Although, as a general rule, novels aren’t the ideal source for historical research, it is always heartening to find our particular branch of the Plantagenet family appearing in imaginative pages.  Happily, in this case, House of Echoes is by Barbara Erskine, who has a degree in medieval history, and her many novels have a commendable ring of authenticity.

In some of her books people of today are linked with characters and events in history and in this story (published by HarperCollins) the connection is with Edward IV (and Richard gets a mention).  Great reading for lazy afternoons, but the chilling mystery could make it a no-no for late-night reading.

Tags: Books, Edward IV

The NSW Branch of the Rchard III Society now has its own facebook page.  Make sure that you visit us!

You can find us here.

Tags: NSW Branch

Plans are well under way for our day-long conference on Saturday, 12 May next year at the Mittagong RSL from 10h00 – 16h30 (registration from 9h30). We have some interesting speakers lined up to include such subjects as Medieval Coins, the Nevill family, Royal Relics and Richard III on Stage.

Expect the usual raffle, sales tables, quizzes of course, as well as morning and afternoon teas and lunch.  We will arrange somewhere for dinner for those staying on after the conference and, on Sunday, hopefully something as interesting as our last visit to the Southern Highlands for a conference.

Keep the weekend free in your diary for our biennial conference!

Tags: NSW Branch

There are, of course, plenty of them, but naturally we picked up on this one from The Book of Hoaxes, by Stuart Gordon that was published by Headline some time ago.

Richard Nixon wasn’t the only Tricky Dicky in history, at least if Tudor propaganda and Shakespeare are to be believed.  In 1485 a desperate villain, surrounded by enemies, shouted `A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!’  But too late.  He was slain.  His crown, found snagged on a bush was placed reverently on the head of his conqueror.  So died Crookback Dick, alias Richard III, the scheming hunchback who had murdered two innocent little children (the `Princes in the Tower’) to grab the crown.  Now the Welshman, Henry Tudor was king – King Henry VIII.  A new more glorious era was about to begin, culminating in the reign of his grand-daughter, Elizabeth.

Right had prevailed.  Evil had been vanquished.

But it wasn’t quite like that. Richard was the victim of one of the most successful posthumous smear campaigns ever mounted.

Why? Because Henry had no real right to the throne at all. The Wars of the Roses had been raging for years; all England was in turmoil, and Henry had grabbed what wasn’t his.  How to justify his act and secure what he had seized? How to persuade the English that a Welshman was their legitimate ruler?

For a start, by painting his predecessor as black as possible.

Thus Crookback Dick, hunchback and murderer!

There is no proof that Richard was either.  On the contrary he appears to have been an astute, capable ruler.  But the Tudors, later aided by Shakespeare’s dramatic skills, got away with it.  The mud they threw has stuck ever since.  Some historians and writers … have tried to rehabilitate him – but, as usual, ‘history is the lie commonly agreed upon’.   In popular imagination Richard will always be an evil, black-garbed hunchback stealing into the Tower to smother two little cherubs, before dying a coward’s death in battle, defeated by the heroic Henry …

Naturally Ricardians beg to differ and will continue to do their level best to prove the truth about the last Plantagenet king of England.

Tags: Books, Richard III

Many thanks to those of you who have sent their subscription renewals to our Treasurer Judy.  If you haven’t already done so, remember they must be with us either by mail to Judy, a direct deposit to the Branch Bank account as instructed on the renewal form, or paid in person at our Annual General Meeting on 8 October 2011.  Whichever method you choose, our subscriptions have to be forwarded to the UK Executive by 14 October 2011 and after that date we have to ask you for an extra $20 to cover the cost of subsequent banking charges.  Of course, if you are renewing as a Friend, this charge is not applicable as you don’t receive the UK publications. We’d still like your payment though!

Let’s hope many of you can attend the AGM to hear what we have achieved in the last year, and what the future holds in store for the Branch.  The committee for the upcoming year will have to be elected and, while some current officers have already indicated willingness to stand again, there has been a notable reluctance elsewhere.  Please consider if you can commit yourself to helping in some capacity.  We have a good deal of work to do with the conference in Mittagong in May next year and the Australasian Branches of the Richard III Society Convention in 2013.  It would be good to see a few more hands on deck – and some ideas as to what you can contribute.  We do appreciate that the demands of family and work can limit the time you can afford to give, but any assistance, even a promise of making items for sales tables, will earn you a gold star!

