The New South Wales Branch celebrated King Richard’s Birthday – as it is a Must Do every year – on Sunday, 7 October.  Yes, we know the previous Sunday was nearer to the anniversary his birthday in 1452 on 2 October, but our year’s programme planning has to take into account that the first Monday in October is a public holiday in NSW and the weekend is saturated with Grand Final festivities or wakes according to which football code your family follows.  (And we always assume proudly that a NSW side will be involved in every code.)

So last Sunday saw a fine turnout of Ricardians and friends at Arthur’s in Oxford Street Mall, Bondi Junction, a pleasantly comfortable restaurant that is easy to reach (even when City Rail decides Sunday is ideal for trackwork!), has an extensive and affordable menu, is licensed and has a delightful welcoming staff.

Everyone was presented with a white rose tied with ribbons of murrey and blue and it was no surprise that the conversation concentrated on the discovery at Leicester, its implications and the wholehearted thanks of us all to those who have worked so hard with such conviction and diligence.

There was talk of friends and relations who had or have scoliosis and survive actively and with not a glimmer of a hunchback.  There was also much wondering about where the internment of the bones should be should they be proved to be what we all hope.  There was even queries about possible dates so a couple of members could plan visits to the UK to coincide.  The “where” of course brought suggestions and, although we appreciate that Leicester will have a colossal claim thanks to the support of the City, the Cathedral and the University, there was much approval for York Minster a place Richard himself had allegedly requested and in a place that, on  hearing he had been “grievously slain and murdered”, pronounced it was “to the great heaviness of this city”.

Westminster Abbey was roundly negated despite that fact that Queen Anne lies there.  Several  members visiting in recent times have been saddened by the fact that it now seems more of a tourist attraction and commercial enterprise, and the wonderful sense of its place in history can only be appreciated without accompanying crowds.

One of the pleasures of the afternoon was in meeting a new member, Dianne Herbert, for the first time.  She has brought the programme of the RSC production at Stratford that she had attended earlier this year, featuring a great Richard who was suitably slimy and menacing, but who managed to do without the aid of limps, huge hunches and metallic aids to walking!  What pleased her most  – and us too – was the fact that the programme pointed out that Shakespeare actually got it wrong, and it had an excellent family tree and features giving useful facts about the man behind the myth.

The buzz of conversation was stilled when we were reminded of the reason we were all enjoying the company of friends.   We charged our glasses and raised them to the memory of King Richard III.

Loyaulte me lie.

Tags: NSW Branch, Richard III