held during January and February.

21 March: 'The Bold, the Fearless, the Good and the Rash'. A talk by Richard Smith on the Valois Dukes of Burgundy 1364-1477.

18 April: 'Movement of Medieval Villages Deserted and Otherwise'. Peter Liddle, Leicestershire County Council's archaeologist, will entertain with stories of medieval villages. Some currently exist and others have completely disappeared..

17 May: Branch Annual General Meeting.

20 June: "Illuminated Manuscripts" - a talk by Miriam Stevenson who will give an illustrated talk on these beautiful and fascinating documents..

July: Please contact Sally with ideas for an activity.

Secretary: Sally Henshaw.

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Gloucester Branch

We have a friendly and active membership who participate in monthly meetings, visits, social events and talks. Branch meetings are held at 2.30pm on the first Saturday of each month and are generally held in the Cheltenham/Gloucester/Tewkesbury area. Bristol Group meetings take place on the third Friday of each month at 7.30pm and are in members' homes in the Bristol/Chippenham/Swindon area. Refreshments are provided at all sessions! Meetings can be in the form of talks given by members or guest speakers or discussions/short papers with several members contributing. We hope to provide something for everyone, whether you wish to sit back and listen or actively join in.

Branch Events:

9 March Guns & Roses: A talk by Tomas Eriksson on the use of black powder ordinance and how it was employed by both Yorkist and Lancastrian forces during the Wars of the Roses.

11 May Guns & Roses: A talk by Tomas Eriksson on the use of black powder ordinance and how it was employed by both Yorkist and Lancastrian forces during the Wars of the Roses.

13 July Keith Stenner: Richard III as Soldier.

12 October: Annual General Meeting.

December: Christmas Lunch.

Secretary: Angela Iliff.

Website: www.richardiiigloucester.co.uk

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Greater Manchester Branch

The Branch was founded in 1975 and covers the areas of Greater Manchester, South Lancashire and the Cheshire/Derbyshire border. Between October and March meetings are held on the first Sunday afternoon of each month from 2pm. Between April and September meetings are held on the first Wednesday evening of each month from 8pm. The meetings are friendly and informal and light refreshments are always provided. Our aim is to produce a varied programme of Ricardian and medieval related topics and include the occasional quiz. Many of our talks are provided by Branch members and whenever possible we invite guest speakers. We also arrange visits to places of historic interest. We produce an annual Branch journal, Semper Fidelis, and our monthly e-mail newsletter, Boaring News, helps to keep members up to date with Branch meetings and activities.

Secretary: Helen Ashburn.

Website: www.spanglefish.com/richardiiisocietygreatermanchesterbranch.

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Lincolnshire Branch

We meet in Grantham, at 8pm on the last Saturday of every month. There are also occasions for banquets, visits, social evenings and charity events, so we certainly keep busy. The format of the meetings varies, including talks by visiting speakers, discussions and debates, a photographic competition, and slide shows of interesting places that members have visited.

Secretary: Jean Townsend.

Website: www.richardthethirdlincs.org.

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London & Home Counties Branch

The London and Home Counties Branch of the Richard III Society is not the oldest, but one of the older branches in the UK, having been founded in 1971, in part to bring together Society members in the wider London area. It is the largest UK branch with well over a hundred members. Because of its size, and the expected attendance at meetings of thirty plus, it requires to meet in formal accommodation, and meets in central London, having in the past used accommodation at Church House, Westminster, the Art Workers Guild, Holborn, the Institute for Historical Research in Bloomsbury, and, currently, alternative premises in Senate House, University of London.

