FOR ENGLAND December 2018

St GEORGE FOR ENGLAND DecemberDecember 20182017

In this edition Prince Charles at Seventy Rudyard Kipling The Great War – Poems and Pictures Deutschland – U-155

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Vol 16. No. 3 – December 2018 Front Cover: William Orpen: The Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles, 28 June 1919

34 100 Miles for 100 Years 37 Dr Foster St George for England 39 The Music of England The Official journal of The 40 Letters Royal Society of St George 41 Prince Charles at Seventy The Society stands for: 42 Patriotism I Respect for the Monarchy; Duty to our 43 Robin Sculptures and Book Sovereign and our Country; 4 From the Chairman I The cause of England and Englishness. Benches In accordance with our Constitution, the Objects 5 Vice President RSSG 43 Remembrance from on High of the Society are: 9 Trust Reports 45 50/50 Club One To foster the love of England and to strengthen 11 Branch News 47 Membership Affiliations England and the Commonwealth by spreading the knowledge of English history, traditions and ideals. 21 Cenotaph Notice 48 Branches List Two 22 Battle of Britain Lunch 50 Shop Window To keep fresh the memory of those, in all walks of life, who have served England or the 24 Rudyard Kipling Commonwealth in the past in order to inspire leadership in the future. 25 My England Three 26 The Great War – Poems and To combat all activities likely to undermine the strength of England or the Commonwealth. Pictures Four 28 St George’s Church, To further English interests everywhere to ensure Hannover Square that St. George’s Day is properly celebrated and to provide focal points the world over where English 30 Obituaries men and women may gather together. 32 Deutschland – U-155 32

28 34 41

EDITORIAL UGE CONGRATULATIONS go to our Burges for their time and energy recording for his work on the magazine and all who HChairman and to all who were involved the walk and for their commitment to the have contributed this year. in the 100 miles for 100 years walk. RSSG. It truly is a joy to see the life of the What a fantastic, practical and heartfelt Many RSSG members will have taken Society across the world. way to remember the sacrifices made for our part in commemorative events around the Wishing you all a very happy Christmas freedom in the First World War. 11th November especially poignant this year and look forward to the New Year ahead. Thanks go to our Society’s on such a significant anniversary. Best wishes photographers, Fred Pearson and Georgina Once again my thanks go to Jim Duggan Laura

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 3 FROM THE CHAIRMAN

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF St. GEORGE on the Embankment, and a concert at St The Premier Patriotic Society of England George’s, Hanover Square, with music Founded in 1894. written by St George’s School in Weybridge, Incorporated by Royal Charter. who celebrate their 150th anniversary next Patron: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II President: William R. Firth year. As a common thread running through Chairman: Joanna M. Cadman all our events, we will be raising money for Published at: The Royal Society of St. George, RSSG, P.O. our Armed Services charities and working BOX 397, Loughton, IG10 9GN, England Telephone: 020 3225 5011 with Combat Stress, who celebrate their E-mail: [email protected] 100th anniversary in 2019. Website: www.rssg.org.uk Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ RoyalSocietyofStGeorge Twitter: @RSStGeorge Events Join us on LinkedIn – the Royal Society of St George Official Group We are extremely fortunate in our Events Opening times: Monday to Thursday, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm Organiser, Bob Smith, who goes above and Editor: Laura Minns beyond what is asked of him to make our Editorial Address Rumbeams Cottage, Ewhurst Green events very special and supremely well Nr Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 7RR organised. Our St Georges Day service at Telephone: 01483 268627 E-mail: [email protected] the Cenotaph was, this year, the best ever George Andrews, FCIB FCIS FCIArb – President Emeritus and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who Vice Presidents attended. We would be delighted to see The Earl of Aylesford JP Field Marshal The Lord Bramall KG GCB OBE MC JP DL more branch representation on that day – it The Lord Cope of Berkeley PC is our flagship event, a chance for the public The Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO Clifford James Trowse – Past Chairman to see us at our best and learn what we stand Mr B M Cronan for, and a time for us all to stand up and be Mr C P Fairweather Mrs Esme Robinson counted. Sir Henry Paston-Bedingfeld Bt In December of last year, 2017, we His Excellency Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton GCB RAF (retd) closed the office in Loughton and moved Past President: John Clemence QPM HAVE NOW SERVED the Royal to working from home offices. I’d like to Members of Council Society of St George for four years as record my enormous thanks to Liz and Chairman – Joanna M. Cadman its Chairman. It is a great honour and Chantzi-Jade, who not only took all this Vice Chairman – Nick Dutt I Honorary Treasurer – Alastair Clement FFA FFTA privilege to do so, and I thank you all for in their stride, but organised it all almost Honorary Registrar and Legal Advisor – Cecile Gillard your good will towards me, but it is also a single handed. The changeover was almost Horary Secretary – Michael Riley Chaplain to the Society – Revd. Roderick Leece great challenge to ensure that the Society seamless and I know how much work was General Secretary – Elizabeth Lloyd observes its aims and objectives at the same involved. The saving that this will make for Website Manager – Christopher Houghton Events Organiser – Bob Smith time as it moves forward in the twenty-first the Society, which will make an enormous UK Operations Representative – Albert Hankers century and finds ways to make our Society difference as we go through the next Representative for North of England – Michael Riley Representative for South of England – Lt. Col. Leslie Clarke appealing to a younger generation and a few years, has not reflected in this year’s Representative for South West England – Cecile Gillard much more diverse society. accounts, as there were inevitable costs to Youth Representative – Dennis Stinchcombe MBE Membership affiliations – Lloyd James Our history and traditions are not the reorganisation. Fund Raiser and Donations – Albert Hankers only important to us, and to our fellow Data Management – John Oakley Council Administrator – Shirley Hankers countrymen, but to men and women around General Data Protection Regulations Schools and Projects – Nick Hinchcliffe the world, who look to us as an example of A big challenge to us this year has been the City of London – Paul Herbage the values of courage, manners and good old implications of the General Data Protection Social Media Advisor – Louise Camby Regulations, which has made us look long Administration Centre staff fashioned courtesy. General Secretary – Elizabeth Lloyd We are delighted to have the services of and hard at how we contact our members. Membership Secretary – Jade King a young PR company, WeAchieve, who We have used the opportunity to create Charitable Trust Members Interim Chairman and Trustee – Nick Dutt are generously giving us pro bono advice a new database, which has had upfront Treasurer and Trustee – Lloyd James and support as we explore our way into the expenses, but will make communication Secretary and Trustee – Albert Hankers Trustee – Cecile Gillard future. with our members so much more efficient Trustee – Shirley Hankers in years to come. I am extremely grateful Trustee – Dennis Stinchcombe 125th anniversary Trustee – Joanna Cadman to John Oakley for all his hard work on this Trustee – Chris Houghton Next year, the Society will celebrate its and for his clarity when carrying it forward. Trustee – Michael Riley 125th anniversary and we are enormously I would also like to record my thanks Special Responsibilities Standard Bearer – Lt. Col Leslie Clarke proud that we have been able to reach that to Nick Dutt, my Vice Chairman, whose Deputy Standard Bearer – Major Robert A Peedle MBE TD milestone, and of our own history and that encouragement and support, to say nothing Yachting Association – Bob Smith of our country. We will celebrate that in of his wise words, are invaluable. Photography – Fred Pearson and Georgina Burges the usual way, with our St George’s Day I continue to visit as many branches This Journal is sent free to all full members and is available for purchase at £3.50. Opinions expressed in articles or service at the Cenotaph and at Westminster as possible, and to promote the Society advertisements are those of the authors and advertisers Abbey afterwards, our Battle of Britain wherever I go. It is a challenging task, in and the contents do not necessarily reflect editorial or official RSSG views. This Journal may not be reproduced lunch, which goes from strength to strength, this day and in these times, to appeal to in whole or in part without the permission of the Editor. and our Standards Service at the lovely all our fellow countrymen and not to be Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements are those of the authors and advertisers and the contents do not church of St George in Hanover Square. perceived wrongly, just as it is a challenge necessarily reflect editorial or official RSSG views. We But we also have a number of other events to fly our English flag without being accused reserve the right to refuse any advertisement or article without giving a reason. E&O.E. organised for the year, including a service of being racist or xenophobic. But, we are Design and Reprographics: Jim Duggan at St Andrews Church in Wraysbury, where people who love England, we have the Tel: 01233 632969. Mob: 07714451952 our Founder is buried; placing of a plaque English spirit, we have every right to be Printed at: Wyndeham Grange Ltd, Butts Road, Southwick, West Sussex BN42 4EJ • Tel: 01273 592244 under the tree that we planted on our 120th proud, and we will keep up the good fight. anniversary at the National Memorial Every best wish ISSN Number: ISSN 2046-8369 Arboretum; a dinner at HQS Wellington Joanna

4 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND VICE PRESIDENT RSSG

His Excellency Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB RAF (Retd) E ARE HONOURED that Sir Sir Stephen was appointed to the WStephen has agreed to take on the position of Capability Manager for role of Vice President of the Royal Society Information Superiority, with defence wide of St George. responsibility for the assessment, budgetary Sir Stephen joined the Royal Air Force management and delivery of defence in 1976 after graduating with an Honours intelligence and communications capability degree in aeronautical engineering from and in April 2004 was appointed Controller Bath University. During the height of the Aircraft on the Air Force Board. Cold War, he flew the Jaguar fighter/bomber He was chosen to be the strategic on three tours in the tactical reconnaissance personnel director for the Royal Air and ground attack roles. Force in May 2007 and was appointed He subsequently commanded the RAF’s Chief of Air Staff in July 2009, a position Jaguar Force for two years from September from which he stood down after a highly 1997 and was later appointed as director demanding, extended and successful tour in of the Eurofighter (Typhoon) programme July 2013. assurance group in the Ministry of Defence He assumed the office of Jersey’s with responsibility for ensuring that all Lieutenant Governor in early 2017. elements of this key international defence Sir Stephen is married to Anne and programme resulted in a cost effective and has two children. He lists his interests as safe introduction to service of Typhoon. including sports, theatre and history.

Royal Society Of St George 125th Anniversary, 2019 Plans to date: February: Anniversary Reception 13 September: Battle of Britain lunch – RAF Club Picadilly 23 April: St George’s Day Banquet at the Guildhall: City Branch 28 September: Anniversary dinner at HQS Wellington October: Trafalgar lunch, HMS Nelson, Waterloo 27 April: Cadets Parade at the Cenotaph and service branch at Westminster Abbey 27 October: Standards Service, St George at Hanover 27 April: St George’s Day banquet at the Monastery, Square Manchester branch November: Placing of a plaque at the Society’s 18 May: Service of thanksgiving at St Andrew’s Copper Beech tree at the National Memorial Arboretum Church, Wraysbury, our Founder’s resting place followed by a dinner dance June: Summer Ball and AGM December: Concert at St George at Hanover Square, with a cantata written in celebration of their 150th July: Malmesbury Abbey: service of celebration at the anniversary especially for the Society, by St George burial place of Æthelstan, first King of England School Weybridge

New Membership Fee Structure At the Society’s Annual General Meeting, held in Bolton on • A new branch in this country will pay £100 administration costs 29 September, the new fee structure was discussed and agreed. on setting up, an overseas branch will pay £200. The new membership fees will come into force on the 1st January • International Branches paying an annual fee of £100 will 2019, and are as follows: increase to £200. This does not apply to branches whose • All members, whether joining through a branch or joining members are all full branch members. directly, will pay the same annual Society fee of £20.00 for • Branch only members – those who joined a branch before 2010 an individual or £30.00 for joint membership. NB: Branches but are not full Society members – will pay a fee of £7.50 for a may charge a small additional amount to cover their own single person or £10 for joint membership. NB: this membership administration costs. is not available to anyone joining a branch after 2010. After this • There will be a joining fee for new members of £15.00. This is time all branch members must also be Society members. the same for single or joint membership, as it is purely to cover the administration costs which arise when welcoming a new For other rates, please check the web site or contact the Society member. Administration office. • Overseas members will pay a joining fee of £50.00 and an Would all members who pay their fees by bankers order please annual fee of £50.00. remember to amend this to reflect the new fees.

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 5 Rydal Water The Beauty of England

6 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND The Royal Society of St. George Application for Membership

Please complete this form and the privacy statement and send to:

The General Secretary, RSSG, P.O. Box 397, Loughton, Essex IG10 9GN, United Kingdom

Telephone: 020 3225 5011 email: [email protected]

I wish to apply for Membership of the Royal Society of St. George.

By signing this form I declare that I have read, understood and agree with the principles and terms of the Society and agree to further its Objects as set out in the Royal Charter (as published in the Journal and at www.rssg.org.uk).

Title: ………… Full Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Postal Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………. Post Code: ………………………… Telephone No: ……………………………………………………… Email: ………………………………………………………………………… Occupation: ………………………………………………………… Date of Birth: ………………………………………………………………… Particular Interests: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Please give your reasons for wishing to join the Society on a separate page and submit it along with this application form..

Signature: ……………………………………………………………. Date: ………………………………. ______Joint Member I wish to apply for Membership of the Royal Society of St. George.

By signing this form I declare that I have read, understood and agree with the principles and terms of the Society and agree to further its Aims and Objectives (as published in the Journal and at www.royalsocietyofstgeorge.com).

Title: ………… Full Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Signature: ……………………………………………………………. Date: ……………………………….

______Membership Fee: Full: £25.00 p.a. Joint: £35.00 p.a. Please see page five of this Junior (under 18 on 1st January): £5.00 p.a. edition for revised Membership Fees Life £500.00 applicable from 1 January 2019 Other (please see details in the journal or website) £

I/we would like to make an additional Donation of £…………..

Please make cheques payable to “The Royal Society of St. George”

Alternatively you can pay by BACS Transfer to: Account No: 00003854 Sort Code: 40– 52–40

You are also welcome to arrange to pay by Standing Order.

*Note: Published fees are for UK only. Please contact the Society Office for other rates and appropriate payment methods.

Please go to and sign page 2 Page 1 of 2 Page2 This page is part of the Membership Application Form and concerns your personal privacy

The information we will collect about you Identity: Name, Title, Decoration Date of Birth, Occupation (optional) Membership type Contact details: Postal Address, Telephone No. (landline and/or mobile), Email And, if paying by direct debit or standing order: Details of bank account.

How will this Information be used? Authorised persons within the administration of the RSSG, process this information in order to communicate, promote and manage its activities, collect annual subscriptions and for general administration. If you choose to belong to a branch of the RSSG, authorised members of the branch administration will also process your information in order carry on similar actions at branch level. The RSSG will ensure:  Your information will be processed fairly and legally.  If for some specific purpose further personal data is required, it will not be collected without notification and terms of use.  Sensitive personal data (as defined in the data protection regulation) about you will not be collected or processed by the RSSG without your explicit written consent.

Who do we share your data with? With the following exceptions, the RSSG will not share your data with any third party:  There is specific written consent by you.  It is necessary for the day to day administration of the member’s database. This is protected by a legally binding non-disclosure agreement.  The company that prints and distributes the St. George for England Journal.

International Currently the only activity that crosses international boundaries is the distribution of the Journal. If an event arises requiring your data be sent by the RSSG beyond the EU, then it will only by your permission or legal scrutiny.

How long will we keep your data Your data will remain on the database for as long as you are a member. The last change made will be logged by time and date of change together with the IP address of the authorised person. When you leave, your data will be truncated to name, years of membership and reason for leaving.

What rights do you have.  You have the right to see the personal data that is held about you and have a copy provided to you or someone else on your behalf, in an electronic format and at no cost.  If you believe your personal data we hold is inaccurate, you can ask to have it corrected.  Where you have given consent for the RSSG to process your personal data, you can withdraw that consent at any time.  You can request your personal data be deleted

Further details of the terms and conditions are available at: www.rssg.org.uk.

It is possible for an article to appear in a Royal Society of St. George publication or website which includes a reference and photograph of you.

I give permission for my picture to appear in the Royal Society of St. George publications

I have read, understood and accept this privacy notice

Signature: ______Date: ______

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8 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND Page2 This page is part of the Membership Application Form and concerns your personal privacy TRUST REPORTS

Declaration The Royal Society of St. George (RSSG) will hold certain personal information (known as ‘Personal Data’) about you. Personal data is information from which you, as an individual, can be identified. Without this information the RSSG is not able to include you in its membership. Charitable Trust Nick Dutt The information we will collect about you Charitable Trust Trustee and Chairman Identity: Name, Title, Decoration Date of Birth, S YOU ARE, I HOPE, aware, the As the charity arm of the Society, Occupation (optional) ACharitable Trust of the Royal Society of we are always keen to receive Membership type St George was founded nearly fifty years ago, requests for grants from individuals, Contact details: Postal Address, based upon a significant bequest. Since that charitable groups and particularly Telephone No. (landline and/or mobile), time, using the income derived, we have been branches. The Trustees strongly Email able to support many worthwhile charitable believe that the money we have And, if paying by direct debit or standing order: Details of bank account. causes, helping individuals and groups across available is better being used for good causes than sitting in our bank the country. At the last Trustee meeting, we were account! SEND FOR A How will this Information be used? able to provide over £2,500 in funding for So please do contact us if you Authorised persons within the administration of the RSSG, process this information in order to communicate, promote and manage its activities, such groups as The English Music Festival, know of anyone – especially youths collect annual subscriptions and for general administration. If you choose to belong to a branch of the RSSG, authorised members of the branch Seahaven and District Scouts, Camps and youth-groups that are looking GIFT-AID ENVELOPE administration will also process your information in order carry on similar actions at branch level. International and for a large number of for funding to help them further Cadets Forces to march at the Cenotaph in themselves or their charitable aims. The RSSG will ensure: our annual St George’s Day parade. More details and grant request forms  Your information will be processed fairly and legally. We recently introduced a branch matching are available on the web site.  If for some specific purpose further personal data is required, it will not be collected without notification and terms of use. scheme, whereby the Trust will match a The Trust is now registered  Sensitive personal data (as defined in the data protection regulation) about you will not be collected or processed by the RSSG without branch’s own fund-raising efforts (up to a for Gift Aid and as such we have your explicit written consent. limit of £1,000). This, we strongly believe, produced Gift Aid envelopes that not only helps the individual/groups being you can use at your branch events. Who do we share your data with? supported themselves, but also helps you You can use these to collect funds at With the following exceptions, the RSSG will not share your data with any third party: raise awareness in the branch. At previous your events for either the Trust or a meetings we’ve been able to support City of cause of your choice – you just need  There is specific written consent by you. Westminster (Dame Vera Lynn’s Children’s to make it very clear at the start of  It is necessary for the day to day administration of the member’s database. This is protected by a legally binding non-disclosure Charity), Seahaven (Air Cadets) and any event what you are collecting for. agreement. Rushmoor (Step-By-Step) branches with For more information, please contact  The company that prints and distributes the St. George for England Journal. their fund raising efforts. Nick Dutt or Shirley Hankers.

T THE FORTIETH Anniversary RSSG Gloucestershire branch, presented ‘Match Funded’ the RSSG Gloucestershire How long will we keep your data ADinner of the RSSG Gloucestershire Wg Cdr Roy Roberts, Chairman of The branch donation to The Cheltenham and Your data will remain on the database for as long as you are a member. The last change made will be logged by time and date of change together branch, on Saturday, 29 September Cheltenham and District RBL branch District RBL branch to enable two young with the IP address of the authorised person. When you leave, your data will be truncated to name, years of membership and reason for leaving. 2018, Dame Janet Trotter, DBE CVO, and Mr Charles Tippet, with the RSSG men, Issac Smith and Ross Lloyd to attend Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Charitable Trust Match Funded Grant the Royal British Legion Great Pilgrimage What rights do you have. Gloucestershire, and branch Patron for the Certificate. The RSSG Charitable Trust 90 (GP90), in Ypres, during August 2018.”  You have the right to see the personal data that is held about you and have a copy provided to you or someone else on your behalf, in an electronic format and at no cost.  If you believe your personal data we hold is inaccurate, you can ask to have it corrected.  Where you have given consent for the RSSG to process your personal data, you can withdraw that consent at any time.  You can request your personal data be deleted

Further details of the terms and conditions are available at: www.rssg.org.uk.

