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| Commemorative & Celebratory | ||
2006 Celebrations |
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Annual Requiem Mass |
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Bosworth Commemoration |
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Fotheringhay Christmas
Lunch and Carols |
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The
Society celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its re-founding in 2006
and organised a series of special events.
Saturday
25 March 2006. Anniversary Seminar: ‘Troops
and Tactics: Military Matters during the Fifteenth Century’. Tower of
London Education Centre
Professor
Tony Goodman – ‘The recruitment, array, and training of troops during
the Wars of the Roses’. Tony had recently retired from Edinburgh University
and his new book The Wars of the Roses - the Soldier’s Experience
was published in 2006.
Dr
David Grummitt – ‘The French Expedition of 1475 and what the campaign
meant to those involved.’ David works on The History of Parliament project
and edited The English Experience in France c. 1450-1558.
Dr
Michael K Jones – ‘Strategy and Tactics in the Fifteenth Century – Agincourt
1415 revisited’. Michael needs little introduction to members and is
of course the author of Bosworth:
Psychology of a Battle and had recently published a new book on
Agincourt.
Mr
Chris Gravett – ‘Armour and Weaponry in the Fifteenth Century.’ Chris
demonstrated how armour is donned, and removed. Chris, formerly with
the Royal Armouries, now works for the Woburn Estate. He has written
several books published by Osprey on Wars of the Roses battles.
Friday
19 May 2006. Anniversary Reception at
Barnard's Inn Hall, Holborn, London
The
principal London-based social event was a reception at Barnard's Inn
Hall, which included wine, soft drinks and a buffet supper. We were
honoured that the Society’s Patron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, attended
this event to meet members and present the prizes to the winners of
the schools essay and poster competitions. On display were competition
entries which highlighted the extremely high standard of work..
29
September to 1 October 2006. Anniversary Weekend and AGM in York.
There
is no better place to hold the anniversary weekend and 2006 AGM than
York, the most Ricardian of cities.
The exciting package of events included:
Friday
29 September. Evening - Lecture at the Hospitium.
Professor
Tony Pollard of Teeside University gave a talk about his ‘journey’
with Richard III, the state of Ricardian studies and the strange phenomenon
of the unchanging popular perception of Richard III 50 years on. This
was a challenging and entertaining
lecture, with time for questions. The Hospitium is a fourteenth-century
building in the Museum Gardens and proved an excellent venue to begin
the weekend.
Saturday
30 September. Morning and afternoon - AGM and Members’ Day
This
took place at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. There were the usual AGM
attractions including Society and Branch/Group sales stalls, second-hand
book stall, craft sale in aid of the Ricardian Churches Restoration
Fund and tables illustrating the work of the Society. In addtion, there were workshops on palaeography,
Latin, costume and music (with demonstrations by Trouvčre), and hopefully
also on armoury. The AGM began
at 12 noon with further workshops in the afternoon and entertainment
in the afternoon.
Saturday
30 September. Afternoon - Tours of the Minster – 3.30 pm. and 4 pm.
Tours
were arranged around the Minster and the Treasury and members were privileged
to see on display the Vellum presented to the Minster by the Society
in 1966. This records Richard’s first visit to the city
as king and the investiture of his son Edward as Prince of Wales.
Saturday
30 September. Evening – Gala Dinner at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
An
excellent dinner was followed by entertainment provided by the medieval
troupe Trouvčre. Those attending were invited to dress in modern
smart dress or in medieval costume. A best costume competition was held
for those in medieval dress.
Sunday
1 October. Barley Hall – Ricardian Anniversary Fair
The
Society has had close links with Barley Hall since it was first opened
to the public and it is the regular venue for the medieval banquet held
during the study weekends. The management of the Hall arranged for a
number of medieval craft stalls to be set up to demonstrate and sell
their wares. The Hall also had its own shop which sells original replica crafts.
A local re-enactment group, the ‘Company of Palm Sunday 1461’, several
members of which are also Society members, also attended and there were
demonstrations covering weaponry, herbalism and cookery, weaving and
lucetting, candle-making, music and other non-martial skills. The day
provided a fascinating insight into fifteenth-century life in a genuinely
fifteenth-century style town house built on the grounds of and with
material from the original house that stood in Richard’s time. It was certainly a unique
experience for Ricardians. The event was also open to the general public.