The branch provides a regular programme throughout the year, from autumn through to early summer, including lectures and events, the latter including theatre and exhibition visits. We try to attend productions of Shakespeare's 'Richard III' in the London area, most recently the Kevin Spacey / Sam Mendes production at the Old Vic, and in the past, productions featuring Sir Antony Sher, John Wood, Sir Ian McKellen, etc. Recent exhibition visits have included 'Treasures of Heaven' at the British Museum, and 'Devotion by Design: Italian altarpieces before 1500' at the National Gallery. The lecture programme tries to extend invitations to speakers before they become famous: thus we have hosted Antony Sher [when he played Richard III, and before he was knighted ..], Gustav Milne [before he became a TV personality], Terry Hands – when already notable as a director, and when directing 'Richard III'. The programme seeks to cover all aspects of Ricardian, late medieval and medieval history and life, including arms and armour, battles, medieval housewifery, costume, cookery and food, dance and entertainment, building, religious foundations, etc., etc. Current and forthcoming lecturers include Dr Tobias Capwell, Curator of Arms and Armour at the Wallace Collection, and authors Lisa Hilton and Helen Castor. Information about Branch events is communicated to members by a twice yearly Newsletter, in association with an email mailing list. The Branch subscription is £5.00 per annum, and meetings – venue and speaker fees – are funded, in part, by contribution by attending members. Society members, who are not members of the Branch, but may be in London coinciding with a Branch event, and non-members of the Society, are welcome to attend as guests of the Branch.

Branch Events:

9 February: "The Search for Richard III" - a talk by Dr John Ashdown-Hill, 2:30pm in Room 349..

16 March: AGM followed by lecture 'The Explosive History of Gundpowder - Part 2' presented by Rosemary Waxman in the Bedford Room [G37]. Check Branch newsletter for exact time..

Secretary: Elizabeth Nokes.

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New South Wales Branch

The Branch meets for five general meetings during the year, plus the Annual General Meeting. The meetings are held at The Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney at 2pm, unless otherwise indicated. Talks at these meetings include guest speakers on a variety of subjects but members are encouraged to do their own research for talks and to contribute to discussions. Afternoon tea is provided at meetings and there is also a sales table and a raffle to swell Branch funds. The main event of our year is the service to commemorate Richard's death at the Battle of Bosworth. Social events include lunch gatherings to celebrate Richard's coronation and birthday, and we regularly attend informative lectures provided by societies such as Heraldry Australia . Every other year we send representatives to the Australasian Richard III Society Branches Conventions and in the intervening years we hold a one-day conference to benefit members unable to attend the conventions interstate. We choose to meet in the daytime because our members come from such a wide area and travel long distances. Naturally many prefer to get home the same day - and preferably before midnight!

Secretary: Julia Redlich.

Website: www.richardiii-nsw.org.au.

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New Zealand Branch

The NZ Branch of the Richard III Society was formed in January 1986 and currently enjoys a total membership of around 40, comprising full and associate members. We draw on the whole of NZ for our membership but with over 70% living in the lower North Island we are able to hold well-attended monthly meetings alternating between Lower Hutt and Levin. We usually have a speaker (often a member) or sometimes a group activity such as a quiz on things Ricardian or Medieval in nature. The NZ Branch hosted the Australasian Convention in April 2007.

Secretary: Rob Smith.

Website: www.richard3nz.org.

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Norfolk

The Norfolk Branch of the Richard III Society has recently celebrated its Silver Jubilee. The Branch meets once a month at The Assembly House Norwich on a date decided by the Secretary. A full programme is issued once a year and covers the whole of the following year. An annual subscription of £7 per year is charged, a newsletter entitled 'The Norfolk Ricardian' is published 2 or 3 times a year. The Branch hosts a Study day every November which has 3 or sometimes 4 speakers, all experts in their field. An entrance fee of £2 is charged for every meeting, the Study Day is priced at £20. which includes 4 lectures and 3 lots of refreshments. Contact the Secretary for further details.

Secretary: Annmarie Hayek.

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North East Group

The Group covers Northumberland, the former Tyne & Wear and those northern parts of County Durham with easy access to Tyneside. Formed in 1983, we are a small but friendly group who enjoy discussions, visits and social events. Meetings are held in members' own homes on a rolling basis to enable everyone to play the host. We meet monthly, in the evenings, but the day varies to accommodate as many members as possible. We do not see ourselves as great academics but we enjoy a lively fascination for all things Ricardian, and history in general.

Secretary: Julia McLaren

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North Mercia Group

The North Mercia Group was newly formed in March of 2010. We are a dozen or so enthusiastic Ricardians from South Cheshire and North Staffordshire, who meet in members' homes at 2pm on 2nd Saturday of the month. Our meetings take the form of talks by members on a variety of Ricardian topics, book discussions, watching and discussing videos and social events including visits to sites of Ricardian or Medieval interest in our area.