It is possible for an article to appear in a Royal Society of St. George publication or website which includes a reference and photograph of you.

I give permission for my picture to appear in the Royal Society of St. George publications

I have read, understood and accept this privacy notice

Signature: ______Date: ______

Standard and Wreaths Teams (l to r) Issac Smith; Roy Roberts; Charles Page 2 of 2 Tippet and Ross Lloyd Wg Cdr Roberts (l), Dame Janet Trotter and Charles Tippet (r)

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 9 OAN BAGGOTT, a member of the Royal for matched funding from the Royal Society JSociety of St.George Waterloo Branch, of St George Charitable Trust. The RSSG made an application to the Branch Committee Trust agreed to support this application and to consider donating £200 to Spinal Muscular therefore the Waterloo Branch was able to Atrophy (SMA). The committee agreed for make a donation to the Spinal Muscular this donation to be made and in turn applied Atrophy Charity of £400

SSG HON SECRETARY and RSSG RCharitable Trust Trustee, Michael Riley, on Saturday, 6 October presented, Charitable Trust Grant cheque and Grant Certificate to Ellena (Ellie) Coxall, towards her visit to Borneo during 2019, with Aquinas College. Ellie is to undertake community work within schools and villages in Borneo.

HE ROYAL SOCIETY of St. George TWaterloo Branch applied to the Royal Society of St. George CharitbleTrust to match their funding of £500 to be donated to the City of London and NE Sector Army Cadet Force. The RSSG Trust granted this application. On Sunday, 19 August 2018, Bob Smith, Chairman of the RSSG Waterloo Branch, and John Oakley, both National Council Members, attended the City of London and NE Sector Army Cadet Force summer camp in Crowborough. Bob and John had the pleasure of presenting Lt. Col L B Davis, Commanding Officer, with a cheque for £1000. This money will be used to help the more disadvantaged cadets within the unit.

10 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND STONENEWS FROM SANS AROUND THE BRANCHES

BATH On Friday, 1 June, Mary Campbell Hill held a Garden Party at her home, the weather being too ‘iffy’ to risk outdoors. Ably assisted by Paul Swift and two delightful lady helpers, we were treated to a delicious spread and the brilliant news is that Mary has offered to hold another next summer. I can’t wait! Our Social Evening on Friday, 5 October, held at the Bath and County Club, was also an enjoyable event. Our guest speaker, Jacques Arnold, gave an illustrated talk on “The House of Windsor”. Mr Arnold is very knowledgeable, not only about our Royal Family but European Royalty too and as such has written a number of books. Mary Godwin was born, on 30 August 1797, to William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft in a part of London named Somers Town which, according to my A-Z, is between Euston and St Pancras. Mary Mary Campbell Hill’s indoor garden party senior was a very strong-minded woman campaigning for women’s rights and would mutual. Lust at first sight! Shortly after the courted by a baronet’s son perked Harriet certainly have been a Suffragette if born birth of his second child by Harriet, the up immensely and certainly her father a century or so later. Before meeting and lovers took off for the Continent, bizarrely encouraged it. Shelley wasn’t interested in marrying William Godwin, she had an accompanied by Jane Clairmont (who later settling down and went off to Wales. It was affair with an American in Paris which became known as Claire), Mary’s stepsister. a letter from Harriet threatening suicide produced a daughter, Fanny. This has To give him his due, Shelley did invite if she had to continue at the school she nothing to do with anything but I felt I Harriet to join them once they had crossed hated that brought Shelley back to London. must throw it in. William Godwin has been the Channel; she declined. Yet again, borrowing from friends, he and variously described as radical, liberal and By contrast, Percy Bysshe Shelley, born Harriet headed for Scotland where, much a philosopher and seems to have made 4 August 1792, at Field Place, Sussex, was against his principles, they married. By the a living out of writing and teaching his heir to a baronetcy and a large fortune. time his first child was born Shelley was extreme views. Sadly, Mary senior died He was an extremely good-looking chap thoroughly fed up with marriage. giving, or shortly after, the birth of her in an effeminate rather than manly way. The trio got as far as renting a dilapidated daughter. William remarried a widow by the Curly hair and large blue eyes rather than villa in Switzerland before their money ran name of Mrs Clairmont. Mary did not get on a chiselled jaw. Perhaps it was these looks out, so it was back to England. Fortunately, with her stepmother which is not surprising. that made him the subject of extreme the death of Shelley’s grandfather brought It is natural she would have resented a new bullying whilst at Eton. If his outlook on him a legacy of £1000 a year. Mary gave love in her father’s life and consequently life was not coloured in his school days it birth to a child who died at one month old. spent a lot of time sitting by her mother’s certainly was by the time he got to Oxford To add to her ‘blues’, Claire was still with grave, reading or deep in thought. In the University from which he was soon expelled them and annoyingly gazing at Shelley recent film, “Mary Shelley”, she and Percy for producing a pamphlet entitled, The with adoring eyes. Mary gave Claire her Bysshe Shelly are portrayed as first meeting Necessity of Atheism. His father promptly marching orders. Claire’s response was in Scotland at a house party held where she disinherited him. Despite his girly looks, to make a play for Lord Byron. He was was staying as a guest. A romantic touch Shelley loved women and having a more than happy to take what she was but I don’t believe it true. They met when magnetic personality, they loved him in offering but if she was hoping to emulate Mary returned from Scotland to find Shelley return. Times were hard and he had to rely the relationship her stepsister had she was living in the family home as a disciple of on the generosity of friends and any pocket- out of luck. Although money was slightly her father. The attraction was instant and money his sisters were able to send him. easier, London society mostly shunned them It was while visiting because of their openly immoral lifestyle them at their school in and the cavalier way they felt Harriet was Clapham, perhaps to being treated. It was at a villa rented by see if they could cough Lord Byron in Switzerland that saw the up a bit extra, that he birth of Frankenstein. The weather was bad met sixteen-year old and the guests bored. After an evening of Harriet Westbrook. Her drinking and probably ingesting laudanum, father, a retired hotel the drug of choice for the nineteenth keeper, wanted his lovely Century literati, the talk got round to ghost daughter to have the stories and whether any of them could write best education possible a convincing one. As it turned out Mary but she was desperately won; hands down. Returning to England, unhappy because her Mary, Shelley and the heavily pregnant classmates looked down Claire settled in Bath while deciding on a on her because of her permanent home. According to Literary lowly background. Being Walks in Bath by Andrew Swift and Kirsten

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 11 Mary and Percy Shelley children. Thinking they stood a better chance if married, they did but in vain. Not only were they denied custody of Harriet’s children, the Courts seriously considered taking Mary’s two away from her. The Shelley family and Claire with her new born daughter went to live in Italy. Both Shelley’s children and Claire’s child died there. Mary had another, Percy Florence. He outlived his mother who died aged fifty-three of a brain tumour. Percy Bysshe Shelley was drowned due to a boating accident in 1822, shortly Elliott, Mary was able to flesh out her study. Mary would have been aware of before his thirtieth birthday. ‘monster’ story by attending lectures given this from the local press. Tragedy struck, by a Dr Wilkinson, “who was a firm believer Harriet, heavily pregnant, father unknown, in the possibility of electricity being used filled her pockets with stones and drowned The Branch Christmas Lunch will be held, to animate or reanimate lifeless matter.” in the Serpentine. Leaving Claire to give Saturday, 8 December, at Guyers House Also, grave robbing was rife wherein fresh birth in Bath, Mary and Shelley rushed Hotel, Corsham. I am really looking forward corpses were dug up to be sold for scientific to London hoping to gain custody of his to it.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”

Official Newsletter of the Battle of Britain Historical Society 2013 Ltd

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”

Head Office: Calais View, Channel Way, Fairlight, East Sussex TN35 4BP

Editor and Managing Director: Graves Registrar: Membership Secretary: John Pulfer JP Peter Wainwright Margaret Pulfer Tel: 01424 814866 Tel: 01444 233465 Tel: 01424 814866 Email: [email protected] Email: basil.wainwright@ Email: [email protected] btopenworld.com Historian: Nick Hall Battle of Official N Tel: 01427 668122 Britain H eSPRINGw / SUMMER 2016 Email: [email protected] istorica sletter of th l Society 20 eIssue 152 13 Ltd

We are now recruiting new members to join the “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” Hea d Office: Calais View Editor and , Channel W John P Managing D ay, Fairlight, East Sussex TN ulfer BE Tel: 01424 814866M JP irector: Always Remembered … Never forgotten Em Graves R 35 4BP ail: johnatbobhs@ egistrar: Battle of Britain Historical Society 2013 Ltd. Peter W gm ainwright Historian: ail.com Tel: 01444 233465 Official Newsletter of the N Em M ick H ail: basil.w emb all bto ain M ership Battle of Tel: 01427 668122 penw wright@ argaret Pulfer Secr Britain Historical Society 2013 Ltd orld.com etary: Email: scam Tel: 01424 814866 pton.1943@ Email: bobhsm btinternet.com emsec@ gmail.com Members will receive bi-annual newsletters. AUTUM N / WINT ER 2016 Issue 154 The Society has three main aims… • To ensure the Battle of Britain is never forgotten • • To erect plaques in places where the “few’ were educated •

Head Office: Calais View, Channel Way, Fairlight, East Sussex TN35 4BP

Editor and Managing Director: Graves Registrar: Members John Pulfer BEM JP Steve Maddock hip Secretary: Tel: 01424 814866 Margaret Pulfer Tel: 01895 676004 Tel: 01424 814866 Email: [email protected] [email protected] • To look after the final resting places of the “few” • Email: [email protected] Historian: Nick Hall Tel: 01427 668122 Email: [email protected] SPRING / SUMMER 2017 Issue 155

LIFE MEMBERSHIP STANDARD MEMBERSHIP CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP UK Life members - GB £400 UK members under 18 Years - GB £12 Annual Membership Corporate Members - GB £500 Overseas Life membership - GB £500 UK members over 18 - GB £24 Annual Membership Corporate Sponsor - GB £1500 Overseas members all ages - GB £36 Annual Membership

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Margaret Pulfer Email: [email protected] Tel: 01424 814866 Web address: www.battleofbritain1940.net Please quote ‘Britain at War’ when responding

12 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND FENLAND On Sunday, 9 September, Chairman Brian Kierman welcomed seventy members and guests to our tenth anniversary luncheon held at The Wesley Hall Wisbech Masonic Lodge. In attendance was our main guest Joanna Cadman, National Chairman, who after lunch spoke of future events planned for both the remainder of this year and next year. Before lunch commenced Rev David Addington said Grace. Also in attendance were two English toastmasters, Richard Palmer and Gary Turnstone who both had travelled many miles to officiate and entertain us during the Afternoon. Also in attendance was Steve Clarke and Stuart Eggington both Founding Officers of the branch. After lunch Richard Palmer spoke of his role as a Toastmaster outlying his duties in particular at many different religious weddings. Tenth anniversary luncheon He was thanked on behalf of the members by Vice Chairman, Peter Dennis. Church Hanover Square On 21 October. in the Wisbech Parade and 8 December Several Members will be attending Our next events include Remembrance Day, when members will enjoy a Christmas and Parading our Standard at St George’s 11 November when we will be represented Dinner at a Local Hostelry.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE at Innsworth Barracks unfortunately President and a member of Gloucestershire foundered. However, member Gordon Jones Branch for more years than I expect he Patron: Dame Janet Trotter, DBE, suggested the Royal Agricultural University would appreciate me mentioning, gave an CVO, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for at Cirencester and that proved to be an excellent speech reflecting on Patriotism. Gloucestershire excellent decision. We dined in their historic Considering the late change of venue President: Councillor Pam Tracey, MBE dining hall, the food was good and the staff the Dinner was well supported and clearly Chairman: Mrs. Pat Ayres, MBE friendly and helpful. enjoyed by all present. This year we have been marking the Dame Janet Trotter and her sister Some Branch members responded to Branch’s fortieth Anniversary and the Ann Lay joined us for pre-dinner drinks. an appeal by our Chair, Pat Ayres, to knit finale was a formal Dinner at the end Dame Janet retires as Her Majesty’s Lord poppies. Pat collected enough from our of September. Plans to hold this Dinner Lieutenant for Gloucestershire at the end of members and her other connections to October and at the same time steps down as send some to be part of a commemorative Branch Patron. Dame Janet has given the Branch excellent support during the eight years of her Patronage and we hope she will continue to keep in touch. Before she left us that evening, Dame Janet presented the Royal Society of St. George Charitable Trust’s Grant Certificate to Charles Tippet and Roy Roberts (Chair of Cheltenham Royal British Legion). This recorded the grant given by the Trust to sponsor two cadets, Isaac Smith and Ross Lloyd, carrying the Standards of Cheltenham and Brockworth RBL Branches for GP90. Charles and Roy, members of Gloucestershire Branch, had accompanied the cadets and laid wreaths on behalf of the two RBL Branches at the Menin Gate. GP90 was the RBL’s commemoration of a Great Pilgrimage ninety years ago undertaken by 11,000 veterans and war widows to the battlefields of the Somme and Ypres, who then Isaac Smith (Army Cadet middle) one of the marched to the Menin Gate in Ypres for a two GP90 Standard Bearers sponsored by the Remembrance Service on 8 August 1928. Members Charles Tippet and Roy Roberts in Ypres Charitable Trust After Dinner Lord Cope, Branch Vice for GP90

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 13 commemoration of the many who fought, were injured and died for us during that terrible war as the generations move further away from that time. Nevertheless, Pat reminded members in the last Branch newsletter of Dr John McCrae’s plea – To you, from failing hands, we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Lest We Forget – the wonderful and inspiring Invictus Games showed us that unselfish sacrifice continues. The poem, Invictus, from which quotes are displayed during the Games, was written by William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) of Gloucester. The Branch is now looking to 2019 which approaches all too quickly. On 13 January we will welcome the New Year with a lunch at Hatherley Manor, Gloucester. A Social Evening is planned for the Spring and then our forty-first St. George’s Day Service will Members Roy Lewis, Terence Harper, Pam Tracey (Branch President) and Eric Freeman at our be held in Gloucester Cathedral on Tuesday, Anniversary Dinner 23 April. artwork in St. George’s Church, Ypres, and Branch members will lay wreaths For further information about the Branch some to a similar project in Folkestone, at Remembrance Services throughout and its activities contact Margaret Fuller, from where many Armed Forces personnel Gloucestershire on the Centenary of the Branch Secretary, on 01291 625069 or left the UK for service abroad during WWI. Armistice. This may be the last major [email protected]

HALIFAX losses on the other side were considerably of the battle was relayed back to England. higher and ultimately 14,000 prisoners of The task was assigned to the smallest vessel Battle of Trafalgar Remembered 213 war were captured. Regrettably Lord Nelson in Nelson’s fleet. It was theHMS Pickle, Years Later! was shot by a French musketeer and died a schooner of four guns, the smallest ship The Halifax and District Branch of The some half an hour after the battle ended. present at the battle commanded by Lt. John Royal Society of St George held its annual Darren went on to describe how news Richard Lapenotiere. Immediately after the dinner to celebrate the victory of Lord Nelson and the British Fleet at the Battle of Waterloo. The venue for The Royal Society’s dinner was Crow Nest Golf Club in Calderdale where fifty-eight members and guests enjoyed a meal of a ‘naval-theme’, afterwards not forgetting the navy tradition of ‘passing the port’! The principal speaker on the evening was Darren Wilkinson, a former member of our navy who served as a warfare officer on board a destroyer but who in the final years of his service acted in a training capacity. Darren recounted the events of that day exactly 213 years earlier .The date was 21 October 1805 when at 11.05 am on that morning, twenty-seven ships of the British navy observed a fleet of thirty-three ships, the combined forces of Spain and France and engaged them. The battle took place in the Atlantic Ocean off the southwest coast of Spain, just west of Cape Trafalgar. It lasted for less than five hours during which the Franco-Spanish fleet lost twenty-two ships whilst the British lost none. Lord Nelson’s tactics won the day and though Right to left, Calderdale’s Deputy Mayor, President Bryan Harkness, Darren Wilkinson, John Hogg, Jenny the British lost some fifteen hundred men, Harkness and Ashnee Wilkinson

14 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND victory it was sent to England to take the and sorrow throughout the country at the of the Friends of the Duke of Wellington dispatches of Vice Admiral Collingwood news, but that year, and ever since, Admiral Regiment showed to guests the Maquette of to the Admiralty to tell of the victory Lord Nelson, Commander-in-Chief of the Memorial to The Duke of Wellington’s over the enemy as well as the sad death the British Mediterranean fleet, has been Regiment that is currently being sculpted. of Nelson. It took fourteen days sailing recognised as probably England’s greatest Being made of bronze it will be some sometimes through atrocious weather. The naval officer. What The Courier can report eighteen feet high. Halifax is considered ship arrived at Falmouth on 4 November is that Ex-Lieutenant Darren now runs to be ‘The home’ of The Duke and its 1805 and Lapenotiere rode a series of The Lord Nelson Inn in the local village of installation in the town centre in late spring nineteen horses to London which he did Luddenden! of 2019 will be an imposing sight and a in a record thirty-six hours, a distance of Other guests at the dinner included John long lasting memorial to the regiment’s long over 290 miles. There was both jubilation Hogg (Captain Retired) who on behalf history.

Sports Wheelchair Fundraiser for a Brave Youngster The Halifax and District Branch of the at the end of the evening’s enjoyment over and an active member of Halifax Royal Society of St. George held, earlier £1000 was raised and the society increased Wheelchair Rugby League Club and in the spring, an evening’s entertainment the contribution to £1500! Halifax Wheelchair Basketball Club. to raise funds for a disabled Halifax At the presentation shortly afterwards, Since the amputation of my left leg in youngster to be able to join in the games Malcolm Kielty MBE, himself disabled, December 2017 I have rediscovered the of Wheelchair Rugby League and introduced us to the young man enjoyment of participating in team sports. Basketball. What was needed was an concerned. He was fourteen year old Tom Throughout my recovery the support and individually built sports wheelchair. Green. Malcolm stated, “On behalf of encouragement I have received from both Held at The Gundog Pub in Crown both Halifax Wheelchair Rugby League clubs has been overwhelming and I have Street, seventy-five members and their Club and its ‘family’, club Calderdale been made extremely welcome. The hard guests were entertained by a great singer, Wheelchair Basketball Club, we would work, patience and commitment of the Brendon Decko from Rochdale. like to thank all those who contributed to people within the sports clubs has enabled make this marvellous donation towards me to take ownership of my own sports- Supper this elite sports equipment. I can only chair, very gratefully for the funding from The supper, comprising splendid fish and underline just what receiving this support one or two sources. I consider myself chips, was provided by Mark Kosanovic and contribution will make to ensure very lucky to have already experienced of the award winning Brackenbed Tom receives a specially designed sports so many memorable days playing within and West Vale fisheries in the town. wheelchair for him to participate in sports the sport since the summer. Before Additional support was also given by Gary once again.” my operation, I had attended the 2017 Richardson, proprietor of The Gundog. Now six months later Tom has Wheelchair Rugby League Challenge Cup Neither Brendon nor Mark charged for the reported back to the Halifax branch Final with my mum and really enjoyed it. services they had provided and as a result saying: “I’m now fifteen years old I found the prospect of joining the team a little daunting but it gave me a goal and something to focus on throughout my rehabilitation. After many years of being unable to participate in sport the way my brothers and sisters do, I now train twice a week and look forward to competing at weekends”. Readers should be aware that two of the four current medal Paralympians, Rugby League world cup winner Harry Brown and Paralympian Gold Hannah Cockroft, both started their respective successful ‘careers’ with similar local support through our groups here in Halifax several years ago. We know the monies raised and the sports chair Tom is using will afford him the chance of similar success. He is extremely keen and committed and well supported by Malcolm and the local coaching systems. The photograph (left) was taken in the spring at the cheque presentation. It shows from left to right current president Bryan Harkness, PP Geraldine Carter, Tom and on his right two other members of the rugby team

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 15 GREAT YARMOUTH five-mile trail. The intent is to walk around Wetton and Graham Payne and the ‘Dam our town (in fancy dress) raising awareness Busters’ team for their team entry. The The Royal Society of St George for our nominated charity, our town’s close Lancaster Bomber was a work of art and (Gt Yarmouth branch), in conjunction with history to Nelson and the RSSG whilst was truly exceptional. A lot of work went the Kings Arms Public House, Gt Yarmouth, solving a set of clues in the pubs and along into the making of this plane and you can hosted their annual Trafalgar Day Treasure the trail. This year saw a new addition to the see in the photos how much detail has been Hunt on 20 October, 2018. This is our hunt with the introduction of ‘Riddle Cards’ included. You missed the best fancy dress annual event that is designed to raise as that were collected in each of the thirteen prize by one vote from the seven judges much money as possible for our designated pubs. These had to be decoded to find a who marked it. That was how close it was. I charity – ‘Keeping Abreast’ and to also single letter from each card. These letters should add that the standard of fancy dress, support local pubs. then formed an anagram to a topical subject across all teams, was exceptional, and any This year’s event saw nine teams in for Trafalgar Day. Seven of the nine teams team would have won the best fancy dress attendance – all dressed up to thrill. were successful in finding the answer. on previous years. That’s how good they The fancy dress theme was ‘Films’. We The overall winning team was all were. I would add a big very ‘Thank had representations from Pirates of the ‘Coco’. This team consisted of Steve You’ to all for making such an effort. It was Caribbean, Shrek, Coco, The Dam-busters, and Mandy Bullent and Michael Pywell. appreciated by all the town-folk who had the Star Trek, ‘Disney Princesses’, The Smurfs, Congratulations to them for scoring the pleasure to meet you along the trail. ‘Marvel Comic Heroes’ and a compilation highest. And a very big thank you to A total of £350 was raised locally and will from a collection of ‘Tim Burton Films’ ‘Coco’ and ‘Tim Burton Films’ who both be presented to the local ‘Keeping Abreast’ (who were the eventual winners of the fancy donated their winnings back into the charity charity – this is a national support group dress competition). collection pot. for women who may face reconstructive The trail consisted of thirteen pubs over a A special mention has to go to Tom surgery following breast cancer surgery.