And the meeting of course will feature a great presentation by Judith on ‘Hildegard of Bingen’.  This incredible woman has been the subject of several lectures around Sydney recently and you won’t want to miss hearing what Judith has to say.

Tags: NSW Branch

The Church of St Mary and St Alkelda in Middleham, North Yorkshire, was elevated by Richard, when still Duke of Gloucester, to the status of a college in 1477 and it retained its collegiate constitution for about 350 years.

The church has a memorial window to Richard III and his family, which was given by the Richard III Society in 1934. The window has St Richard of Chichester, with his emblem of an ox, in the left hand upper light and in the right hand appears St Anne teaching the Virgin to read.  Beneath, in small panels of blue, are figures of King Richard kneeling at a prie-dieu with his son Edward behind him. Facing them is Queen Anne Neville.

A recent inspection of the church fabric revealed the need for extensive repair work, estimated to cost in the region of £160,000

As the church is a Grade I listed building, it is hoped that English Heritage will pick up a large part of the bill, but this will leave the church to raise over £30,000, of which they have about half but need help to raise the rest.

The Ricardian Churches Restoration Fund has made a contribution, but more help is needed.  For us as Ricardians it is important to show our support for this historic church, with its links to Richard III and the Richard III Society.

You can make a donation by cheque (for the details look on the website of the Richard III Society and click on “What’s New?”) or via the Society’s PayPal account. To do this log on to your PayPal account and select the Send Money option. Then select ‘Payment for Services’ option and enter the Society’s e-mail address: ricardianfunds@yahoo.co.uk. Enter the amount to be paid and specify GBP sterling. Please complete the ‘Message to Recipient’ box and enter ‘Middleham Appeal’ This is very important since it is the only way the Society can recognise the transaction and ensure your payment is credited to the Appeal Fund.

Photo:  The Collegiate Church of St Mary and St Alkelda, Middleham (© Copyright Bill Henderson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)

Tags: Church, Middleham, Richard III

The Australian Heraldry Society has yet another intriguing lecture planned.  Those of us who enjoyed hearing Professor Stephanie Trigg from Melbourne University speak a couple of years ago about ‘The Ladies of the Garter’, won’t want to miss ‘The Traditional, the Quaint and the Medieval in Australian Parliamentary Practice’.

Appropriately this will take place in the Parliamentary Theatrette, NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney on Thursday, 13 October 2011.  Entry is by gold coin donation; doors open at 17h45, lecture begins at 18h30.  Refreshments will be served beforehand and, naturally, there will be one of Heraldry Australia’s interesting raffles.

The illustrated talk “explores the medieval component of parliamentary rituals, objects and traditions”… and “the relationship between the medievalism of such objects and practices and the idea of tradition in modern Australian parliamentary practice.”

The Heraldry Society events are always worthwhile, so if you would like to attend  the evening please contact their secretary Stephen Szabo by email:  secretaryATeraldryaustralia.org (replace the word  “AT” with ‘@”).  Please let Julia know if you will be going, too.

Don’t forget to let Social Secretary, Jane, know if you are going to attend the lunch to remember Richard III’s birthday.  Helen Portus is hosting the occasion at her home in Bundanoon, on Sunday, 2 October from 12h00.  Jane has all the information about train times from Sydney and back, but will need to know if you need to be collected from Bowral Station and driven to Bundanoon.  She must know by 23 September so she can give the numbers to Helen.

Tags: NSW Branch, Richard III

We all know Richard Armitage as an actor from programmes such as “North and South”, “Robin Hood” and “Spooks”.  Some of us also have heard before of his great interest in Richard III and making a film about him.

Now you can do your bit to make this come true.  Go to the King Richard Armitage website and sign the petition to encourage potential financiers and production investors to support the “Richard III” project.

There is also an interview with our branch member and former chairperson, acclaimed novelist Isolde Martyn on the site.

Tags: Richard III