Secretary: Marion Moulton.

Website: www.spanglefish.com/northmerciagroup.

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Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Group

We were founded locally in 1986 and our members range across a wide assortment of ages, occupations and interests. We try to provide a variety of activities including talks given by guest speakers on all aspects of Richard's life and times, discussions, group visits and the annual quiz - all on the Ricardian and medieval theme. We are fortunate in that many interesting places are so near at hand: Nottingham, Leicester, East Stoke and Bosworth as well as many fine local churches and monuments. We run also visits further afield, open to family and friends; we have been to Oxford, York, Gloucestershire, Chester, Tewkesbury, Stratford and the Globe Theatre to name but a few.

Secretary: Anne Ayres.

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Scottish Branch

The Scottish Branch provides a yearly calendar of events for all those living north of the border and aims to utilize not only our own historical talent but also that of the UK. If you have an interest in Richard III, the Wars of the Roses, and/or medieval history and happen to live in Scotland then this is the place for you. With a membership of all ages and abilities (from a retired Professor of Medieval History to a single mother of two) we are a most relaxed and sociable group whose simple aim is to promote and further the knowledge of this most misunderstood of kings and the times in which he lived in a convivial and stimulating atmosphere.

Secretary: Philippa Langley.

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South Australia Branch

We have been an enthusiastic group since 1983. Currently, we meet at 1.30pm on the first Saturday of each month except January, when we are in recess. Most meetings take the form of talks and discussions, with the odd video viewing and an annual quiz meeting. We also have a medieval dinner (medieval dress optional), usually doing the cooking ourselves. We have an extensive library of books, both reference and fiction, and audio and video tapes, with Richard III and the 15th century as a focus. All these are available for members to borrow, free of charge.

Secretary: Sue Walladge.

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Stafford & District Group

The main focus of this group is to share the pleasure of learning and exploring all aspects relevant to the life and times of Richard III. We welcome as members Ricardians who live in the area - and those who don't. There is no fee for membership of the Group.

A core group live in the Staffordshire area and we hold monthly meetings for discussions, talks and presentations. We also arrange occasional outings to places of interest, one of which, each year, will be chosen to be as accessible as possible to our more distant members.

We are also active as an on-line entity. We are exploiting modern communications to ensure that on-line membership is full and active membership and we particularly welcome those who are unable to get to physical meetings. We have, in addition to our website, a members only Yahoo group, where we hold discussions; help each other with queries; where we can share our individual work with others and also embark upon joint projects. The agenda and minutes of the monthly meetings are sent in advance to all members, so that the comments and ideas of those not physically present are included in the meetings. Attention is paid to co-ordinating both the terrestrial and the on-line elements, so that we are indeed one group, with different modes of activity. Our programme of activities and more, can be found on our website.

Secretary: Penelope Lawton.

Website: http://www.spanglefish.com/staffordanddistrict/index.asp

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Sussex Group

The Richard III Society Sussex Group is active in the Brighton and Worthing area. We normally meet at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of alternate calendar months, starting in January, at the Adur CVS premises in Shoreham. The group is small and friendly. The programme varies: there might be a talk from a member, an outside speaker or a video and discussion. The range of subject matter is quite wide, within the total context of fifteenth century European history; and the extent of members' historical knowledge is also variable. Some come because of an existing interest in the Ricardian era, others because they generally love history and would like to learn more about this period. There is an annual membership fee of £8, and a small entrance charge for meetings.

Secretary: Liz Robinson.

Website: www.communigate.co.uk/sussex/richardiiisocietysussexgroup/index.phtml.

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Thames Valley Branch

The Thames Valley Branch meets each month on Saturdays or Sundays for either an outing or in-house meeting. The latter is usually held at Langley during the colder months whilst outings are arranged for the warmer weather. There is usually at least one external guest speaker each year, and others are drawn from our own members and from the wider Society. Outings include a summer weekend away, which in 2013 will be in Tewkesbury, and which in the past have been based in Ludlow, Middleham, Bury St Edmunds, Lincoln, and Sandwich, as well as one day outings visiting the wealth of local historical sites or exhibitions in London. Any member of the Society is welcome to join the Branch and their participation can be at their own pace. Annual subscription is currently £5.