Dam-Busters flying their Lancaster Bomber down Northgate Street

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE ADVERTISING RATES BY APPLICATION TO HEAD OFFICE The Administration Centre, P.O. BOX 397, Loughton, IG10 9GN, England [email protected] Tel: 020 3225 5011

16 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND HUNTINGDON The Royal Society of St. George celebrate Trafalgar Day in Huntingdon Under the signal “England expects that every man will do his duty”, the Huntingdon Branch of the Royal Society of St. George held their annual Trafalgar Day Dinner in the historic Assembly Room at Huntingdon Town Hall. We welcomed over eighty guests, including the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, Dr. Andrew Harter, CBE and his wife, Ms Lily Bacon, DL. Civic dignitaries from around the county attended, including the Mayor of Huntingdon, Cllr Sarah Gifford. Mr. Jonathan Djanogly, MP, and his wife Rebecca were able to join other guests at the reception earlier in the evening. We also welcomed Colonel Ron Cheatham, Vice Commander 501st Combat Support Wing, US Air Force, RAF Alconbury and his wife, From L to R: Dr. Andrew Harter, CBE, High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire; Lily Bacon, DL; Col. Ron Cheatham, Darlene. The 501st were given the Freedom Vice Commander 501st Combat Support Wing, RAF Alconbury and Mrs. Darlene Cheatham of Huntingdon earlier in the year. how the three influences “Navigation, After the dinner, we were also delighted Members and guests had the privilege Communication and Motivation” are clearly to be able to present a cheque to the East of hearing a talk from Lieutenant Andrew still evident in today’s Royal Navy as they Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The Ward, RN, based at RAF Wyton entitled “Is were for for Admiral Lord Nelson at the cheque was accepted by Lily Bacon DL, a there anything that comes from Trafalgar Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Lt. Ward also Trustee for EACH. that influences the Royal Navy of today?” proposed the Toast to the Immortal Memory Lt Ward’s enthusiastic speech explained of Admiral Nelson. Photographs contributed by David Denson.

From L to R: Chairman, Col. Derek Bristow, OBE, DL; Lily Bacon DL and From L to R: Chairman, Col. Derek Bristow, OBE, DL; Dr. Jessica Ward and Lt. Pauline and David Neal Committee Members RSSG Huntingdon Branch Andrew Ward, RN (RSSG Guests)

DO YOU HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE? If you do, please do search for the Royal Society of St George in the Facebook search bar and ‘like’ our page. Please post updates on our page about your branch activities and events. Please also add photos and relevant links if appropriate. If you like a link on our page, then please do ‘share’ it to your own profile page and this helps to promote our Society to potential new members.

We are also on twitter, so please do follow us on @RSStGeorge and help widen the reach of our updates by retweeting them to your followers.

Finally, we now have a group set up on LinkedIn where members and non-members can join and connect to potentially do business with each other, or share helpful business hints and tips. If you have a profile on Linkedin, please do request to join our group. You will find it by searching for ‘Royal Society of St George Official Group’ in the search bar within Linkedin.

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 17 LEEDS

The North Downs Branch lays its wreath on Remembrance Sunday, 2018. From left to right: Wing Commander Mike Sutton, Stuart Millson and Dennis Murphy. NORTH DOWNS BRANCH of our new members, market-gardener, Medway. From Strood pier (at which President: Group Capt. Patrick Tootal OBE Jeff Wheeler. As a result of our efforts, a Cold War-era Russian submarine is £400 was raised for the local Heart of Kent moored!) to Upnor Castle a couple of At the time of writing, the North Downs Hospice. The day also gave us a chance to miles away, our intrepid walking party Branch was busy celebrating a lively “fly the flag”, and to tell people about what savoured the unusual landscape: a mixture summer schedule, which began in June we stand for in this organisation. All in all, of decaying harbourside and industry, to with our presence at the East Malling a day of good charitable work and first- rural and marshy foreshore. Our efforts were village summer fete and “Picnic in class PR! rewarded at The Tudor Rose inn at Upnor, the Park”. Deputy Chairman, Wing On 14 July, Councillor David Thornewell, an establishment which offers excellent Commander Mike Sutton, led the way the LibDem Chairman of East Malling ploughman’s lunches (and vegetable with our Royal Society of St. George and Larkfield Parish Council, presided curries), and a delightful array of Kentish stand, from which we sold many dozens over a fascinating and truly enjoyable ales and lagers. of flowers and plants, all supplied by one walk along the upper reaches of the River Plans are already underway for further

The North Downs Branch, with the Invicta flag of the county of Kent, and the banner of St. George. David Thornwell (fourth from left) explains a point about local history on the 14 July Medway walk

18 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND The Agincourt lunch The Agincourt lunch Battle of Britain commemorations (the values of England, and the United Kingdom. Canada) that liberated Western Europe in Branch had a presence at July’s Memorial As Brexit day, 29 March 2019, comes 1944-45. We will do our bit for England, no Day on the Kent coast); attendance at the slowly into view, our country is facing matter what, and we feel sure that as time East Malling CAMRA-organised real-ale an appointment with destiny. Whether goes by, the country will enjoy a blossoming and cider festival; an Agincourt event; and you are a Leaver or a Remainer, we have worldwide role . . and a new, fruitful our traditional yuletide celebrations, all of always been a great kingdom: pioneers of partnership with (who knows?) a reformed which attract a lively audience. worldwide trade and endeavour, founders Europe of nations. As a Branch, we believe very strongly of the industrial revolution; and the military Stuart Millson, in the values of our Royal Society, the force (along with the United States and Chairman.

SHEFFIELD In September, we invited the ex Lord Mayor of Sheffield to come to Afternoon Jennifer Clark, Hon.Secretary. Tea and talk us through her year as Lord We at Sheffield Branch celebrated Trafalgar Mayor. She was extremely interesting, Night on Friday, 19 October with fifty- brought artefacts from the Town Hall and seven members and Friends. We feasted on loads of mememtos from her mayoral Meat and Potato pie and were entertained year. by a couple who inspired and mystified We had a very impromptu raffle, the us with their magic and intrigue.They, a proceeds of which go to charity. A very couple who give their time tirelessly for donations for a Childrens Hospice, were touching story of the HMS Sheffield really professional and versatile and had all flag which happened to somehow get HMS Sheffield of us in stitches with their comedy. to America, despite being at war in the We did have a community singing Falklands, has been returned to Sheffield been accepted by the ex Lord Mayor as her session of Rule Brittania, Land of Hope and is to be repatriated into the cathedral at charity of the year. and Glory and Jerusalem, enjoyed by all, a cost of £5000. If your branch is looking for a local talk, flags were given out to encourage all to We gave the £50 raised from the raffle, a invite the Lord Mayor or deputy, they have participate. token gesture, towards the cost which has a lot to talk about.

SWALE elected as Chairman, Mr R. Beeching as Our Quiz Night with Fish Supper in Vice Chairman, and Mrs S. Thomas as June was well supported, as was the July The Swale Branch Committee is still Treasurer. Mrs A. Evans, Mr P. Spice and Sunday Lunch, a new venture for us. The arranging events for its Members with the Mrs B. Williams were also elected with the September Race Night with Ploughman’s aim of keeping English traditions alive and aim of continuing as before and also to try Supper was also an enjoyable evening. provides a social calendar that will raise some new events and raise our charitable Forthcoming attractions include funds to donate to local charities from donation total to new heights. Mrs P. Trafalgar Day Dinner with members of any profit made. In 2017 we sent £940 to Wakelen was also awarded Honorary TS Wyvern Sea Cadets to meet and greet seven charities in the Swale area as well as Membership for past service. Mr R. Smith the guests; supporting the Tunstall Church a donation to St. Mary’s Church Teynham continues as President and Mr G Lewin is Christmas Tree Festival with our own who host the St George’s Day Service Vice-President. decorated tree and our Annual Christmas especially for us. St George’s Day events included taking Dinner with entertainer. The Beast from the East meant our part in the Sittingbourne Extravaganza Our October committee meeting will AGM had to be rescheduled which followed by our St George’s Day Dinner; decide which charities will benefit from resulted in fewer members attending. a St George’s Day Thanksgiving Service this year’s fund raising and plans will be Sadly three committee members stood on Sunday, 22 April and on St George’s discussed for the 2019 programme. There down, Mrs A. Smith, Mr J. Evans and Day itself thirty-three members and guests are new events under consideration and we Mr M. Pamplin who were each awarded celebrated with a full English breakfast. urge members to support all of our branch Honorary Membership for their years The Mayor and Mayoress of Swale gave activities and raise even more to help those of dedicated service. Mrs C. David was their support by attending these functions. in need.

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 19 SEAHAVEN BRANCH President: Laurie Holland Chairman: Bob Peedle MBE Secretary: David Argent. Looking back over the year, we have been privileged to support some of the RSSG’s The Royal Society of St. George national events. On 21 April a small party Incorporated by Royal Charter Patron: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN supported the Cenotaph Parade when President: William R. Firth Chairman: Joanna M. Cadman. Chairman, Bob Peedle, as Deputy National Standard Bearer carried the Standard and led the parade down Whitehall. Our Branch WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AND CADETS PARADE Standard proudly carried by Frank Holland At the Battle of Britain dinner, cheques were THE CENOTAPH, WHITEHALL, LONDON followed by President Laurie Holland, presented by President Laurie Holland and the who laid our branch wreath and committee Deputy Mayor of Seaford to Peter Butterworth member Rodney Boon as part of the RSSG from the Forces Charity Combat Stress. This was SATURDAY, 27 APRIL 2019 detachment of the Parade. Branch member the surplus money from the Veterans and Armed Branch members, Joan and Richard Willis, Forces Day in June organised for the whole of Nick Dutt was also present in his role as celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary this the District of Lewes and surrounding Towns and EVERYONE WELCOME Vice Chairman RSSG. year with a reception at the Seaford Royal British Village by a joint committee of our branch and On Sunday, 21 October, our Branch Legion supported by family members and branch Seaford Town Council We are pleased to confirm the details of our Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Cenotaph. Standard was on parade carried by members. Chairman Joanna Cadman was in the Chairman Bob Peedle at the annual service area so kindly called in to wish the happy couple Next year the event will be taking place on Saturday, 27 April 2019. congratulations and good health Naval Master at Arms, whose forebear at St George’s, Hanover Square. Standard commanded one of the ships in the British We, the members of the Royal Society of St. George and guests, will meet at 10.15 am at Bearer Frank Holland was unable to join the vital Forces Charity, Combat Stress, to Fleet. Amazingly two others at the dinner Horseguard’s Avenue (Whitehall end– nearest Underground Stations Embankment and Charing Cross) us – he was stuck in the Falklands after whom we were able to give cheques valued had ancestors at Trafalgar. his flight home had been cancelled. The over £1200 being the surplus money from a We have no plans for a function in prior to the Service of Remembrance and Wreath Laying scheduled for 11 am. service was also attended by Vice Chairman most successful Veterans and Armed Forces November but will meet up again on 10 Around 500 Members of three Cadet Forces, accompanied by music from their band, will be on Parade Ann Abbott. It was heartening to see two Day in June. Guest of Honour was Joanna December for Christmas Lunch at The and the Salute will take place immediately afterwards. other branch Standards present. Both Cadman, Chairman of RSSG, who outlined Willingdon Golf Club. these national events were tremendous next year’s events for the 125th anniversary At approximately 11.30 am our official party will move on to Westminster Abbey for a wreath- laying experiences with good weather. Our branch of our Royal Society and some details of service at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior which will take place at around 12 noon. was proud to have supported these national her walk, “100 miles for 100 years” in events. We will be attending again in 2019. November to raise funds for the Royal A luncheon will take place at the Cellarium in Westminster Abbey at 1 pm. After a delightful lunch in July at the Golf British Legion. Club at Willingdon, we experienced a very A formal dinner was held on 21 October Further details from the Administration Centre. popular and successful American Lunch to celebrate Trafalgar Night. Our guests at the Bishopstone Village Hall in August. included the Chair of Lewes District Please tell your family and friends and join us in London on this spectacular occasion which is held Members all brought a selection of dishes Council, the Mayors of Seaford and annually to remember all those who have served our country and the Commonwealth as part of our that were on display so that it operated as a Peacehaven, and the Chair of Alfriston Society’s St. George’s Day Celebrations. buffet. We each brought our own drinks and Parish Council, Jen Watkins, who this informal event was followed by some responded on behalf of the Guests. To add amusing quizzes. the Naval touch two cadets and a number Nick Dutt, in his role as Chairman of the RSSG’s Charitable Trust attended the Scout HQ in We returned to the View at Seaford Head of Petty Officers from the Newhaven Seaford along with Chairman Bob to present Golf Club for a formal dinner for Battle Unit of the Sea Cadet Corps attended a cheque to the Scouts to help fund their of Britain Day, 15 September. One of our and the immortal memory was given by attendance at the international Jamboree to be guests was Peter Butterworth representing Eon Matthews a retired regular Royal held next year in Canada

Please contact Liz to order your wreath by Wednesday, 3 April RSSG, PO Box 397 Loughton IG10 9GN Telephone: 020 3225 5011 Email: [email protected] Website: www.royalsocietyofstgeorge.com Facebook page – www.facebook.com/RoyalSocietyofStGeorge - Twitter account - @RSStGeorge Following our Trafalgar Dinner, some of our guests and Sea Cadets were pictured against the background of a White Ensign. Standing centre are Jen Watkins Join us on LinkedIn – The Royal Society of St. George Official Group. Chair of Alfriston Parish Council, Eon Matthews who gave the Immortal Memory and our President Laurie Holland

20 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND The Royal Society of St. George Incorporated by Royal Charter Patron: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN President: William R. Firth Chairman: Joanna M. Cadman. WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AND CADETS PARADE THE CENOTAPH, WHITEHALL, LONDON SATURDAY, 27 APRIL 2019 EVERYONE WELCOME We are pleased to confirm the details of our Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Cenotaph. Next year the event will be taking place on Saturday, 27 April 2019. We, the members of the Royal Society of St. George and guests, will meet at 10.15 am at Horseguard’s Avenue (Whitehall end– nearest Underground Stations Embankment and Charing Cross) prior to the Service of Remembrance and Wreath Laying scheduled for 11 am. Around 500 Members of three Cadet Forces, accompanied by music from their band, will be on Parade and the Salute will take place immediately afterwards. At approximately 11.30 am our official party will move on to Westminster Abbey for a wreath- laying service at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior which will take place at around 12 noon.

A luncheon will take place at the Cellarium in Westminster Abbey at 1 pm. Further details from the Administration Centre. Please tell your family and friends and join us in London on this spectacular occasion which is held annually to remember all those who have served our country and the Commonwealth as part of our Society’s St. George’s Day Celebrations.

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 21 BATTLE OF BRITAIN LUNCH

Battle of Britain Lunch, September 2018 Set, as always in the magnificent able to say that Sir Stephen has agreed take Although this lunch will be only one of surroundings of the RAF Club, and on on the role of Vice President of the Society. the occasions that will celebrate our 125th a lovely early autumn day, the Society’s I know the constraints on his time, which anniversary next year, I know it will be Battle of Britain lunch was very well makes his commitment to us even more as always one of our favourite and most attended, with the best numbers ever, and valuable. anticipated events. was thoroughly enjoyed by us all. We were also joined by George Byrne This is a high spot in the Society’s We were delighted to welcome His who is 102 years old and a veteran calendar; a chance to remember those who Excellency Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen of World War II, whose energy and have made the ultimate sacrifice so that Dalton GCB RAF (Retd) as our Guest of enthusiasm put us all to shame. We didn’t we can live in freedom today; a chance Honour and speaker. His talk was excellent waste any time at all in making him an to celebrate the English way of life and and his company superb and I am so honorary member of the Society and look the English character and fortitude, and a grateful that he gave up so much of his forward to seeing him at many functions to chance to enjoy the company of friends in valuable time for us. I am so pleased to be come. lovely surroundings.

