Please write Saturday, 15 May 2010 in your diary now. It’s when we hold our one-day conference at the North Sydney Leagues Club in Cammeray from 10am – 4pm.
We’re still in the planning stages, but there is a definite theme of Books and Bookmakers. Already Margaret Patton from the State Library has agreed to speak on printing in medieval times with a special look at maps (something she currently manages at the Library); Carol Gerard is longing to tell us about Caxton and his book The Discovery of Britain’; and Isolde Martyn and Felicity Pulman, whose historical novels are so well known to us, are going to speak on the pleasure and problems of writing them. The day promises to be as informative and enjoyable as our last ”mini conference” at Bundanoon in April 2008.
The North Sydney Leagues Club is very accessible by public transport and, there is plenty of car parking. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea will be provided. We look forward to seeing you all there – and remember that your friends and family are welcome to join us. It’s not a Members Only event!
Tags: Conventions, NSW Branch
Beloved Cousyn: John Howard and the House of York, by John Ashdown-Hill will be published by The History Press in November 2009 (£18.99 in the UK).
Impatient readers who loved John’s Eleanor, The Secret Queen might not want to wait until the author’s new book is published here (probably next year). The History Press have a offer of £15 for members of Ricardian Societies from November 2 to January 4, but we suspect that the offer of free postage and packing doesn’t apply to us. For individual orders contact www.thehistorypress.co.uk and quote offer code HPBeloved. If you would like to be part of a bulk order from either Amazon or The History Press, at about the same price or posssibly a bit cheaper for shared postage costs (to be advised), please let us know at library@richardiii-nsw.org.au by 23 October 2009 (sorry – members only).
John Ashdown-Hill, the Richard III Society’s tireless and ever helpful Branches’ and Groups’ Liaison Officer, sends this information:
John Howard, a 15th-century Suffolk gentleman founded a dynasty of dukes of Norfolk which has lasted to the present day. In 1455 Howard was untitled and obscure; at his death in 1485 he was Earl Marshal, Duke of Norfolk, Lord Admiral and a very wealthy man.
…The author examines Howard’s reasons for supporting Richard III, even at the cost of his own life; he reveals how Richard became king in 1483 and looks at Howard’s involvement with the fate of the ’Princes in the Tower’ and of the royal secrets he knew through his association with the private life of Edward IV.
Beloved Cousyn brings out many fascinating details which have previously been overlooked. The book also re-writes the history of shipbuilding, outlining Howard’s naval innovations, hitherto ascribed to the Tudors. The details of Howard’s death together with the subsequent fate of his remains are also explored.
Tags: Books, Richard III
Posted by: Dorothea Preis in News
Leicestershire Museums report that the Bosworth Battlefield’s annual re-enactment weekend in August was a great success.
In 2008, 2900 visitors made their way to the Bosworth Battlefield site, which had been a record then. However for the 2009 event, figures rose by around 82% to 5300 visitors, as people from as far afield as Australia and America turned out to witness the death of Richard III and the birth of the Tudor dynasty. The War of the Roses thrilled audiences with daring displays of jousting, skills at arms and the finale of King Richard III’s last stand.
For the full article, please click here.
Or you might be interested to have a look at the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre.
Tags: Bosworth, Richard III
SUBSCRIPTIONS, COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS, THE AGM
The AGM is later this year (7 November) because of the Australasian Branches biennial convention in Perth in mid October.
Please remember that your subscription for the Ricardian year 2009 – 2010 is due by 2 October 2009 to send to the UK, as the Ricardian Year lasts from 2 October (Richard III’s birthday) to 1 October the following year. We pay our members’ subscriptions in bulk. Unfortunately for all subscriptions received after that date, we will have to charge you an additional $20 to cover the costs of the individual transfer.
It would be greatly appreciated if all subscriptions could be with Treasurer Dorothea Preis by 25 September 2009. Please write that cheque now if you haven’t already done so – or pay by direct credit, the details were given on your subscription form that was sent to you earlier this month.
Any committee nominations are still gladly accepted, please send the filled in form to Secretary Julia Redlich. Should you have mislaid any of the forms, please contact us at info@richardiii-nsw.org.au.
Ever thought about joining our Society? Now is the time to act! Please contact us at info@richardiii-nsw.org.au as soon as possible so that your subscription can be included in the bulk transfer. Joining our Branch has a number of advantages.
- You receive the four annual issues of the Ricardian Bulletin and the annual Ricardian, published by the Richard III Society.
- You receive the annual Chronicles of the White Rose, published by our Branch. It contains transcripts of talks presented to our branch and other interesting articles.
- You can attend all our general meetings and the conventions at the members fee, with all the interesting talks and activities presented. You are of course welcome at all social events.
- You have access to our extensive library containing both fiction and non-fiction books of a Ricardian/medieval context
- And you will meet lots of friendly people who share your interst in medieval history.
Tags: NSW Branch
Posted by: Julia Redlich in News
An article in a recent issue of the BBC History Magazine deals with a new book by David Hipshot called Richard III and the Death of Chivalry, published by History Press.
For those of you who believe that Henry Tudor had something to do with it, or even the lack of a mount for a suddenly horseless Richard, you might like to think again. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bosworth, Richard III
Posted by: Dorothea Preis in News
The Yorkshire Post of 4th September 2009 reports that the local council responsible for Middleham, Richmondshire District Council , is consulting the public on possible extensions to the conservation area at Middleham.
It’s heartening to notice that in the area where people knew him best Richard remains to be seen in a positive light as the first sentence of this article suggests: “Middleham is famous for its association with Richard III, its castle and as the northern capital of the horse racing industry”. To this day Middleham regards itself as “The Royal, Loyal and Ancient Township”, thus keeping Richard’s motto, Loyalty Binds Me, in mind.
The proposed extension plans include an area to the north between the Busks and the River Ure, and an open area to the south east. Council planners say that the northern area is important as there was the old road to Richmond via a ford (now bridge) across the River Ure. It used to be planted with an avenue of trees, mostly limes, which drew the eye to and from Middleham.
The south eastern area is of historical significance as there is archaeological evidence of many buildings, which are thought to have housed the stables for the Castle and might also have contained a water garden or ponds. There is also evidence of a former hospital.
If you are interested, you can read the article by Brian Dooks in the Yorkshire Post here.
Find out more about Middleham and its castle here.
Tags: Middleham