Secretary: Diana Lee.

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Victoria Branch

The Victoria Branch holds seven meetings during the year, at which talks are given on matters of historical interest associated with Richard III, his life and times. Open discussion is always a feature of the meetings, which end with a supper provided by the members. A Branch Newsletter is published and sent to members before each meeting.

Secretary: Hazel Hajdu.

Website: home.vicnet.net.au/~richard3.

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Western Australia Branch

The first ever meeting of the Western Australian Group was held at the Parmelia Hotel on Saturday the 1 March 1986, and was attended by 8 people. The group was accorded branch status in 1988. The Branch now has approximately 20 members, and meets on the fourth Saturday of each month (excluding December) at the Belmont Sports and Recreation Centre, corner of Abernethy Road and Keane Street, Cloverdale.

Secretary: Louise Carson.

Website: www.r3wa.org.au.

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Worcestershire Branch

The Worcestershire Branch started in 1986, became a branch in 1990, and celebrated our Silver Jubilee in 2011. We meet once a month on Saturday afternoons, indoors in village halls for talks, raffles and refreshments in winter and outdoors for visits in summer. Recent meetings include Bosworth and Stokesay Castle, and a talk by George Goodwin, author of Fatal Colours. We have a stall at the re-enactment of the battle of Tewkesbury in July. Our magazine 'Dickon Independent' is published quarterly. We have a branch library and a web site at our website.

Branch Events:

9 February: A talk on The Stanley Influence at St Leonard's Church Hall, Beoley.

9 March: A talk on Medieval Magnates: A study of the Percies at Upton Snodsbury Village Hall.

13 April: AGM at St Leonard's Church Hall, Beoley.

8 June: Outing and picnic at Lower Brockhampton Hall, Worcestershire.

13-14 July: Tewkesbury Battle Re-enactment and Medieval Fair. We shall have our stall on the Saturday.

10 August: Evening walk around Pershore.

14 September: Heritage Day in Temple Balsall.

12 October: To be arranged.

9 November: A talk on Tedstone Wafre and the Mortimer Connection at Lansdowne Church Hall, Malvern.

14 December: Christmas Party at Upton Snodsbury Village Hall.

Secretary: Pam Benstead.

Website: www.richardiiiworcs.co.uk.

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Yorkshire Branch

The Yorkshire Branch is the oldest Branch of the Richard III Society, and was formed in late 1960 at the time of the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Wakefield. Our Branch magazine, 'Blanc Sanglier' has been running since the mid-1960s, and all Society members are cordially invited to subscribe: there are three issues a year (December, April and August) together with a Newsletter. Current rates are: UK subscribers £7, Europe £8.50, rest of world £10, all inclusive of postage. The three Newsletters alone are available for £3.50 /£7. Contact our Secretary Pauline Harrison Pogmore at our new website, if you would like to become a subscriber.

Branch Events:

24 March: Battle of Towton Commemoration at Towton Hall, 10am to 4pm.

27 April: The Arthur Cockerill Spring Lecture, Jacobs Well, Trinity Lane, York at 2pm. The lecture will be "Arms and Armour in the Wars of the Roses Period", and will be presented by a representative from the Royal Armouries staff..

15 June: Yorkshire Branch Study Day. Jacobs Well, Trinity Lane, York 10am to 5pm. Talks will include "The Black Death in York", "Witchcraft", "The Longbow", "The Earl of Warwick", and "Prominent Women 1100-1500". Full details will be available early in 2013..

25 August: Coverham Abbey and the Commemoration of the Battle of Bosworth. After a private visit to Coverham Abbey, the Branch will visit Middleham Church for the Annual Commemoration of King Richard's death at the Battle of Bosworth. Full details from the secretary early in 2013..

7 September: Yorkshire Branch AGM, Jacobs Well, Trinity Lane, York, 1.30pm.

Secretary: Pauline Harrison Pogmore.

Website: www.richardiiiyorkshire.com.