Sir Stephen Dalton and George Byrne with Air Cadet Olivia Gray and the Chairman

Sir Stephen Dalton

22 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND A happy band of brothers from North Surrey branch

Our Toastmasters

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 23 RUDYARD KIPLING Rudyard Kipling – The First World War by Bob Peedle MBE, Fellow of RSSG

Y INTEREST IN Rudyard Kipling war on 4 August 1914 seemed to confirm was reawakened by a recent trip to his views but of course the causes were Mhis home at Batemans at Burwash much larger. Kipling was someone to whom in East Sussex, now owned by the National everyone listened, he was regarded as Trust. He had always been a hero of mine something of a prophet. since as a child I grew up on stories of the On 1 September 1914 he wrote a poem Jungle Book and Kim’s Game, a memory for the Times which started training exercise in the Cubs and Boy “For all we have and are, Scouts. I had also seen the filmMy Boy Jack For all our children’s fate, about the loss of his son John serving with Stand up and take the war. the Irish Guards in 1915. What the visit to The Hun is at the gate!” Batemans brought was the news that his son This, one of his first pieces of war poetry, John was never called Jack, and the staff was as the result of his horror of the German there are convinced that although Kipling advance into Belgium and the shocking may have had his own personal tragedy massacres of innocent civilians, including a in mind when he wrote the poem, My Boy three-day old baby. Jack, it is more likely for a friend whose sailor son had not come home. The nautical references are in many lines of that poem. Justice John’s eighteenth birthday was in August Throughout the war it seemed he often 1914 and he arrived in France the same day. had a pertinent poem for most of what was After training he was sent to what became happening. For example in October 1918 known as the Battle of Loos. In the first four when peace negotiations started he wrote Rudyard Kipling hours 8,000 men were killed and in the end Justice urging the need to punish the enemy British losses totalled a terrible 59,247. John before concluding peace. It ended with the He did not only use the power of his pen Kipling was in that number. It was a tragic verse: to support the war effort, but also made blow to the family. Kipling supported the “Whereby our dead shall sleep, tours of Ireland to help increase recruitment War Graves Commission and later worked In honour, unbetrayed, and we in faith to the Forces. No doubt the fact that he with Churchill to ensure all gravestones and honour keep had just lost his son, who was in the Irish were the same shape and size irrespective of That peace for which they paid” Guards, brought much sympathy to this military rank. crusade. Before 1914 Kipling had been concerned His writing and poetry were a powerful Although a man of peace, Rudyard that the Government was not doing enough influence during the war but he was Kipling gave much of himself to the First for our defences after all our very existence involved in many other matters. A recent World War. in those days depended on our mastery of exhibition toured Sussex where it was said the seas – we are an island nation and we that the Army’s tin hats came about with depended on trade by sea. The outbreak of help from him, getting the word into the influential echelons of Government. He was also recruited by British Intelligence to help counter the anti-British sentiments being fostered by a clandestine German Intelligence unit amongst the Indian Army. This was a worry because thousands of Indian troops had been sent to fight in France. His task was to write for Journals under his own name to show the positive side of the Indian troops serving in France to undermine the German spread falsehoods that played into the hands of the Indian Nationalists. Early on in the war Kipling had been asked, as had many other writers, to produce pamphlets and articles to support Britain’s part in the war as well as highlight the atrocities committed by the German forces. He was deeply affected by the sinking of the RMS Lusitania on 7 May 1915 by a Burwash High Street and War Memorial: They will German UBoat eleven miles off the coast of always be remembered. The eighteen-foot high Southern Ireland. A visit today to Cohb in hexagonal War memorial is inscribed with the Cork Harbour is a moving experience to see names of seventy-five local men including John the memorial to the sinking and the great Kipling the son of Rudyard. The light on the top is lit on the anniversary of each of the soldier’s loss of life. (1,198 passengers and crew death. It became a Grade II listed building in 1998 including many children and 128 American (Kevin Gordon – Sussex Historian) Citizens perished.) Second Lieutenant John Kipling, Irish Guards

24 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND My England Carl Portman [email protected]

WAS DELIGHTED to receive some very nice feedback from my first I column. Thank you to those who contacted me. Now then, doing something good in the name of England is not only to be encouraged, it is extremely rewarding. I am a chess player (don’t laugh!) and one of the things I do on a voluntary basis is work as the Manager of Chess in Prisons for the English Chess Federation. Since one aspect of the RSSG vision is to share and maintain our culture, we have always been a nation to help others. When we see others in need – we are usually there to help, be that people stuck in caves far away in Thailand, an earthquake devastated Honduras, help with hurricane relief in the USA and yes, even chess in prisons. Chess is prima facie a war game, some fifteen centuries old and when I coach juniors I remind them of this. I sometimes use St. George as the central figure in how to fight against a mighty opponent. There is an Opening system in chess called The Dragon Defence, but even better than that, there is a system known as the St. George Opening, which I showed to a class of young students this year – on 23 April. My he hated England and wanted to go back to we are selling to people who do not want point is, we can introduce England and its his own country. to buy, but that should not deter us. We do history on almost any occasion. We can Rarely for me, I challenged his comments not have to justify being English but we take the opportunity to ‘sell’ our Society to and asked him why he hated England. He should champion the cause and challenge others and break down social myths about replied “Because you jailed me”. I asked assumptions that would harm or denigrate what we do. Too often people have frowned him what places he had visited and what our country. when I say that I am a member of the RSSG, people he had met whilst over here. He said I should finish by remarking that my and they think me some kind of racist – it “Only London”. I then took the opportunity chess students are not always juniors – as I is complete madness. I fly my flag from my to tell him more about the country and even am currently coaching a 90-year-old Priest house all year round (our Chairman will be pushed the fact that we English did not from the Church of England. We are never pleased to hear) and have no problem with put him in prison, he managed to do that too old to try to accomplish something, people discussing the issue with me – as for himself. I proffered the view that if I so get out there and slay a few dragons on they certainly do – and I simply proffer told him I hated Africa because I had met behalf of St. George. the view that I am proud to celebrate my one person who had committed a crime Nihil desperandum nationality. That is not a crime for which from that country how would he feel? He one can be convicted. got the message and actually settled down If you want to read my Back to chess. I visit prisons up and to play chess. He said he appreciated me book about chess in down the country including some that being honest and forthright and that maybe English prisons and how predominantly hold foreign prisoners. one day he would like to see more of our it is making a positive We hold Europeans, Africans, Americans, country. I asked him what brought him to impact on inmates you Canadians and more in our prisons today. England in the first place. He said it was can get a copy direct from Many inmates seem quite incredulous when because he heard how wonderful it was to me or from the publisher I tell them that the English Chess Federation live here. at: shares and supports their love of the game, I told him that it was – but he had www.qualitychess.co.uk no matter who they are, what they have to make an honest endeavour to better done or where they are from. I am not there himself when over here. He had cultivated to judge, I am there only to promote the his view because of bad experiences of royal game. There are of course occasions his own doing. He accepted this. Thus, when rooms crammed with testosterone through the magic of chess, and thinking fuelled males (and also oestrogen fuelled about the vision of the RSSG I was able to females!) produce fractious moments, such turn negative views into something much as the time an African inmate told me that more positive. Sometimes we might feel

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 25 World War 1 – 4 August 1914 to 11 November 1918

The Great War – Poems and Pictures HE WAR TO END ALL WARS started on 4 August 1914 and learning about it, not from living through the nightmare that it ended, after four catastrophic years that changed the world for quickly became. Tever, at 11 am on the eleventh day of November, 1918. Then there were the children, the boys of fourteen and fifteen This was one of the bloodiest of conflicts in all history. An who joined up because of the perceived glamour when life at home estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilians died was dull and limited, who ran away because they could not bear it, as a direct result of the war. It was immediately followed by the and were shot at dawn as traitors, without pity. And, despite their 1918 influenza pandemic, which caused between fifty and one- bravery in being there at all, in surviving even five minutes of this hundred million deaths worldwide. hell, they were shamed, their names not allowed on war memorials, So much has been said about the pity of this war, so many their grieving parents shunned in the villages that they came from. poems, songs, books, plays and films have tried and often And the mothers, who lost not just one son, but two or three – succeeded in conveying some of the devastation, but it is still and husbands as well, as families were often kept together for almost impossible to comprehend the enormity of it, the horror morale, and died together. How can that be bearable? of living life amongst mud and blood, of existing below ground One hundred years on, we will never see a war like that again, in flooded trenches, surrounded by the bodies of friends and never again see devastation and suffering on such a scale, please colleagues, of young boys hardly out of school being ordered into God. And we have a duty never to forget the incredible sacrifice darkness and machine gun fire to gain, at most, a few inches made in order that we can live in peace and freedom. The four years of land. It makes for painful memories, and those are only from of commemoration may now be over, but the memory lives on.

Dulce et Decorum Est, by Wilfred Owen Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, As under I green sea, I saw him drowning. Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, through sludge, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs If in some smothering dreams you too could pace And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Behind the wagon that we flung him in, Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Australian troops charging near a Turkish trench during behind. Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud the Gallipoli Campaign Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! - An ecstasy of fumbling, Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, -- Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; My friend, you would not tell with such high zest But someone still was yelling out and stumbling To children ardent for some desperate glory, And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime ... The old lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, mori.

U-155 exhibited near Tower Bridge in London, after the 1918 Armistice

The Cenotaph, by Charlotte Mew Not yet will those measureless fields In splendid sleep, with a thousand be green again brothers Where only yesterday the wild sweet To lovers - to mothers blood of wonderful youth was shed; Here, too, lies he: There is a grave whose earth must Under the purple, the green, the red, Ninth British Lancers 1916 hold too long, too deep a stain, It is all young life: it must break some Though for ever over it we may speak women’s hearts to see as proudly as we may tread. Such a brave, gay coverlet to such a But here, where the watchers by lonely bed! hearths from the thrust of an inward Only, when all is done and said, sword have more slowly bled, God is not mocked and neither are the We shall build the Cenotaph: Victory, dead. winged, with Peace, winged too, at For this will stand in our Market-place - the column’s head. Who’ll sell, who’ll buy And over the stairway, at the foot - oh! (Will you or I here, leave desolate, passionate Lie each to each with the better hands to spread grace)? Violets, roses, and laurel with the small While looking into every busy whore’s sweet twinkling country things and huckster’s face Speaking so wistfully of other Springs As they drive their bargains, is the Face From the little gardens of little places Of God: and some young, piteous, where son or sweetheart was born murdered face. and bred.

26 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND In Flanders Fields, by John McRae In Flanders fields the poppies blow In Flanders fields. Between the crosses, row on row, Take up our quarrel with the foe: That mark our place; and in the sky To you from failing hands we throw The larks, still bravely singing, fly The torch; be yours to hold it high. Scarce heard amid the guns below. If ye break faith with us who die We are the Dead. Short days ago We shall not sleep, though poppies We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, grow Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Football in no mans land The Soldier, by Rupert Brooke If I should die, think only this of me: Washed by the rivers, blest by the suns of home. That there’s some corner of a foreign field And think, this heart, all evil shed away, That is forever England. There shall be A pulse in the eternal mind, no less In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England A dust whom England bore, shaped, made given; aware, Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to day; roam, And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, A body of England’s, breathing English air, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Bombarding of Saint Bertin church 1916

To his love, by Ivor Gurney He’s gone, and all our plans You would not know him now… Are useless indeed. But still he died We’ll walk no more on Cotswolds Nobly, so cover him over Where the sheep feed With violets of pride Quietly and take no heed. Purple from Severn side. His body that was so quick Cover him, cover him soon! Is not as you And with thick-set My Boy Jack, by Rudyard Kipling Knew it, on Severn River Masses of memoried flowers- “Have you news of my boy Jack?” Nor any tide, Under the blue Hide that red wet Not this tide. Except he did not shame his kind — Driving our small boat through. Thing I must somehow forget. “When d’you think that he’ll come back?” Not even with that wind blowing, and Not with this wind blowing, and this tide. that tide. “Has any one else had word of him?” Then hold your head up all the more, Not this tide. This tide, For what is sunk will hardly swim, And every tide; Not with this wind blowing, and this tide. Because he was the son you bore, “Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?” And gave to that wind blowing and that None this tide, tide!

Trenches of the eleventh Cheshire Regiment at Ovillers-la-Boisselle, on the Somme, July West Indian Regiment 1916

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 27 ST GEORGE’S CHURCH, HANOVER SQUARE

We are indeed priviledged to call St George’s church in Our annual Standard Service on 21 October was, as Hanover Square our Society’s church, and have Fr Roddy always, a lovely occasion, with a splendid sermon given Leece as our Society Chaplain. by Fr David Addington, a member of our Fenland branch. St George’s, the parish church of Mayfair, was built We were delighted to have the support of the English between 1721-1724 to the designs of John James, as Toastmasters, and to have four standards on parade: our one of the Fifty Churches projected by Queen Anne’s National Standard, and those of Fenland, Seahaven and Act of 1711. The reredos is from the workshop of Westminster. Grinling Gibbons and frames a ‘Last Supper’ painted June Kimberling, who made the beautiful kneeler which for the church by William Kent in 1724. The windows was commissioned and donated by Lt Col Leslie Clarke, contain Flemish glass of the early sixteenth century Chairman of Rushmoor branch and member of Council, from Antwerp. George Frederick Handel was a regular was able to join us this year, having been laid low by worshipper at St George’s, which is home to the annual ’flu last year, and it was lovely to be able to thank her in London Handel Festival. person.

Standards at the end of the service

28 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND A bevy of toastmasters Fr Addington

June and Lt Col Leslie Clarke

St George’s church Before the service

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 29 OBITUARIES

During the latter part of the War he several committees. He was a keen bowler moved up to the Rhine where he built rafts both indoors and out until weeks before his to ferry Fifteenth Scottish Division over the death. river, subsequently levelling the banks to During his later years he wrote several allow amphibious vehicles to enter and exit books on the local area and travelled around much more easily. giving talks in schools and community His troops were among the first into groups. Belsen and the smells and sights remained Alex joined the newly formed with him always. Northumbria Branch of the Royal Society of It was while stationed at Winterbourne he St George in 2008, becoming its President met his future wife Ruth at a village dance in January 2015. and they married in 1942. Two years later, His passing means he will be sorely their daughter Susan was born missed by so many in the North East. Alex was demobilised in 1946 and when the Territorial Army was formed a year later he joined immediately. Starting as a Captain with 105 Construction Engineer Regiment RE TA. After a couple of minor name changes this became 105 Corps Engineer Regiment RE (Tyne Electrical Engineers) TA and Alex commanded that Regiment from 1959 to 1962 as a Lieutenant Colonel. On 10 June 1954 Alex was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. The Army Cadet Force was very keen that he should join them and he promised Colonel Alexander Kirk he would give it three years. His first Johnson, MBE, TD, M Inst Re, Dl appointment was as Area Commandant ORN 13 NOVEMBER 1918 - died 4 (North) in County Durham. The records BJanuary 2018. show Colonel AK Johnson, MBE, TD, as Born in Barlow Village, Co. Durham, Commandant of Durham ACF from 1971 the son of a miner and the middle child to 1974. He then became Commandant of of three boys, his was a poor but happy Tyne and Wear County ACF, when this new upbringing. He attended the local primary County was formed. He did that for a further school moving on to Blaydon Secondary seven years until 1981. He thus had twenty Jennifer ‘Jenny’ Parsley School, a mere five mile walk each way years of involvement with an excellent (1937 – 2018) which certainly toughened him up for his youth movement which was very close to future life. his heart. He would have influenced a large ENNY WAS A long-standing member Following school, he began training as number of cadets, many of whom would go Jof The Royal Society of St. George, a biochemist and in 1939 was called up for on to serve both the Regular and Territorial Rushmoor branch and had served as a six months of military training at Hadrian’s Army. committee member over a number of years. Camp at Carlisle. Alex finally served in uniform as It is a sad loss for her family and for us in When war broke out he was sent to Honorary Colonel, Seventy-two (Tyne the branch, especially because she was so Winterbourne for Chemical Warfare Electrical Engineers) Engineer Regiment TA full of life, fun and enthusiasm. Training and was posted to First Chemical (a successor to the Unit he had been CO of) She was vivacious and will be Warfare Battalion. He was then sent to from 1976 to 1984. He gave his unstinting remembered by us, not least of all for her France and was captured by the German advice and support to three Regular and one amazing dress style. She loved colour and a Forces. He escaped, and after many more TA Commanding Officers. bit of bling and would join in our meetings adventures made it to Dunkirk and was He remained a member of the North of and activities wholeheartedly. evacuated back to England. England TA Association and then the Reserve At one of the Rushmoor branch garden He joined Sixth Commando and was Forces and Cadet Association until his death. parties she made a very popular carrot involved in the raids on the Lofoten Islands In 1985 he was made a Deputy Lieutenant cake; the recipe for which was much and Vaagso in Norway. Smaller raids on of Tyne and Wear. sought after. The recipe is printed here, in the Pas de Calais, trying to convince Hitler On 9 November 2015 Alex was awarded memory of Jenny, so she may continue to where the expected Second Front would the Legion d’Honneur by the Honorary bring happiness to those who make or eat land followed, after which he was offered French Consul, the highest French order of it. (Note; original recipe measurements in a commission which meant leaving the merit for military and civilian service. imperial, duly converted to metric) Commandos. Following demobilisation he trained as a Once commissioned, he was posted to teacher and spent many years at Whickham Jenny’s Carrot Cake Seventh Engineer Regiment at Bournemouth School before leaving to run his own Ingredients: and trained as a Beach Group Engineer. As independent school – Linden School – in 6oz (171g) Sunflower oil a result he was very early into France on Forest Hall, near Newcastle. The school 6oz (171g) Caster sugar D-Day to clear beaches of obstacles and flourished under his guidance and he 8oz (227g) Fresh, grated carrots minefields to facilitate our transport and successfully influenced the lives of hundreds 6oz (171g) Plain flour men. After that success he, with his troop, of children until he finally retired in 1997 Three Beaten, large eggs became involved in the ‘Falaise Gap’, aged seventy-nine. 1 Tsp (4g) Cinnamon meeting up with Canadian soldiers and He led an active life in his local 1 Tsp (4g) Bicarbonate of Soda giving the Germans a very torrid time. community of Rowlands Gill serving on 1 Tsp (4g) Baking powder

30 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 1 Tsp (4g) Salt Turn into 8 in (20 cm) cake tin. 4oz (113g) Icing sugar 1 Tsp (4g) Vanilla essence ½Tsp (2g) Vanilla essence 4oz (113g) Chopped walnuts Cook on Gas Mk 4 (180°C) (350°F) for Whole walnuts to decorate. about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Method: When cake is cool add topping. Beat oil, sugar and vanilla essence. Topping: Decorate with walnuts. Add flour, cinnamon, salt, bicarb, baking 2oz (57g) Butter Eat, enjoy. Think of Jenny’s smile, powder, eggs, grated carrots, walnuts. 3oz (85g) Philadelphia cream cheese ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’.

HELP YOUR SOCIETY – BY MAKING A DONATION IN YOUR WILL The Society and our Charitable Trust are helped greatly if there are Legacies and Bequests. By making a posthumous gift of money or property you may also reduced your Estates inheritance tax liability. The options for a donation, in your Will, are: • A Legacy of a specific sum; • A Bequest of specific property; • A Bequest of the residue of your Estate or a Share of it with other charities or individuals. What to do to help us in your Will: lf you wish to include a donation in your WILL please consult your Solicitor. A simple form of Legacy might include the following words: “l hereby bequeath, free of tax, the sum of £ ...... to The Royal Society of St George (P.O. BOX 397, Loughton, IG10 9GN, England). OR to The Royal Society of St George Charitable Trust (Registered Charity No.: 263706) and the receipt of the Hon Treasurer or other proper Officer for the time being of The Royal Society of St George shall be a complete discharge of such Legacy” This wording can easily be adapted to cover the Bequest of a Property or of All, or Part of, the residue of your Estate. ln any case of doubt please ask your Solicitor or get in touch with the Society’s Administration. This is especially appreciated if you intend to lay down conditions as to how the Bequest should be used.

Those wishing to attend or to obtain more information are asked to contact our� Honorary Events Secretary Alan Cook Esq. by email at [email protected]�

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 31 DEUTSCHLAND – U-155

submarines, as long as they were unarmed, were to be regarded as merchant vessels and accordingly would be permitted to trade. Only two submarines were completed according to the original design: Deutschland and Bremen, which was lost on a voyage to the United States. Due to the United States’ entry into the war the other five submarine freighters were converted into long-range cruiser submarine (U-kreuzers), equipped with two 150 mm deck guns and were known as the Type U 151 class.