Saturday 21 October. Anniversary Seminar: ‘Chivalry, the Order
of the Garter and St George’s Chapel’ - Windsor
Castle, Vicars’ Hall
The
Society was most fortunate to secure this venue for its second Anniversary
Seminar. The Vicars’ Hall is not usually hired out and is not usually
open to the public. So this was a rare opportunity for members to see
this part of the castle. The speakers were:
Mr
Tim Tatton-Brown is the Consultant Archaeologist to the Royal Peculiars
of Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel and spoke on the latter
Mr
Peter Hammond, the President of the Society, spoke on the Garter Stall
Plates in St George’s Chapel
Dr
Anne Sutton and Dr Livia Visser-Fuchs,
well known to us all, discussed
Chivalry and the Yorkist Kings
Dr Lesley Boatwright, the Society’s Deputy Chairman for 2006, spoke about the miracles of Henry VI, who is buried in the chapel
Dr
Rowena Archer, lecturer at Brasenose College, Oxford, spoke about Alice
Chaucer, Duchess of Suffolk and her connections with Windsor and Eton.
There
were also opportunities to visit St George’s Chapel and the day ended
beautifully with Evensong in the Chapel.
Every
year, on the Saturday closest to the anniversary of the death of Anne
Neville, the Society organises a Requiem Mass for King Richard III and
Queen Anne. This is based upon the belief that this is something which
they themselves would have wished for. We know that Richard himself
was assiduous in commemorating deceased friends and relations in this
way, and that his own friends provided for such an annual commemoration
in Cambridge, on the anniversary of the battle of Bosworth, which only
came to an end as a result of the Reformation.
When
the Requiem is celebrated in London it is followed in the afternoon
by a wreath-laying ceremony at Queen Anne Neville’s plaque at Westminster.
When the Requiem is celebrated elsewhere, then the wreath-laying at
Westminster takes place separately, usually on the anniversary day itself.
PLANTAGENET, RICHARD - Remember
before God, Richard III, King of England, and those who fell at Bosworth
Field, having kept faith, 22nd August, 1485. 'Loyaulté me Lie'.
Richard III Society, www.richardiii.net
The Society visits Bosworth on Sunday closest to August 22nd, for its annual commemoration of the Battle. A service is held in Sutton Cheney Church to honour the fallen in the battle and is attended by Society members from around the world. During the service the chairman reads from one of the lessens and two wreaths are hung adjacent to the Society's commemorative plaque, which carries the wording now used in the 'In Memoriam' notices by Society members. After the service many members have lunch in the Village Hall and then visit the Battlefield.
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As can be seen throughout this website, the Society has many reasons for maintaining its links with Fotheringhay, but one of the most joyous is the tradition of the Christmas lunch followed by a carol service in the church. It was begun in the 1980's by Joyce Melhuish and though the basic format of the day has remained the same, the details have evolved over the years. Lunch used to be in the Falcon Inn, but now it takes place in the Village Hall. Also, the event has traditionally taken place on a Sunday in mid December, making it more of an Advent celebration, but since 2005 it has been held on a Saturday.
The day begins with getting to Fotheringhay and for that
there is a coach from London for those who wish it. Otherwise, members
and their families make their own way to the Village Hall for lunch. Then,
suitably fortified with a turkey buffet, followed by Christmas
pudding, all washed down with a glass or two of wine, they walk up to
the church, to be greeted by the bells, and join with members of the
local community.
At 3 pm, after the vicar, resplendent in the heraldic
cope given by the Society, has greeted everyone with a few words, the
service begins with the choir singing a solo item. This is followed
by the congregation singing the traditional Advent hymn, “O come, o
come, Emmanuel”, and from then on, the service is similar in style to
the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge,
with readings from the Bible, congregational hymns and music from the
choir all interspersed to tell the Christmas story.
The readings are shared between parishioners and members
of the Society, and for the most part, they are traditional. However, for
the eighth lesson, which tells of the three kings, the poem ‘Journey
of the Magi’ by TS Eliot has been used since the very beginning. More
recent introductions have been the singing of “While shepherds watched”
to its traditional tune, better known as ‘On Ilkley Moor’, together
with the singing of the Latin words, ‘Adeste fideles’, to ‘O come, all
ye faithful’ to close the service.
The service is always a great success, not in the least due to the superb
singing of the choir, the St Peter’s Singers, who are based in the Peterborough
area, and for many, the event is considered as the great sign that the
Christmas season has really begun. It is an excellent opportunity for
members and friends alike to get together in a convivial atmosphere
in the magical medieval surroundings of the church that means so much
to so many members of the Richard III Society.
Details of each Fotheringhay Christmas can be found in the September issue of the Ricardian Bulletin, while earlier notification of the date is in the Society calendar.