Merchant service First journey Deutschland departed on her first voyage to the US on 23 June 1916 commanded by Paul König, formerly of the North German Lloyd company. She carried 750 tons of cargo in total, including 125 tons of highly sought-after chemical dyes, mainly Anthraquinone and Alizarine derivatives in U-155 exhibited near Tower Bridge in London, after the 1918 Armistice highly concentrated form, some of which were worth as much as $1,254 a pound in There is a small picture of Deutschland on page twenty-six 2005 money. She also carried medical drugs, and I thought it would be interesting to find out a little more of mainly Salvarsan, gemstones, and mail, her cargo being worth $1.5 million in total. the history of this vessel. The following text is taken directly Deutschland waited a week at Heligoland from Wikipedia under the under the Creative Commons after the announced sailing date to avoid enemy patrols. She submerged for only Attribution-ShareAlike License. (Jim Duggan) ninety miles (140 km) of the 3,800-mile (6,100 km) outbound voyage. Passing EUTSCHLAND WAS a blockade- Lloyd) and the Deutsche Bank. She was undetected through the English Channel she breaking German merchant constructed without armaments, with a wide arrived in Baltimore on 9 July 1916 (some Dsubmarine used during World beam to provide space for cargo. The cargo sources say 7 July) after just over two weeks War I. It was developed with private funds capacity was 700 tons (230 tons of rubber at sea. A photograph by Karle Netzer dates and operated by the North German Lloyd could be stored in the free-flooding spaces the arrival 10 July (erreichte Baltimore Line. She was the first of seven U-151 class between the inner and outer hulls), relatively Hafen 10 Juli 1916). During their stay in the U-boats built and one of only two used as small compared to surface ships. US, the German crewmen were welcomed unarmed cargo submarines. Britain and France soon protested against as celebrities for their astonishing journey After making two voyages as an unarmed the use of submarines as merchant ships, and even taken to fancy dinners. American merchantman, she was taken over by the arguing that they could not be stopped submarine pioneer Simon Lake visited German Imperial Navy on 19 February 1917 and inspected for munitions in the same Deutschland while she was in Baltimore, and converted into U-155, armed with six manner as other cargo vessels. The US, and made an agreement with representatives torpedo tubes and two deck guns. As U-155, under diplomatic pressure for supposedly of the North German Lloyd line to build she began a raiding career in June 1917 showing favoritism while having declared cargo submarines in the US, a project which that was to last until October 1918, sinking itself neutral, rejected the argument. Even never came to fruition. 120,434 tons of shipping and damaging a further 9,080 tons of shipping. Deutschland was one of seven submarines designed to carry cargo between the United States and Germany, through the naval blockade of the Entente Powers. Mainly enforced by Great Britain’s Royal Navy, the blockade had led to great difficulties for German companies in acquiring raw materials which could not be found in quantity within the German sphere of influence, and thus substantially hindered the German war effort. Deutschland was built together with her sister ship Bremen in 1916 by the Deutsche Ozean-Reederei, a private shipping company created for the enterprise, a subsidiary company of the North German Lloyd shipping company (now Hapag- Deutschland and crew in Baltimore, 1916

32 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND hit and eventually retired. While the raid was light in damage (it killed four people), it alarmed Allied naval authorities about the defenseless nature of the Azores and their possible use as a base by boats like U-155 in the future. Allied naval forces, led by the US Navy, began to send ships and establish a naval operating base in Ponta Delgada as a result. During her patrol she sank nineteen merchant ships, most by either scuttling or gunfire. She attacked nineteen Allied armed merchantmen but only succeeded in sinking nine of them. Upon her return to Germany she had covered a distance of 10,220 nmi (18,930 km; 11,760 mi), of which 620 nmi (1,150 km; 710 mi) had been travelled submerged, one of the longest voyages made by a U-boat during World War I.

1918 U-155 sailed from Kiel on 11 August 1918 commanded by Ferdinand Studt. Studt’s orders directed him to cruise off German U-boat Deutschland, in Baltimore Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland, 1916 the US coast in the region of the Nantucket lightship and lay mines off St. John’s, She stayed at Baltimore until 2 August, The book was heavily publicised, as it was Newfoundland and Halifax, Nova Scotia. when she sailed for Bremerhaven, arriving intended to sway public opinion in both He was also directed to cut telegraph cables on 24 August with a cargo of 341 tons of Germany and the US. off Sable Island, 80 km (50 mi) southeast of nickel, 93 tons of tin, and 348 tons of crude Nova Scotia. His orders, however, proved rubber (257 tons of which were carried problematic, and Studt came to believe that outside the pressure hull). Her cargo was War service the St. Johns where he was to lay mines was valued at $17.5 million, several times the A third voyage, planned for January 1917, actually Saint John, New Brunswick, in the submarine’s construction costs. She had was aborted as German-US relations had Bay of Fundy. traveled 8,450 nmi (15,650 km; 9,720 mi), worsened following the sinking of shipping On U-155’s outbound voyage she had having been submerged for 190 nmi bound for the United Kingdom, often just captured and scuttled the Portuguese sailing (350 km; 220 mi) of them. outside US territorial waters. Deutschland was taken over by the German Imperial ship Gamo, had attempted an attack on Navy on 19 February 1917 and converted SS France, and destroyed by gunfire the into U-155, part of the U-Kreuzer Flotilla, Norwegian Stortind. Second journey being fitted with six bow torpedo tubes with On 7 September U-155 found herself in Deutschland made another round trip eighteen torpedoes, and two 15 cm SK L/40 a long range gun duel with the US steamer in November 1916 to New London, naval guns taken from the pre-dreadnought Frank H. Buck, with the steamer later Connecticut with $10 million of cargo battleship SMS Zähringen. She made three claiming to have sunk U-155. ($224,890,000 in 2018) including gems, successful war cruises, sinking forty-two On 13 September U-155 engaged securities, and medicinal products. At the ships and damaging one. in another gun fight with the British same time the submarine U-53 also crossed merchantman Newby Hall, which managed the Atlantic to visit Newport, Rhode Island, to damage the submarine, denting her and sank five Allied freighters just outside 1917 armour and causing serious leaks in US territorial limits before returning home. During the summer of 1917 U-155 made a her pressure hull which made diving On 17 November as she was putting 105-day cruise, commanded by Kptlt. Karl temporarily impossible. to sea, Deutschland accidentally rammed Meusel, leaving Germany around 24 May On 19 September, Studt tried and failed to the tugboat T. A. Scott, Jr., which turned and returning on 4 September. During her locate and cut the telegraph cable near Sable across her path suddenly while escorting traverse of the Northern Passage around Island, then headed for Nantucket. her from New London to the open ocean. the northern end of the British Isles and out T. A. Scott, Jr., sank immediately with the into the Atlantic Ocean, she was stalked loss of her entire crew of five.Deutschland’s and nearly sunk by U-19 near Utsira Island, Fate bow was damaged, and she had to return to Norway. U-155 returned to Germany from her final New London for repairs, which delayed her During this patrol, the boat fired on the cruise on 12 November 1918 and was departure by a week. She finally left New port city of Ponta Delgada in the Azore surrendered on 24 November 1918 with London on 21 November 1916, with a cargo Islands on 4 July at 3 am with its deck guns. other submarines as part of the terms of the that included 6.5 tons of silver bullion. Portuguese army units did not respond due Armistice. She was taken to Britain and Following his last voyage, Captain to being equipped with obsolete artillery. exhibited in London and elsewhere and Paul König wrote a book (or possibly The collier USS Orion happened to be in was eventually sold for scrap in 1921. On had it ghost-written) about the journeys port at the time undergoing repairs. Its 17 September 1921 she was being broken of Deutschland, entitled Voyage of the company returned U-155’s fire and dueled up at Robert Smith and Sons, Birkenhead, Deutschland, the First Merchant Submarine with the German boat for about twelve when an explosion ripped the ship apart, (Verlag Ullstein and Co, Berlin 1916). minutes. U-155 submerged without being killing five apprentices

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 33 100 MILES FOR 100 YEARS by Bob Peedle MBE, Fellow of The Royal Society of St George. HE EPIC 100 MILE walk by stopped off at the Battle of Britain Memorial Camber Sands to Rye for lunch. The rest Chairman Joanna Cadman at Capel le Ferne. This was to acknowledge of that day was through a Nature Reserve Taccompanied by eighty-seven year the 100th anniversary of the formation of along the coast to Fairlight. We stayed old RSSG member Jeffrey Long, MBE, the RAF. Our party was shown round by the overnight at Pett where we were delighted finished just before 11 am on Sunday, 11 site manager, Major Gomez. Leaving there by the parish church which had been November at Newhaven Port. The dual we went to the memorial arch at Folkestone decorated with poppies by the Pett WI. purpose was to commemorate the 100 years where we were met by the Mayor, Cllr We were there joined by two more RSSG since the signing of the Armistice and to Ann Berry and Tim Geere, President of the members, Delia and Elaine for the Friday raise funds for The Royal British Legion. Cheriton and Morerhall Branch of RBL. It walk from Fairlight by way of Hastings, The plan was to walk from Sandwich was then a long, wet walk for our intrepid St Leonards and Bexhill-on-sea to Cooden in Kent, which is near to the site of the duo to Dymchurch where keeping close Beach. The last full day walking on Saturday wartime Richborough Port, and walk 100 to the coast, there was no shelter from was through Pevensey and Eastbourne and miles to link the ports that were significant the driving rain and wind. Despite that, across the South Downs at Beachy Head, during the First World War. Therefore they Ron Dean, Chairman and members of the Belle Toute and Burling Gap to Seaford. walked by way of Dover (home of the Dymchurch branch of RBL met us at their The last day was a short walk of only three Dover Patrol) and Folkestone to Newhaven. war memorial. miles along the coast from the Seaford War We drove over to Sandwich on Guy The distance along the chosen route was Memorial to Newhaven where we joined Fawkes Night in time to visit the town’s in fact more like 118 miles, so we needed in with the town’s remembrance service at First World War exhibition. The following to bring that down to the target amount of the War Memorial. We were sent off from morning, 6 November the walk started in 100. This is where the Romney Hythe and Seaford by the Mayor, Cllr Linda Wallraven earnest. We assembled at the town’s war Dumchurch Railway helped out. They do and the Seahaven Branch President, memorial, which depicts St George and the not run weekday services out of season, Laurie Holland. The Branch’s Tommy was Dragon, at 8.30 am in time for interviews but just for us Danny Martin who runs the also at the Memorial. The walkers were with Meridian TV News. The Mayor, Cllr railway, laid on the steam engine, Herculese accompanied by Rosemary Holland and Mrs Veronica Liote and members of the pulling a three car train, which included Rodney Boon, from Seahaven Branch to local branch of The Royal British Legion the Royal Saloon once used by our Royal guide them past the site of the First World were there to see us off. The two walkers Patron, HM The Queen early in her reign. War Seaplane Base and the Harbour Railway were then guided to the Saxon Coast path to The staff members were all delightful and Station where so many went across the start their journey to Newhaven. went out of their way to give an informative English Channel to their fate on the Western First overnight stop was Dover and then and pleasant ride on this iconic railway Front. The final flourish was for Frank on Wednesday on the way to Folkestone, we to Dungeness, and then a walk through Holland from Seahaven Branch carrying

Setting off from Sandwich, with good wishes from the Mayor and the local branch of the RBL

At the Memorial ‘Step Short’ Arch in Folkestone Chairman Joanna and RSSG At Capel le Ferne The party view the memorial of a pilot sat in the centre of member Jeffrey Long were greeted by the Mayor of Folkestone and members a propeller. of the Royal British Legion

34 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND At Dymchurch Station The gang try to launch the boat on Hastings Beach. With no luck. the National Standard accompanied by local gesture of remembrance at the centenary of ones. Standing on the hills at Dover in the Scouts from the Third Newhaven Scout the end of the First World War, a war that pouring rain and looking over the A20 to Group to escort Chairman Joanna and Jeffrey in its enormity of human sacrifice in the the footpath that I should have been on – on Long over the swing bridge to the Memorial. most dreadful of conditions should never the top of another hill – was one. Walking The whole effort, despite some bad be forgotten. Each mile was a tribute to from Folkestone to Hythe in such a driving weather was a delightful experience the sons, husbands and fathers who laid wind that we took one step forward and enabling us all to experience new sights down their lives in the mud of Flanders two sideways. And the final night, when we and visit new places where everyone we and, although the going was sometimes found ourselves passing Beachy Head in met showed support and encouragement incredibly tough, it was a very small thing to the dusk, which quickly became dark, and for the aims of the 100 miles walk. At some do in comparison with their sacrifice. having from then on, walking to Seaford via towns Joanna was able to plant crosses to I wore my great grandfather’s medals Belle Tout and the Seven Sisters, having to commemorate First World War VC’s. The – he had joined the war at the beginning, decide with each step whether we were just expenses of the walk were sponsored by made it all the way through, and survived about to go over the cliff edge or were safe the Rotary Clubs of Seaford, Newhaven, to go on to raise my father and his twin for a few more yards, was certainly exciting. Peacehaven and Telscombe. brother, who died in World War Two, after We met some lovely people and my The giving site – https://mydonate. their mother died in childbirth. I was very heartfelt thanks go to each and every one of bt.com/fundraisers/joannacadman1 – will proud to do so. them for their welcome and support. Little be open until February by which time it is Fred Pearson and Georgina Burges, our gestures like the very welcome fish and chip hoped to have raised £5000 for The Royal Society photographers, left home at 4 am lunch we were treated to by the Mayor of British Legion. on 6 November in order to be in Sandwich Folkestone, the cup of tea at the station at in time to photograph our departure. You Dymchurch, and the glass of wine bought Joanna Cadman – Chairman are truly very special people, and just to see for me by a publican in Hastings were very I was of course aware that walking 100 your welcoming smiles made the start very heart warming, as were the welcoming miles along the south coast in November special, thank you. and encouraging smiles on the faces of the was going to be challenging, but it was There were a lot of very good moments representatives of the RBL branches who important to me to make a worthwhile along the way, and a few challenging turned out with their standards, in high winds

Members of Dymchurch RBL met us in the early evening at the end of a wet One of the platforms at Newhaven where in the First World War many men and windy day went to their fate on the battlefields.

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 35 On Saturday 10th Joanna planted a cross to CSM Carter VC alongside a memorial to him in the Eastbourne Memorial gardens. Jeffrey planted one for another Eastbourne VC

On Sunday 11 November Our walkers were sent off from Seaford by the Mayor Linda Wallraven (RSSG) , Laurie Holland, President of the Seahaven Branch RSSG and members of the Branch.

and rain, to welcome us along the way. Thank steam train at Dymhurch, laid on especially you, too, to Rotary watches, who presented for us – it take 2 ½ hours to commission the me with a special limited edition 1918 train, and 2 ½ hours to de-commission it, timepiece, with a poppy on the dial, on the hardly putting a key in the ignition! Capel crown and the eleventh day and hour marked le Ferne – again, a very welcome cup of tea, red. It is very special and a lovely and much and a tour of the wonderful building and the appreciated gesture. Battle of Britain memorial. Being joined So many good memories: the wonderful by Delia and Elaine for the challenge of the road to Eastbourne via Hastings – such good and diverting company, and you were blessedly cheerful, On the last day of the walk, having already even after all those hills, thank you. walked 100 miles Joanna and Jeffrey start off And then the lovely welcome from at 8.30 am at the Seaford War Memorial where Nick Dutt, Nick Hinchliffe and my Joanna laid a cross for the VC. Then it was off brother when we finally made base to the port at Newhaven to join with the towns in Seaford – never have I been so commemoration at 11 am. glad to see someone as I was to see Nick Dutt when he found us in the Finally, I’d like to thank Bob Peedle for dark at Cuckmere Haven! Followed his extraordinary feat of organisation and by a last invigorating stroll along planning that gave us precise details of each the sea front to reach Newhaven day’s walk, a lovely welcome every day by 11 am on 11 November, from Mayors, RBL branches, railway men accompanied by Rosemary and keepers of memorials and the vital place Holland, the lovely wife of the to stay each night. We couldn’t have done it President of Seahaven branch. without him, thank you Bob.

36 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND DR FOSTER Who Was the Real Doctor Foster? By Ian Holt

NGLAND HAS A very rich and distinctive folklore. It has one of Ethe richest traditions of folk music anywhere in the world, as proved by people as diverse as Ralph Vaughan Williams and the group Fairport Convention. There are also many folk tales, the most famous being the Robin Hood stories, which have gone round the world. There is also a tradition of nursery rhymes which English children used to be raised on. One of the most famous of these nursery rhymes is the following: Doctor Foster Went to Gloucester In a shower of rain He stepped in a puddle Right up to his middle And never went there again. As we shall see, this particular version, whilst being the most famous, is rather ‘bowdlerized’, no doubt during the Victorian era. But who was this unhappy Kind Edward I medical man? In fact Edward I knew Gloucester very prisoner of Simon de Montfort. He escaped The truth is that he was not a medical well. His father, Henry III, had been and took Gloucester, entering the city by practitioner. Many believe that he was crowned in Gloucester Abbey (now the breaching the wall of the Abbot’s orchard no less a person than Edward I and that Cathedral) as a nine year old boy in 1216, in the June of 1265. The Lord Edward then he left Gloucester because of the state following the death of his father, King defeated Simon at the Battle of Evesham of the roads. ‘It has John. Henry always retained a soft spot for and King Henry III was restored. been suggested that the city and in the the verse refers to The writer on children’s 1230s spent a lot of a visit by Edward I money refurbishing Corruption and misconduct when his horse became games, Alan Opie, says that Gloucester castle as This was not the last time Edward visited immobilised after the rhyme first appeared in a royal residence. Gloucester. As King he held parliament in sinking deep into the New quarters were Gloucester in 1278. Since his accession mud of a city street. In Gammer Gurton’s Garland built for him and six years earlier Edward had received consequence the king his queen, Eleanor endless complaints about corruption and refused to visit the city again’. There may of Provence. New quarters were also built other forms of misconduct on the part well be some truth in this, but the fact is for the heir to the throne, the Lord Edward, of sheriffs and others involved in local that the streets in other English cities in the as he was then known. government. He sought to clear this up by thirteenth century were in no better shape implementing the Statute of Gloucester. than those of Gloucester. Moreover, as we The Barons’ War One of the provisions of the statute was shall see, Edward I spent quite a bit of time The Barons’ War of the 1260s put paid that anyone who held a liberty (franchise) in the city, willingly or otherwise. to that. In fact both city and castle were from the king’s predecessors or anyone else taken and lost three times. had to appear before the king or one of his The Lord Edward was in the officials to show proof of their liberty and thick of it. In 1264 He seized by which warrant (quo warranto) they held a ship belonging to the Abbot that liberty. of Gloucester and sailed it to the castle, which was then on a now vanished branch King Edward’s Gate of the river Severn. He even Whether king Edward I returned to managed to plant his banner Gloucester after the 1278 parliament is on the castle tower. Edward unknown. However, he did leave tangible then proposed a truce which evidence of at least one of his visits. This he apparently reneged on. was King Edward’s Gate which was one of He then placed a number the entrances to the Abbey. Approximately of burgesses in the castle, half this gate still survives near the demanded a ransom and Cathedral. destroyed the city. According to Philip Brown, the well After the Battle of Lewes, known version of the rhyme first appeared the Lord Edward became a in 1844 and was connected to Edward I

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 37 He has likewise been bold with myself and the High Commission. I pray speak privately with William Hewlett (one of the choir?) and he will help you to proof of all this which, if you can get, I shall proceed as I see cause’. At about the same time Brent wrote: ‘Inside the Cathedral church many things amiss’. Whilst Brent was in Gloucester he suspended a schoolmaster who refused to take the oath and admonished the clergy to purchase what he and Laud considered the appropriate vestments. Brown also says that there was ecclesiastical espionage which was resented by the locals. It seems that Sir Nathaniel Brent, who held the degree of doctor of law, was Dr Foster. Doctor Foster was a nickname-cum- pseudonym which happily rhymes with Gloucester. It would have been dangerous to mock Laud’s agent openly. At this time Gloucester was a puritan city and was to back parliament in the forthcoming English King Edward’s Gate Gloucester Civil War, which was to cost the city dearly after the Restoration. and the state of the Turnpike road. Brown of Gloucester and in 1616 he ordered the cites the writer on children’s games, communion table in the choir of Gloucester Alan Opie, who says that the rhyme first Cathedral be moved to the east end from appeared in Gammer Gurton’s Garland, an the centre. This caused a furore in the city. The art of building roads early collection of nursery rhymes made by A pamphlet denouncing this change was If Edward I found the roads in a poor one Joseph Ritson in 1783 or 1784. This published in St. Michael’s Church (the state of repair, it seems that Sir Nathaniel contains another version of the rhyme, church is gone, but the tower is still there Brent found open sewers running in the which goes like this: and is the headquarters of Gloucester Civic streets of Gloucester. In neither case was Trust and the cheapest café in the city). Old Doctor Foster went to Gloucester, Gloucester exceptional. It was not until To preach the word of God. the later eighteenth century that England When he came there, he sat in his chair, rediscovered the art of building roads and And gave all the people a nod. It seems that Sir Nathaniel it was not until the nineteenth century that sewers were built under the cities. The This would seem to refer to a doctor Brent, who held the degree of more famous rhyme originally went like of divinity, rather than medicine. Brown doctor of law, was Dr Foster this: cites one Janet Wilson, whose daughter Doctor Foster went on a school trip in the early sixties Went to Gloucester to Deerhurst, not far to the north of Sir Nathaniel Brent In a shower of rain Gloucester. The rector, the Rev Hugh In 1633, as Archbishop, Laud instituted a He stepped in a piddle Maclean told the school party that Doctor visitation of the dioceses in his province. Right up to his middle Foster had been sent to Gloucester as an This was placed in the hands of his Vicar And never went there again. emissary of the Archbishop of Canterbury, General, Sir Nathaniel Brent, who was a William Laud. He brought orders that all Doctor of Law. Brent went to Gloucester. This was bowdlerized in Victorian times communion tables be placed at the east end An entry for March, 1635 refers to to save the blushes of sensitive souls. The of the church, rather than in the centre of a memorandum issued by Laud: ‘At important thing is that this famous nursery the chancel. He could not reach Deerhurst Gloucester attention was specially to be rhyme has a basis in English history and because the Severn was in flood. given to the carriage of Marwood of the especially in the history of the city of choir and Henry Horsington, dwelling in Gloucester. Whether one believes that Smells and Bells Barton Street. . . . the latter of whom had Doctor Foster was Edward I or Archbishop Laud had form. He was what would vilified the King’s declaration and Dr Iles, Laud’s agent, Sir Nathaniel Brent, is a nowadays be called ‘high church’. In one of the prebendaries, and the Dean matter of choice. It does prove that the short, he believed in ‘smells and bells’ and and Chapter, calling them a company of city of Gloucester has as rich and fine vestments. Long before he became knaves for maintaining the choir, because interesting a history and folklore as any Primate of all England Laud had been dean their service profanes the church of God. city in England.

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38 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND THE MUSIC OF ENGLAND

Stuart Milson CHOES OF VAUGHAN WILLIAMS the opening of Vaughan Williams’s Mass in composer who, unlike many musicians of and Holst abound in an important G Minor, establishing a sense of stillness our era, believes that his art should appeal Enew CD of contemporary choral and pilgrimage. Anyone – whether well- to the widest possible audience, without in music, says Stuart Millson. versed in classical music, or a newcomer any way compromising the originality of the Recently issued by the CD label, or novice – will immediately see in their artist. However, at the end of the Lacrymosa Willowhayne Records (catalogue no. mind’s eye the shadows and spaces of a section, a deep sense of rapture and WHR049) comes a shining example of church or cathedral, but as we move through concentration is achieved, with the voices Englishness in music – a remarkable re- the sections of the work, a clear sense of gently trailing away – the accompanying statement of tonality and tradition by a contemporary music manifests itself – organ sound almost holding time itself in composer of our own time. The recording reminiscent in places (to this reviewer) limbo. For those who know and admire features three works: Mass of the Holy of the works of Welsh composer, William Gustav Holst’s The Hymn of Jesus, the Trinity (Elle Williams, soprano – Timothy Mathias. This is a musical statement which passage will hold a particular fascination. Noon, bass); a setting of the Requiem (again looks forward, yet draws nourishment from Performed by the choral group – with Elle Williams, with additional soprano the past. ‘antiphon’, with the string ensemble, the Louise Hardy, and baritone, Julian Rippon); Many readers will know of Cambridge’s antiphon players adding great lyricism to and a Rupert Brooke setting – The Way of John Rutter, his immediately accessible, the Brooke settings – the CD is a treasury Love (with Louise Hardy). The composer optimistic and tuneful quality – a of English music. Under the baton of is the Sussex-based Michael Walsh, who – characteristic also evident in Michael a conductor-composer of the younger from his earlier days of study at London’s Walsh’s writing, particularly in the Rupert generation, Matthew Cann; and with the Trinity College of Music – now enjoys a Brooke settings, which are meditations on fine organ playing of Timothy Parsons busy career as an organist, conductor of love and youth in the settings of the English (Assistant Director of Music at Exeter the Chichester Symphony Orchestra, and landscape and seaside. Some listeners may Cathedral), Willowhayne’s new CD offers Master of Music for the Knights Templars’ also hear the mellow nostalgia of Gerald a truly spiritual experience. We must now Grand Priory of England. Finzi – that same “outdoor” spirit of country hope that efforts will be made to record The first item, the Mass, was originally air and sunshine. Even Walsh’s Requiem the uplifting works written especially dedicated to fellow organist, Alan Thurlow, (which many would associate with an by Michael Walsh for the Magna Carta organist of Chichester Cathedral, and dates austere intensity) contains a lightness of celebrations at Runnymede in 2015 – once from 1988. Performed as far afield as touch, and – in the Offertorium, especially – again, confirmation of this composer’s Estonia, the work immediately creates an tunes which you will find yourself humming fundamental Englishness and gift for atmosphere of mystery – and brings to mind and which stick in the mind. Here is a harmony and invention.

BOOKS –THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WOLFE FRANK Paul Hooley HAVE BEEN HEAVILY involved After an initial period of trepidation as ensure that Frank’s involvements at, and in producing two books. The first – I sorted through several thousand sheets remembrances of, the trials of Nazi war I Nuremberg’s Voice of Doom – is being of paper, my heart soared when I realised criminals and his single-handedly tracking published simultaneously in the UK and that I had stumbled across a treasure down and apprehending an SS officer high the USA in early October, the second – The trove of documents consisting of the on the Allies ‘most wanted’ list, were more Undercover Nazi Hunter – will appear in memoirs, family records and other material properly documented. It was also very clear March next year. chronicling the life and times of Wolfe to me that he hoped his insights of these About two years ago a friend of mine – Frank who was the Chief Interpreter at events, as part of his life’s story, would be Mike Dilliway – asked me if I would look at the Nuremberg Trials and one of the most published posthumously. This led to me several boxes of papers he had inherited that charismatic characters of the twentieth compiling, editing and expanding Wolfe’s had been stored in his loft for over twenty- century. narrative. five years – to see if there was anything By the time I had concluded my Nuremberg’s Voice of Doom is a record there that might be of historical importance. investigations I knew it was my duty to of two interwoven themes – one of love, adventure and excitement (Frank was married five times and had countless

Born on St Valentine’s Day 1913, WOLFE ‘I had been involved in the writing of a chapter of human history that The memoirs of Wolfe Frank, which lay hidden FRANK was a strikingly handsome man would be read, talked about and remembered forever. I had been more in an attic for twenty-five years, are a unique affairs), the other of a former German who proved to be irresistible to women. and highly moving behind-the-scenes account totally and decisively immersed in recording the horrors of the war than Post Nuremberg he single-handedly tracked of what happened at Nuremberg – ‘the greatest most of the millions who had fought in it. It had changed me.’ trial in history’ – as seen through the eyes down and apprehended one of the ‘most citizen’s fight for the right to become of a witness to the whole proceedings. They wanted’ Nazi criminals and in a packed Wolfe Frank at the end of the Nuremberg Trials include important historical information never lifetime he was, at various times, a financial previously revealed. In an extraordinarily advisor, racing driver, theatre impresario, ‘Of course I want counsel. But it is even more important to have explicit life story, Frank includes his personal a British soldier and his extraordinary broadcaster, journalist, salesman, businessman, a good interpreter.’ encounters, inside and outside the courtroom, restaurateur, skier, and property developer. with all the war criminals, particularly Hermann Goering, October 1945 Hermann Goering. This, therefore, is a unique record that adds substantially to what is commitment to service, duty and justice PAUL HOOLEY was born and educated in ‘Wolfe Frank, ex-German and ex-British ofﬁcer, as chief interpreter for already publicly known about the trials and the Surrey. He founded a design and printing defendants. company that grew to be ranked amongst two years at the Nuremberg trials materially contributed to the practical Involved in proceedings from day one, that saw him rise to become a Captain in the the industry’s top one per-cent. He has also success of those enormously difﬁcult procedures. He won the unreserved Frank translated the first piece of evidence, been a director of a building society, a private tributes of the American and British jurists.’ interpreted the judges’ opening statements, hospital and companies involved in advertising, and concluded the trials by announcing the New York Herald Tribune sentences to the defendants (and several Army and, it was said, ‘the finest interpreter publishing, entertainment, finance, building, hundred million radio listeners) – which earned transport, property and engineering. He retired ‘Frank’s translations were delicious – he had a great command of the him the soubriquet ‘Voice of Doom’. from business in 1990, since when he has Prior to the war, Frank, who was of Jewish devoted much of his time to studying, writing English Language. I used to go to the courtroom sometimes in the in the world’. descent, was a Bavarian playboy, an engineer, and lecturing on a wide range of historical and afternoon just to listen to him.’ a resistance worker, a smuggler (of money and military subjects. A former town and district Jews out of Germany) and was declared to be Henry T. King Jr. – A US prosecutor at Nuremberg councillor, he was Mayor of Bedford in 1978. ‘an enemy of the State to be shot on sight’. I must stress that whilst this is an Having escaped to Britain, he was interned Amongst other involvements he has been a at the outbreak of war but successfully magistrate, a tax commissioner and a prison campaigned for his release and eventually to be visitor. He has been married to Helen for over allowed to enlist in the British Army – in which important military record that will appeal fifty years, has three children and now lives in he rose to the rank of Captain. Unable to Dorset. He was appointed an MBE in 2003. speak English prior to his arrival, by the time of the Nuremberg trials Frank was described as to those interested in the history of World being the ‘finest interpreter in the world’. A unique character of extreme contrasts Frank was a playboy, a risk taker and an opportunist. Yet he was also a man of immense War II, the rise and fall of the Nazi Party courage, charm, good manners, integrity and Frontline Books ability. He undertook the toughest assignment an imprint of imaginable at Nuremberg to a level that was Pen & Sword Books Limited, ‘satisfactory alike to the bench, the defence and and the inside story of all that happened at 47 Church Street, uk £19.99 • us $00.00 the prosecution’ and he played a major role in Barnsley, materially shortening the ‘enormously difficult S. Yorkshire, procedures’ by an estimated three years. Nuremberg, it is also very much a human S70 2AS.

E-mail: [email protected] Scan the QR code foR moRe uk £19.99 www.frontline-books.com titleS fRom fRontline us $34.99 BooKS interest story that will appeal to a much www.frontline-books.com Jacket design: Jon Wilkinson www.frontline-books.com wider audience.

NUREMBERG VOICE OF DOOM jckt.indd 1 18/06/2018 13:34 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 39 LETTERS

This England Dear Sir, Dear Editor, Northern Ireland is reported to be As the Editorial Director of This “the nation that has had the longest England magazine, I am writing period without its own elected to correct the misleading and government”. Surely a stronger inaccurate statements contained contender for this dubious accolade within the article by Stephen would be England? Garnett that was published in The English have had to sit by your August 2018 issue. and watch the devolution of powers Contrary to the impression from the United Kingdom to newly-created Scottish, Welsh and given by Mr Garnett, the future Northern Irish parliamentary assemblies and executive governments of This England is not in any over the last twenty years, but there has been no equivalent doubt. In fact, this year has seen opportunity for England to gain her own national parliament the title enter a new and exciting or government. We are still without these essential attributes of chapter of its life, having nationhood. It is time to end this constitutional injustice. relocated its editorial offices Yours faithfully, from Cheltenham to London’s Andy Smith Fleet Street, the historic home of English journalism. A new and highly experienced Editor, Mr. Carl, Angela Linforth, has been appointed to lead this much-loved I read with interest, your article in St. George For England. I have magazine, and she is looking forward to using all the knowledge been a member for six years, and never tire of reading the magazine and expertise she has built up over many years as a magazine and the interesting thoughts of the membership. I noted you had publishing professional to give This England a bright and returned from a trip to Arizona and Texas. I live in Texas in a small successful future. forgotten town named Hitchcock, about twenty minutes drive from Under Angela’s capable leadership, the magazine will continue Galveston on Highway Six. I was not born here, but have decided to to celebrate all that is good about England – its culture, history, make it my home since I retired from the Space program in 1989. literature, landscape, traditions and, of course, its people. During the war years I was in the Merchant Marine, (Merchant DC Thomson Media, the owner and publisher of This England, Navy). I was sixteen years old and my first trip was to Manchester in is one of the UK’s leading media companies and is proud to include late September 1944. I was there for three weeks unloading Military This England in its magazine portfolio. equipment, but during the afternoon, my friend and I would walk Yours sincerely, into the city and see the sights, but never realised what to do after Angela Gilchrist, Editorial Director, This England night, foggy and misty, just plain lost. A friend and myself met two wonderful girls, all about the same Editor: my sincere apologies to Angela and to the publishers of This age, I met her parents, so delightful and friendly. After we left England, for publishing the article from Stephen Garnett without first Manchester we went back to USA and a couple of years later I checking the facts with DC Thomson Media. I hope the publication of was on a ship that took a load of bagged sugar we picked up in the Angela’s letter sets the record straight. I have included the letter below Dominican Republic and headed for London. I was able to get time from Mr Sadler, which is a helpful view of one person’s reaction to the off to go to Manchester and visit this family again. They were so changes to This England surprised to see me at the door. But the train ride was an experience I’ll never forget. The rural country side was so green and gorgeous, it seemed out of a fairy tale. Her parents were Florence and Frederic Dear Mrs Cadman, Blears their daughter was Hilda and a younger son Clive. One son I My wife has just had a chat with Elizabeth Lloyd, to express our never met was in the RAF and I don’t remember his name. gratitude to the RSSG for publishing the article by Stephen Garnett Hilda and I wrote to each other until late 1948 , when she wrote exposing the behind-the-scenes skulduggery by D C Thomson in and said she was going to be married in December. She never their treatment of the editorial team on this lovely magazine. We mentioned his name until I found out many, many years later. have been readers for twenty years or more, and indeed joined the Hope I didn’t bore you too much and I wish the best for you and RSSG from seeing your advert there. your column and look forward to the next issue. We could not understand the changes in the Summer issue – no My regards to Joanna Cadman if you see her. editor’s letter for a start, and were even more mystified by the David Peterson, Texas Branch appearance of the Autumn issue – changed cover, and above all, content changed and trivialised – eg “My Past Hats” – perhaps it escaped from Thomson’s People’s Friend? Your publication enlightened us as to what had been going on behind the scenes, for which many thanks. Mr Garnett’s article seems very balanced, and we do not feel you have any call to apologise to D C Thomson for publishing it – free speech seems to be under attack everywhere today. Of course they don’t like their sharp practice given an airing – no doubt their Scottish bawbie-counters could not stomach the idea of a comfortable little office in Cheltenham and fudged up a case for closure. The whole concept of This England being edited in Scotland is ridiculous; my wife will be cancelling her remaining subscription – £5.50 for a magazine of this low appeal is not acceptable. We should like to see more publicity given to this; would you object if we quoted from your article, eg to the Daily Telegraph? Yours sincerely, Ray Sadler Harbor Walk, Hitchcock, Texas

40 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND PRINCE CHARLES AT SEVENTY

S A COUNTRY and as a Society, we are so proud of our Royal Family, Awho continue to work tirelessly in public life and also quietly behind the scenes for our country. And the heir to the Throne, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, is an incredible example of a very hard working Royal, who sees his public role as firstly and most importantly supporting the Queen when he undertakes royal duties, but also involving himself in a number of different projects, all in support of the country he loves. Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948), Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay since 1952, is the longest-serving heir apparent in British history as well as longest-serving Prince of Wales, having held that title since 1958. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948, the first grandchild (b. 1982), Duke of Cambridge and Prince Highbury is totally organic. He is a great of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. He Harry (b. 1984), now Duke of Sussex. advocate for smaller farmers and is not was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun In 2005, Charles married Camilla Parker afraid of getting his own hands dirty on the Schools, which his father, Prince Philip, Bowles. land. Duke of Edinburgh, had attended, going Charles founded The Prince’s Trust Charles has been outspoken on the role of on to the Timbertop campus of Geelong in 1976 started with only his Royal architecture in society and the conservation Grammar School in Victoria, Australia. Naval severance pay. He sponsors The of historic buildings. He worked on the After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree Prince’s Charities, and is patron of many creation of Poundbury, an experimental from Trinity College, Cambridge, Charles other charities and the arts. He is an new town based on his preferences. He served in the Royal Air Force and Royal environmentalist who raises awareness has written a number of books, including Navy from 1971 to 1976. of organic farming and climate change A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of In 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer and has received awards and recognition Architecture in 1989 and the children’s book and they had two sons: Prince William from environmental groups. His farm at The Old Man of Lochnagar in 1980.

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 41 PATRIOTISM

Speech to Gloucestershire Branch Royal Society of St George Lord Cope of Berkeley, RSSG Vice President Fortieth Anniversary Dinner Cirencester Agricultural University, 29 September 2018

of patriotism” and rejected what he called other group or nation. We welcome all who “globalism”. Certainly his policies on trade support England. We are all a mixture from and immigration have championed US the start, Angles, Saxons, Celts a thousand national self interest which is not the same years ago with a dash of Romans. Added to thing as patriotism. His speech was in many over the centuries by numerous immigrants. respects a reversion to the old Monroe Our Royal Family are hardly English by doctrine which kept the US out of world blood at all. St George was certainly not events until well into World War One. English. We share him as Patron Saint with By contrast, on Wednesday, also speaking Portugal, Georgia and many other places to the UN General Assembly President and those St George’s flags you see all Macron of France rebuked President Trump over the Near and Middle East mark Greek for his espousal of patriotism and urged Orthodox monasteries and churches. Our his hearers to denounce nationalism as the English language is made glorious by words cause of global war. He urged the nations to culled from all over the place. For we have think internationally and to take part in, and always been an outward looking people. contribute to, world bodies in the interests of We should be informative. Making sure avoiding international conflict and wars. He that people, particularly young people, was speaking in the tradition of the founders appreciate our history and our institutions of the League of Nations after WWI and built over centuries of incremental later the UN after WWII. That war followed improvement. the collapse of the influence of the League We are right to celebrate the balance of in the face of the Nazi’s fierce expansionist democracy and patriotism embodied in our nationalism. M Macron went on to trumpet invention of constitutional monarchy. The Human Rights, but did not trouble to point balance goes right back in our history. It was out that we English developed that concept severely tested in the terrible times of our all the way from Magna Carta onwards. seventeenth-century civil war. Since then In similar vein Dr Johnson said, it has developed gradually into its present Lord Cope of Berkeley according to Boswell that Patriotism is “the form. The balance of loyalty to the Crown, last refuge of the scoundrel”. the Executive chosen from a democratic For an object lesson in what can happen Parliament and an independent judiciary HE GLOUCESTERSHIRE BRANCH when expansionist nationalism is fuelled presiding over the rule of law works well. is renowned in the Royal Society by religious fervour look at today’s Middle It has been exported to other parts of the Tparticularly for our wonderful Annual and Near East. In some respects the nations world and is the envy of more. It has given Service in Gloucester Cathedral at St historically ruled by the Ottoman Sultan are us a stability which others have lacked and George’s tide which, together with the Nairac still trying to adjust to that Empire’s demise. hence the ability to adjust and improve our Awards which have become part of it. The The wars in Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, institutions gradually rather than have them service and all the branch activities owes etc, have each their own story. The fierce crushed in revolution or conquest. everything to many of you here tonight who nationalism of Israel (forged in the terrible It works so well for us today not least have been among those who helped build and holocaust) seeks to suppress the nationalism because of HM The Queen’s sense of duty, carry on this tradition, as we can now call it. of Palestine with continuing dreadful inherited from her father and grandfather You have the warm thanks of everyone here consequences. That is an example of particularly. She sets a standard for us all to and many more in the county and beyond. nationhood denied and patriotism thwarted. follow. Above all she is a unifying influence The actual service is a splendid So what about the patriotism of the for our nation in times when politics and expression of the patriotism that the Society Royal Society of St George. Our chosen acute financial disparities tend to split us is all about. role is to celebrate England and her values apart. This nation thrives when it is united Patriotism is an important concept which and virtues. We encourage respect for our as one nation. has led to much of value in England and in ancestors’ defence of this nation and others I sometimes think the obsessive attraction the world. But it doesn’t always get a good from attempted foreign tyranny whether by of WWII, which is shown by the enormous press. Its aggressive version, Nationalism, Hitler or Napoleon or Philip II of Spain. number of films and TV programmes about has led to great misery for the world too. We champion their contribution to the it, derives in part from the fact that the In 1919 Bernard Shaw said “you will development of democracy and to the rule whole nation was united in the common never have a quiet world till you knock the of law. purpose of winning the war against the patriotism out of the human race”. A typical Our English patriotism is understated (a fascists. Class and other divisions were set provocative remark from him! particularly English attribute). The words aside in the national cause. This week has given us several “Nothing in Excess” are said to have been Above all our Royal Society should opportunities to reflect on the whole idea of carved over the Temple at Delphi in ancient inspire people with love of the country and patriotism. Greece, but they might have been carved appreciation of the achievements of the past On Tuesday speaking to that pompous over any building in England. and of the great men and women from our but vital world talking shop the UN I think our Royal Society should be history. General Assembly, President Trump said Inclusive, Informative and Inspirational The Gloucestershire Branch has done this to the nations “we embrace the doctrine Our patriotism does not threaten any and more.

42 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND ROBIN SCULPTURES AND BOOK BENCHES Great Art in Nottingham David Bennett

“Tiggua Cobauc”, outside the Theatre Royal, artist Lissie, sponsor by G F “Goose Fair, Goose Fowl”, on Pavilion Road, artist Cathy Simpson, sponsor Tomlinson Murphy group

E ALL KNOW the legends and myths celebrated auctioneer Charles Hanson, the life’s great pleasures. And it’s something Wof Robin Hood and his adventures proceeds going to the Nottinghamshire we believe every person should have the with the Sheriff of Nottingham. Hospice. opportunity to enjoy. Boots has a long- The City Council along with local Running in conjunction with this event standing commitment to improving literacy businesses and other organisations created was the ‘Book Benches’. Fifty five benches and access to reading for all. In 1890 thirty-three Robin sculptures, all decorated were made to designs inspired by school Florence Boot created the Book Lovers’ by various artists and placed in a prominent children. These benches were placed in Libraries in Boots stores before public position in the city centre forming a trail venues such as libraries, leisure centres libraries were common. So partnering for the public to follow. Many families took and shopping malls throughout the city to Robin’s tales is a fitting way of continuing a day out to visit the sculptures and take encourage children to read. After the event and honouring her legacy. family photographs. the benches were to be returned to the “We hope that the book benches will be The Robins were on display for the whole school which inspired them. a lasting place for children to enjoy and of the summer and were then due to be Elizabeth Fagan, managing director of discover stories and literary heroes for years auctioned off at St Mary’s Church by the Boots, said :“To read and learn is one of to come.”

Benches in the Victoria Centre designed by Blue Bell Hill Primary School, Sneinton CoE Primary school and Denewood learning Centre

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 43 REMEMBRANCE FROM ON HIGH

REAT GABLE is a mountain on the Hundreds of people, of all ages, make more remote western side of the Lake this climb to the top, which will take me, GDistrict National Park, at Wasdale. depending on the weather conditions, just This place boasts four England firsts: under three hours, so a very early breakfast. 1. The Highest mountain, Scafell Pike at If this year is anything like the last time 3209 feet, the wind and the sleet made the Priest’s 2. The Deepest Lake of Wastwater, conduct of the Service inaudible, but it was 3. The smallest Church, and a remarkably moving service nevertheless.I 4. The biggest liar, the former landlord of shall, again, lay a wreath near the summit. the Wastwater Hotel, Mr. Ritson. Some of I pray that those who gave their lives for you may have seen the programme at the their Country, that we may live in Peace and Hotel featuring the Hairy Bikers, telling Freedom, will be able to know that their porkies! ultimate sacrifice is fully appreciated, and Although Great Gable is sixty feet lower that we still remember them, with gratitude. than England’s highest mountain it was (and still is) the home of Mountaineer Climbers, Great Gable on Sunday, 11 November being considered by many a much more 2018 difficult mountain. There are many old George, my Son, and I set out from Wasdale photographs in the Hotel (now called the Head Inn at 7.20 am and it was not raining... Wasdale Head Inn) taken in sepia and black but neither was the sun shining. and white by the Abraham Brothers from The first half of this 2949-foot mountain being numb with the cold he joined all those Keswick, including a spectacular one of the is the easier part, and we arrived at Sty descending the path to the right, and ended summit of Napes Needle, climbed in 1886 by Head Pass on time, albeit by this time is was up at Honister Slate Mines, where he had to Walter Parry Haskett Smith, also known as raining, and red waterproof trousers had pay £100 for the two-hour taxi journey back The Father of Rock Climbing. already been donned to Wasdale. For many years mountaineers and fell- There were hundreds of people climbing, Not finding George I thought he must walkers (I fall into the latter category) climb and George took the photo at the half way already be descending, so I set off back the to the summit of Great Gable for a Service of stage, by the Stretcher Box. Great Gable is way we had both come. When approaching Remembrance, conducted by a Priest. I last known as the Mountaineers Mountain, and any mountain top in mist it is easy to get attended this Service in 2007, and my Son, there is a plaque at the summit dedicated to confused, so I always look around for any George, and I will be attempting to reach Mountaineers and Fell Walkers who lost their distinguishing features, in this case a couple the top before the Service starts at 10.50 on lives in the Great War. of tents on my right. Remembrance Sunday. At this juncture “at 1500 feet Jekyll I always find going down more difficult I was the Second Scoutmaster and First becomes a monstrous Hyde” to quote Alfred than climbing up, so was making slow Scout Leader of First Hatch End Scout Wainwright, the man who wrote the Pictorial progress when a party asked me if I would Troop, and have always supported the Guides to the Lakeland Fells. I have climbed let them pass on the narrow path. Obligingly NSPCC. (National Society for the Prevention Great Gable many times, but never before in I stepped aside, and one of the party asked if of Cruelty to Children) and hope to raise such atrocious conditions. George, naturally I was all right. On learning that I was headed funds for this worthwhile cause and, being a being younger than me, made better progress, for the stretcher box at Sty Head Pass and the Bank Pensioner, Barclays Bank has agreed and as we were nearing the top I beckoned Wasdale Head Inn they said that they were to match £ for £ any sponsorship money. to him to carry on, so that he reached the going that way and would accompany me. Needless to say (although I am just about summit in good time to observe the two- It turned out that they were the volunteers to!) the Bank’s generosity was only achieved minute silence. Using the two-way radios from the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, after I had exhaustingly passed all their Risk I was also able to pay my respects to those and, whilst I didn’t need rescuing, I was very Assessment and Health and Safety issues. who had given their lives that we could live grateful for their company, which gave me in Peace and Freedom, choosing to follow the confidence to speed up my descent, and I pastimes of our choice. was rewarded with a very bumpy ride in their I arrived at the top just as the hundreds of Ambulance once we reached the bottom, and fell-walkers were descending, and George they were rewarded with drinks all round in had taken shelter by a rock to the right of the front of a roaring fire at the Inn – never did a summit, with frozen hands. I told him, by pint of beer taste so good. walkie-talkie, that I was at the summit, and George arrived about an hour later, £100 decide to climb the last foot so that he could lighter, but safe, and we were all relieved, spot my red trousers among the many people and retired to a hot bath with Radox, a game still around. of chess (much less physically demanding) I know I was quite exhausted, although and a good hot meal. elated that I had achieved the object, for the Overall a day a bit like the Curate’s egg – very last time. In climbing that extra foot, good in parts. Success, in that the object was I slipped and crashed down, fracturing my achieved, and for those kind enough to have left wrist. As I couldn’t now use the radio sponsored the climb a big “Thank you” from to raise George a kind man agreed to take a George and myself and the NSPCC (National photograph of me. I then laid the wreath on Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to behalf of Scouting by the Great War tablet, at Children) who, with Barclays Bank doubling the summit, along with many others. your sponsorship, should result in the Society Meanwhile George was waiting for me receiving around £1500. to pass him so we could meet up again, but Neither George nor I will ever forget when I didn’t appear he decided to descend. Remembrance Sunday, 11 November 2018! Unfortunately in the mist and the rain and Gordon

44 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND The Royal Society of St George 50/50 Club Join our 50/50 Club, help the Society raise much needed funds and win yourself some money!

• The 50/50 Club takes the form of a monthly Lottery. • To enter you can pledge to sponsor individual numbers between 1 to 400, for £5.00 each, per calendar month. (MINIMUM DURATION ONE YEAR). • There is no limit to how many numbers one person can sponsor but numbers will be allocated on a strictly First-Come-First-Served basis. • On the First Monday of each calendar month three numbers will be drawn from those numbers sponsored within the preceding month. • 50% of monies collected from those sponsored numbers will be given as prize money, with the other 50% going to help The Society to achieve its Four stated Objectives and contribute to the Charitable Trust. The prize money will be split into three prizes as follows 60% 30% 10%. THE MORE PEOPLE WHO JOIN, THE BIGGER THE PRIZES – SEND IN YOUR FORM TODAY! SPONSORSHIP FORM Please complete and forward it with your cheque or completed bankers order form to: The Royal Society of St. George, P.O. BOX 397, Loughton, IG10 9GN, England Please Print Name: ...... Branch: ......

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Signature: …………………………………………….Date: ………………………………………... If you require additional forms, please feel free to copy as required. Full copy of 50/50 rules available upon request. If any further information is required, please contact Albert Hankers, email: [email protected] or telephone: 07957 895422. Thank you for your support

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 45 ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE 20% DISCOUNT OFF TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA AND ITALIAN 15% DISCOUNT OFF THE ENGLISH TOASTMASTERS ASSOCIATION Omni Lifetime Planning Ltd specialise in Wills, DISHES AT AVISTA, the Italian Restaurant at the MILLENNIUM HOTEL TRAINING COURSE ADVERTISING RATES BY LONDON MAYFAIR. The English Toastmasters Association are offering Trusts, Asset Protection, Probate, Powers of APPLICATION TO HEAD Telephone 020 7596 3399 for the Italian food or 020 7596 3329 for the 15% DISCOUNT Attorney and Funeral Plans. OFFICE Traditional Afternoon Tea, which starts from £14.95 per person and is served off their fees to become a Toastmaster. The normal cost of training, annual membership and joining fees add up to £2,450 from the 1st April 2014, which We offer a 50% discount to members bringing the daily from 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm. Your membership card will need to be presented The Administration Centre, to take advantage of the above. includes £100 joining fee and £250 annual membership fee. cost of a single will down to £75 and a pair of mirror P.O. BOX 397, The courses are being offered at 15% LESS at £2082.50, A SAVING OF £367.50. wills down to £125. Loughton, IG10 9GN, England Training includes 3 full days after which further training is available on demand 15% DISCOUNT ON ACCOMMODATION AT MILLENNIUM HOTELS. within the annual membership fee. Meetings are held throughout the year with www.omni-lifetimeplanning.co.uk two special meetings including breakfast and luncheon. These two special [email protected] To take advantage of these discounts on accommodation and leisure break Tel: 01727 220053 meetings are held in April close to St. George’s Day and in October around packages please state that you are a member of the Royal Society of St George Trafalgar Day at the County Hotel in Chelmsford, Essex close to the Association’s mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 3225 5011 when telephoning Monica Sanchez at Millennium Hotels direct on 0207 596 3138 HQ in Danbury. or emailing Monica at [email protected]. Further training is available on demand and included in the annual fees covering such subjects as marketing as a Toastmaster, Masonic Ladies Festivals and MANY DISCOUNTS ON BOOKS AND TOURS: Corporate Functions. With prices charged by Toastmasters generally ranging from £250.00 to £750.00 per event, this is wonderful work for the right person and is • 25% off Breese Books when ordered online. The largest producer of new greatly rewarding regardless of the type of work that is undertaken. Please see: Copy date for the April 2019 edition of Royal Society of St George Sherlock Holmes novels in the style of Conan Doyle. Please visit www.baker- www.englishtoastmasters.co.uk street-studios.com and quote “RSSG25” for full details, email: [email protected], • 15% off historical location guide books ordered online such as Downton telephone (01245) 222392 or 07971 409977. St George for England New Address Abbey, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, Harry Potter and James Bond. 28 February 2019 * * Please visit www.baker-street-studios.com and quote “RSSG15” 10% DISCOUNT WHEN VISITING THE NATIONAL FRUIT COLLECTION RSSG • £50 off specialist detective tours to various areas related to filming e.g. at Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ. Downton Abbey, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders etc. Please visit www. To submit copy contact Laura Minns P.O. BOX 397 A number of festivals and events are held celebrating British fruit, detective-tours.com for more information. encouraging people to discover a wider variety of delicious heritage fruit to Tel: 01483 268627 LOUGHTON • £50 discount off Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery events for small, eat and grow at home. These include a Blossom Weekend, Cherry Festival, medium and large party sizes. Please visit www.murder-mystery.com If a email: [email protected] Cider Festival and Apple Festival. They also offer courses on planning a IG10 9GN Branch or group of members would like to organise a trip to film locations or fruit garden, growing and pruning throughout the year. Guided walks are have a period costume murder mystery please telephone Dr Antony Richards also available. For further details telephone (01795) 536250 or visit www. on (01223) 473025 brogdalecollections.co.uk

MRFLAG.COM Ltd HOTEL AND CAR HIRE DISCOUNTS: 15% DISCOUNT • 20% - 30% discount on hotel accommodation below similar offers available on all products except sewn flags. Telephone Kath the Sales Manager on on public websites. (01792) 650044 or email Kath at [email protected] and state that you are a • 20% discount on car hire through Alamo and National member of The Royal Society of St George. • Your Society also benefits by receiving 2.5% on every booking made with no extra cost to you. DO YOU SHOP ONLINE? Please visit: www.membertravelspecials.com/RSSTG.aspx 10% DISCOUNT FROM OF CABBAGES & KINGS and help your Society by making this your preferred means of saving money If your answer is yes, then you are in an ideal position to help raise a source of design led gifts and homeware by British based artists, designers when booking hotels or car hire. and crafts people. Please visit www.ofcabbagesandkings.co.uk and enter code funds for our Charitable Trust – and at no cost to you. Read on... “ST GEORGE” when checking out. ENTRY TO THE ENGLISH SPEAKING UNION The Royal Society of St George has a charity membership with the English- 10% DISCOUNT FROM KNIT WITH ATTITUDE Speaking Union (ESU). The ESU is an educational charity and membership If you buy goods online or participate in grocery home shopping, then please check out the organisation. They work with young people, providing opportunities to a small independent yarn shop that specialises in eco-friendly and ethically “easyfundraising” scheme below, as our Charitable Trust can get a donation every time a build valuable life skills through a range of communication initiatives. Their produced yarn and accessories for hand knitting and crochet. To receive a international headquarters is Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street London 10% discount please visit: www.knitwithattitude.com and enter discount code W1J 5ED. Royal Society members are able to visit Dartmouth House and purchase is made through it by you. “St George” in your shopping cart before checking out. Alternatively please quote this code when visiting the shop at 127 Stoke Newington High Street, London use the beautiful club facilities there. Dartmouth House is open from 8.30am N16 0PH. to 11.00pm with a delicious bar menu and special member events. It is a Simply go to: Heritage listed building nestled in the heart of Mayfair. There are 4 Royal www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/royalsocietyofstgeorgecharitabletrust Society membership cards and these can be obtained from Dartmouth OMNI LIFETIME PLANNING LTD House reception. Royal Society membership must be produced and access is If you then wish to participate, sign up with the Royal Society of St George Charitable Trust as your 50% DISCOUNT ON WILL WRITING limited to 4 members at any given time. Bringing the cost of a single will down to £75 and a pair of mirror wills to For more information about the work of the ESU, please visit chosen charity, and continue shopping online as normal using this site as your portal. £125 for Society members www.esu.org There are over 2000 participating stores which include; John Lewis, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Amazon www.omni-lifetimeplanning.co.uk Tel: 01727 220053 email: [email protected] JOHNSONS STEAK HOUSE OFFER A 10% DISCOUNT OFF YOUR etc. It’s absolutely free to you and our Charitable Trust can gain donations from the participating MEAL TO MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ST. GEORGE AND THE MILITARY FROM TUESDAY TO THURSDAY retailers of up to 2.5% or more of the value of your shopping when you use it. 10% DISCOUNT ON TAX RETURNS The newly built Steakhouse and Bar at Church Farm, Church Street, Tax qualified with many years experience I offer the same high standard Old Hurst, Huntingdon, PE28 3AF serves home grown produce reared What’s more, they will send you a confirmatory email once the participating retailer has processed you would expect from the best Accountancy firms but typically at much on the farm. Lunch is served Tuesday to Saturday from 12 pm to 3 pm your transaction, letting you know how much has been donated to the Royal Society’s Charitable lower prices from £50 per tax return plus a free review and 10% discount and dinner from 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm with a Sunday Carvery available for members of The Royal Society of St George. from 12 pm to 3 pm. For reservations please telephone: 01487 824658 Trust on your behalf. email [email protected] or option 3, Email: [email protected] or contact through telephone me on (01793) 824848. Facebook @johnsonsfarmshop.

46 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND MEMBERSHIP AFFILIATIONS – DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

20% DISCOUNT OFF TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA AND ITALIAN 15% DISCOUNT OFF THE ENGLISH TOASTMASTERS ASSOCIATION DISHES AT AVISTA, the Italian Restaurant at the MILLENNIUM HOTEL TRAINING COURSE LONDON MAYFAIR. The English Toastmasters Association are offering Telephone 020 7596 3399 for the Italian food or 020 7596 3329 for the 15% DISCOUNT Traditional Afternoon Tea, which starts from £14.95 per person and is served off their fees to become a Toastmaster. The normal cost of training, annual daily from 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm. Your membership card will need to be presented membership and joining fees add up to £2,450 from the 1st April 2014, which to take advantage of the above. includes £100 joining fee and £250 annual membership fee. The courses are being offered at 15% LESS at £2082.50, A SAVING OF £367.50. Training includes 3 full days after which further training is available on demand 15% DISCOUNT ON ACCOMMODATION AT MILLENNIUM HOTELS. within the annual membership fee. Meetings are held throughout the year with two special meetings including breakfast and luncheon. These two special To take advantage of these discounts on accommodation and leisure break meetings are held in April close to St. George’s Day and in October around packages please state that you are a member of the Royal Society of St George Trafalgar Day at the County Hotel in Chelmsford, Essex close to the Association’s when telephoning Monica Sanchez at Millennium Hotels direct on 0207 596 3138 HQ in Danbury. or emailing Monica at [email protected]. Further training is available on demand and included in the annual fees covering such subjects as marketing as a Toastmaster, Masonic Ladies Festivals and MANY DISCOUNTS ON BOOKS AND TOURS: Corporate Functions. With prices charged by Toastmasters generally ranging from £250.00 to £750.00 per event, this is wonderful work for the right person and is • 25% off Breese Books when ordered online. The largest producer of new greatly rewarding regardless of the type of work that is undertaken. Please see: Sherlock Holmes novels in the style of Conan Doyle. Please visit www.baker- www.englishtoastmasters.co.uk street-studios.com and quote “RSSG25” for full details, email: [email protected], • 15% off historical location guide books ordered online such as Downton telephone (01245) 222392 or 07971 409977. Abbey, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, Harry Potter and James Bond. Please visit www.baker-street-studios.com and quote “RSSG15” 10% DISCOUNT WHEN VISITING THE NATIONAL FRUIT COLLECTION • £50 off specialist detective tours to various areas related to filming e.g. at Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ. Downton Abbey, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders etc. Please visit www. A number of festivals and events are held celebrating British fruit, detective-tours.com for more information. encouraging people to discover a wider variety of delicious heritage fruit to • £50 discount off Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery events for small, eat and grow at home. These include a Blossom Weekend, Cherry Festival, medium and large party sizes. Please visit www.murder-mystery.com If a Cider Festival and Apple Festival. They also offer courses on planning a Branch or group of members would like to organise a trip to film locations or fruit garden, growing and pruning throughout the year. Guided walks are have a period costume murder mystery please telephone Dr Antony Richards also available. For further details telephone (01795) 536250 or visit www. on (01223) 473025 brogdalecollections.co.uk

MRFLAG.COM Ltd HOTEL AND CAR HIRE DISCOUNTS: 15% DISCOUNT • 20% - 30% discount on hotel accommodation below similar offers available on all products except sewn flags. Telephone Kath the Sales Manager on on public websites. (01792) 650044 or email Kath at [email protected] and state that you are a • 20% discount on car hire through Alamo and National member of The Royal Society of St George. • Your Society also benefits by receiving 2.5% on every booking made with no extra cost to you. Please visit: www.membertravelspecials.com/RSSTG.aspx 10% DISCOUNT FROM OF CABBAGES & KINGS and help your Society by making this your preferred means of saving money a source of design led gifts and homeware by British based artists, designers when booking hotels or car hire. and crafts people. Please visit www.ofcabbagesandkings.co.uk and enter code “ST GEORGE” when checking out. ENTRY TO THE ENGLISH SPEAKING UNION The Royal Society of St George has a charity membership with the English- 10% DISCOUNT FROM KNIT WITH ATTITUDE Speaking Union (ESU). The ESU is an educational charity and membership organisation. They work with young people, providing opportunities to a small independent yarn shop that specialises in eco-friendly and ethically build valuable life skills through a range of communication initiatives. Their produced yarn and accessories for hand knitting and crochet. To receive a international headquarters is Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street London 10% discount please visit: www.knitwithattitude.com and enter discount code W1J 5ED. Royal Society members are able to visit Dartmouth House and “St George” in your shopping cart before checking out. Alternatively please quote this code when visiting the shop at 127 Stoke Newington High Street, London use the beautiful club facilities there. Dartmouth House is open from 8.30am N16 0PH. to 11.00pm with a delicious bar menu and special member events. It is a Heritage listed building nestled in the heart of Mayfair. There are 4 Royal Society membership cards and these can be obtained from Dartmouth OMNI LIFETIME PLANNING LTD House reception. Royal Society membership must be produced and access is 50% DISCOUNT ON WILL WRITING limited to 4 members at any given time. Bringing the cost of a single will down to £75 and a pair of mirror wills to For more information about the work of the ESU, please visit £125 for Society members www.esu.org www.omni-lifetimeplanning.co.uk Tel: 01727 220053 email: [email protected] JOHNSONS STEAK HOUSE OFFER A 10% DISCOUNT OFF YOUR MEAL TO MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ST. GEORGE AND THE MILITARY FROM TUESDAY TO THURSDAY 10% DISCOUNT ON TAX RETURNS The newly built Steakhouse and Bar at Church Farm, Church Street, Tax qualified with many years experience I offer the same high standard Old Hurst, Huntingdon, PE28 3AF serves home grown produce reared you would expect from the best Accountancy firms but typically at much on the farm. Lunch is served Tuesday to Saturday from 12 pm to 3 pm lower prices from £50 per tax return plus a free review and 10% discount and dinner from 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm with a Sunday Carvery available for members of The Royal Society of St George. from 12 pm to 3 pm. For reservations please telephone: 01487 824658 email [email protected] or option 3, Email: [email protected] or contact through telephone me on (01793) 824848. Facebook @johnsonsfarmshop.

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 47 BRANCHES LIST

BRANCHES IN ENGLAND Fenland Seahaven Mr. Brian Kierman, Chairman Mr. Robert A. Peedle MBE TD.,Chairman The All Party Parliamentary Group Email: [email protected] Tel: 01323 899 985 The House of Commons Telephone: 01945 463 774 Email: [email protected] (Membership is only open to Lords, MP’s Gloucestershire and staff of the Palace of Westminster) St Neots Mrs Margaret Fuller Mr B Chapman, Barrow in Furness Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mr. D. Ward, Greater Manchester Sheffield Email: [email protected] Mr. M. J. Riley, Mrs Margaret Jennifer Clark, Secretary Email: [email protected] Bath & Dist Telephone: 0114 264 0524 Rev. Robert Webb Chairman Great Yarmouth Email: [email protected] Tel: 01225 484042 Ms. Melanie Rook, Secretary Tel: 01493 843 736 Shropshire Blackburn Mr. Martin Jones, Chairman Mr John Williams, Chairman Halifax Mobile: 07586 359 589 Email: [email protected] Geraldine Carter, Hon Secretary www.rssgblackburn.org.uk Email: [email protected] Southend-on-Sea Mrs V Weaver, Bolton Haslemere Email: [email protected] Mr. Chris Houghton, Chairman Sara Jane Gray, Chairman., Tel: 01702 748 702 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mrs S Hankers, E.mail: [email protected] Sussex Bradford Mr. F. McComas, Huntingdon Mr J A Fergusson, Honorary Secretary. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01274 583654 Col (Retd) DH Bristow OBE DL, Email: [email protected] Tel: 01480 383166 Swale Email: [email protected] Mrs Christine David, Chairman Cambridge GOG MAGOG Leeds Tel: 01795 471 876. Michael Heath, Secretary Councillor Robert W. Gettings MBE JP, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Chairman, Tel: 0113 253 9763 The Tower Of London Cinque Ports Email: [email protected] (Membership only open to Yeomen and Mr H Stenning. Tel: 01303 267 246 Leicestershire employees of the Tower of London) Email: [email protected] Mr. Leon R. Spence, Chairman, Warrington City of Birmingham Tel No: 0116 319 9508 Mrs I Plumpton, Tel: 01925 815 434 Mr D Reynolds, Chairman Email: [email protected] Warwickshire E-mail: saintgeorgeinbirmingham@hotmail. Lowestoft Mr. A. Clive Benfield, com Mr Brian Caton Website: www.rssgbirmingham.org.uk Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] City & County of Bristol Maritime Wessex Waterloo Mr D Stinchcombe, Chairman Mr. Mark Buckley Mr. Mike Green Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Email:[email protected] City of Liverpool North Downs Wessex North Dorset Mr B K Boumphrey, Mr. S. Millson, Chairman, Dr Jack Skelton Wallace, President Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mobile 07923 962 650. Tel: 01747 825 388 Email: [email protected] City of London North Surrey Mr. Stephen G. Lane, Honorary Secretary, Mr. Roger Felgate, Chairman Wiltshire Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mr. Lloyd James, Chairman Email:[email protected] City of Wakefield Northumbria Branch Mr. Reg West, Secretary. Tel: 01924 864 799 Mr. A .J. Nicholls, Chairman, Email: [email protected] City of Westminster Mr. Alan Broomhead, Chairman, Nottinghamshire Email: [email protected] Mr. Colin Slater MBE JP Hon. MA, President Email: [email protected] Danbury Mr. Richard Palmer FMETA C.Inst.S.M.M. Oxfordshire OVERSEAS BRANCHES Mr. Christopher J. Davis ARIBA., ACArch, President The English Toastmasters Abu Dhabi Tel: 01993 823 646, Email: [email protected] Association, Mr. Paul Billany, Secretary Mobile: 07971 409 977 Plymouth & West Devon Email [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mr. A. Romilly, E.Mail:[email protected] Website: www.englishtoastmasters.co.uk Adelaide Radford Mrs D Bone, Email:[email protected] East Anglia Mr Phil J Harwood, Mr. John Stannard, President Email:[email protected] Bangkok Tel: 01502 512 734 Ms Laura Smith, President Email: [email protected] Rushmoor Email: [email protected] Lt. Col Leslie G.A. Clarke - Chairman East Dorset Telephone: 01483 810 492 Brisbane Mrs Dianne White, Chair Mobile: 07710 230 379 Mrs V Skinner, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

48 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND BRANCHES IN ENGLAND Fenland Seahaven British Columbia Nassau The Society of St George, Philadelphia Mr. Brian Kierman, Chairman Mr. Robert A. Peedle MBE TD.,Chairman Stephen McVittie, President Mrs Sally Varani-Jones, PO Box CB-12883, Mr Roger Brown, Secretary, The All Party Parliamentary Group Email: [email protected] Tel: 01323 899 985 Email: [email protected] Nassau, Bahamas Email: [email protected] The House of Commons Telephone: 01945 463 774 Email: [email protected] [email protected] California The St George’s Society of New York (Membership is only open to Lords, MP’s Gloucestershire Princess Karen Cantrell, Chairman Paris and staff of the Palace of Westminster) St Neots Executive Director Mrs Margaret Fuller Mr B Chapman, Email: [email protected] Andrew M.G. Simpkin, President Anna Titley, Executive Director Barrow in Furness Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Carolinian Email: [email protected] Mr. Email: [email protected] Ludovic Plazanet, Treasurer, Mr. D. Ward, Greater Manchester The Honorable Randy L Potts, Hon Chairman Sheffield Email: [email protected] The St George’s Society Of Baltimore Email: [email protected] Mr. M. J. Riley, Email: [email protected] Mrs Margaret Jennifer Clark, Secretary Limited Email: [email protected] Port Elizabeth Women’s Branch Bath & Dist Telephone: 0114 264 0524 Costa Blanca Mr. Harry T. Aycock, President, Sandra Strang, Secretary/Scribe Mr. R. G. T. Hunt MBE, Chairman, Email: [email protected] Rev. Robert Webb Chairman Great Yarmouth Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: 01225 484042 Ms. Melanie Rook, Secretary Email: [email protected] Tel: 01493 843 736 Shropshire Email: [email protected] Sabah The St George’s Society of Toronto Blackburn Mr. Martin Jones, Chairman Mr. Sam Minniti, Executive Director, Dar Es Salaam Mr M Steel, MJS-Services, Mr John Williams, Chairman Halifax Mobile: 07586 359 589 Email: [email protected] Mark Golding – President [email protected] Email: [email protected] Geraldine Carter, Hon Secretary Website: www.stgeorgesto.com [email protected] www.rssgblackburn.org.uk Email: [email protected] Southend-on-Sea Singapore Mrs V Weaver, Delaware (USA) Mr. Bob Adamberry - President The St George’s Benevolent Society of Bolton Haslemere Email: [email protected] Mr. Andrew A. Lundgren, Email: [email protected] Hamilton Mr. Chris Houghton, Chairman Sara Jane Gray, Chairman., Mr Roy Binns, PO Box 63045 University Tel: 01702 748 702 Email: [email protected] South Florida Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Plaza, Postal Outlet, PO Dundas, Ontario Mrs S Hankers, E.mail: [email protected] Sussex Denmark Mr Terence Wright, Chairman L9H 6Y3, Canada Bradford Mr. F. McComas, Mr. Simon C Mears, President E.mail: [email protected] Huntingdon Mr J A Fergusson, Honorary Secretary. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Victoria Cross and George Cross Col (Retd) DH Bristow OBE DL, Sydney Tel: 01274 583654 Devonport Association Tel: 01480 383166 Swale Mr P M Cavanagh, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mrs Elizabeth Page, Mrs Rebecca Charlotte Maciejewska, Email: [email protected] Mrs Christine David, Chairman Texas Email: [email protected] Cambridge GOG MAGOG Email: [email protected] Leeds Tel: 01795 471 876. Dr RJ Devine, Email:[email protected] Michael Heath, Secretary Georgia The Countess Mountbatten’s own Legion Councillor Robert W. Gettings MBE JP, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Col. John T. Trout Tokyo & Yokohama of Frontiersmen Chairman, Tel: 0113 253 9763 The Tower Of London Email: [email protected] Mr Robin Ord-Smith MVO, David Lilburn Watson Cinque Ports Email: [email protected] (Membership only open to Yeomen and Email: [email protected] (office) Gold Coast Email: [email protected] Mr H Stenning. Tel: 01303 267 246 Leicestershire employees of the Tower of London) [email protected] (home) Email: [email protected] Mr. Graham Rumble Mr. Leon R. Spence, Chairman, Toowoomba The Order of St. George Warrington Email: [email protected] Stuart A. Notholt, Grand Scrivener City of Birmingham Tel No: 0116 319 9508 Mr. Bob Anderton, President, Mrs I Plumpton, Tel: 01925 815 434 Halifax Email: [email protected] Mr D Reynolds, Chairman Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Warwickshire Carol Dodds, President Phone Number: 01892 871 662 E-mail: saintgeorgeinbirmingham@hotmail. Lowestoft Mr. A. Clive Benfield, Email: [email protected] Warwick com Mr Brian Caton Mr P Munson, Email: [email protected] Hong Kong Website: www.rssgbirmingham.org.uk Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mr. Jim Wardell, President, Waterloo City & County of Bristol Maritime Wessex E.mail: [email protected] Zimbabwe (Harare) Mr D Stinchcombe, Mr. Mike Green AFFILIATED SCHOOLS Chairman Mr. Mark Buckley Jakarta Mr. Brian Heathcote, President, Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Email:[email protected] Email: [email protected] Staff and children of Camelsdale Primary Eamonn Sadler, President School” City of Liverpool Wessex North Dorset North Downs Email: [email protected] Camelsdale Primary School, School Road, Dr Jack Skelton Wallace, President Mr B K Boumphrey, Mr. S. Millson, Chairman, Kansai Camelsdale, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3RN Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mobile 07923 962 650. Tel: 01747 825 388 Mr A Gibson School Tel No: 01428 642177 Email: [email protected] City of London North Surrey E.mail: [email protected] School email: Mr. Stephen G. Lane, Honorary Secretary, Mr. Roger Felgate, Chairman Wiltshire Website: www.stgeorgekansai.com [email protected] Head Teacher: Sarah Palmer Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mr. Lloyd James, Chairman Kuala Lumpur & Selangor, AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS Email:[email protected] City of Wakefield Northumbria Branch Sally Addington, President DUBAI ST GEORGE’S SOCIETY St Ives School Mr. Reg West, Secretary. Tel: 01924 864 799 Mr. A .J. Nicholls, Chairman, Email [email protected] Mr Robert Duce, Chairman, Three Gates Lane, Haslemere, Surrey Email: [email protected] Website: www.stgeorgesmalaysia.com Email: [email protected] GU27 2ES City of Westminster Lisbon School Tel No: 01428 643734 Nottinghamshire Mr. Alan Broomhead, Chairman, Mrs B Neasham MBE, English Toastmasters Association School Email: [email protected] Mr. Colin Slater MBE JP Hon. MA, President Email: [email protected] E.mail: [email protected] Mr. Richard Palmer FMETA C.Inst.S.M.M. Head Teacher: Kay Goldsworthy“ Email: [email protected] Mobile 07971 409 977 Danbury Madrid Oxfordshire OVERSEAS BRANCHES Email: [email protected] Gildersome Primary School Mr. Richard Palmer FMETA C.Inst.S.M.M. Dr F. E. F. Price MBE & Mrs Angela Price Website: www.englishtoastmasters.co.uk Town Street, Leeds LS27 7AB Mr. Christopher J. Davis ARIBA., ACArch, President The English Toastmasters Abu Dhabi Email: [email protected] Tel: 0113 201 2450 Association, Tel: 01993 823 646, Email: [email protected] Mr. Paul Billany, Secretary Melbourne Shropshire War Memorials Association Head Teacher: Mrs C M Hoyle Mobile: 07971 409 977 Mr Clive I Blakeway Plymouth & West Devon Email [email protected] Professor Anthony Bailey, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mr. A. Romilly, E.Mail:[email protected] c/o The English Speaking Union, Website: www.englishtoastmasters.co.uk Adelaide Tel: 01952 550 205 Victorian Branch, Post Office Box 9427, Radford Mrs D Bone, Email:[email protected] East Anglia South Yarra, Victoria 3141, Australia Mr Phil J Harwood, Stourbridge Society of St George AFFILIATED UNIVERSITIES Mr. John Stannard, President Email:[email protected] Bangkok Mombasa Mr Keith Harris, University of Bolton Tel: 01502 512 734 Ms Laura Smith, President Mrs.V. Knight, Hon. Secretary, Email [email protected]. Rushmoor Mr. Aris F. Mattheou Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mobile 07973 266 842 Lt. Col Leslie G.A. Clarke - Chairman Executive Director, External Relations East Dorset Telephone: 01483 810 492 Brisbane Nairobi The Commonwealth Games Council University of Bolton Deane Road Bolton Mrs Dianne White, Chair Mobile: 07710 230 379 Mrs V Skinner, Mrs Janet Barlow (Secretary) Ms A Hogbin, PO Box 36288, London BL3 5AB Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] SE19 2YY Tel: 01204 900 600 www.bolton.ac.uk

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 49 Shop Window

Debit and Credit cards are now accepted for payment. Please call us on 020 3225 5011 to place your order and pay over the phone (Please note there is a 2.5% surcharge for credit cards) For branch officer's regalia, please contact the office

Ref 5b Metal gilt enamel badge. Our most populaar Ref 3 badge has now been especially designed Miniature Medal to be RRefef 5 with a screw-in fastener for a blazer with a worn on the right breast. Metal gilt enamel badge button hole. Metal gilt enamel badge With presentation pouch MEMBERS ONLY MEMBERS ONLY £7.00 $15.50 €12.00 MEMBERS ONLY £7.00 $15.50 €12.00 £7.00 $15.50 €12.00 £39.50 $87.00 €68.00

Ref 6 Ref 9 Ref 7 Ref 6 Cuff links with red Hand Painted Heraldic MetalMeta giltl g ienamellt enam barel brooch enamel. Comes in Ref 62 Plaque (Armorial Bearings) bar brooch MEMBERS ONLY presentation box. St George Pin Badge MEMBERS ONLY £7.50 $16.50 €13.00 £7.50 $16.50 €13.00 £16.50 $37.00 €29.00 £6.00 $14.00 €11.00 £59.50 $131.00 €102.00

RefRef 1010 Ref 60 Embroidered blazer Embroidered blazer Ref 25 Tudor Rose Charm Bracelet. badgebadge withwith goldgold wirewire Elegant Rose Brooch. Comes in a presentation £17.00 $38.00 €29.00 available in black or navy Comes in a presentation pouch and box. MEMBERS ONLY box. £59.50 $131.00 €102.00 £17.00 $38.00 €29.00 £22.50 $50.00 €39.00

Ref 12 Ref 14 Navy polyester Tie with Ref 13 POLY Ref 13 SILK Ref 14 TiTiee SlideSlid withe wi St.th George St. George Cross. Armorial Bearings Navy Polyester Tie with Navy SILK tie with Comes in presentation box. MEMBERS ONLY multi-motif shield multi-motif shield Cross.MEMBERS Comes ONLY in € € £14.50 $32.00 €25.00 £14.50 $32.00 25.00 £19.50 $43.00 33.50 £17.50presentation $39.00 €30.00 box. MEMBERS ONLY 50 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND £17.50 $39.00 €30.00 PROMOTION Ref 15 or 15b Buy two packs of cards and receive the third pack free! Ref 17 Ref 15 Ref 15b Full membership Royal Society of St. George Royal Society of St. George Greeting cards certificate. Greeting cards with Armorial with Armorial Bearings in full colour. Pack £5.00 $11.00 €9.00 Bearings in full colour. Pack of 5 of 5 cards with envelopes. St. George’s cards with envelopes. Blank inside Day Greetings Inside £5.00 $11.00 €9.00 £5.00 $11.00 €9.00

Ref 16b Pack of 5 Red RSSG rectangular window/car stickers £3.00 $7.00 €5.50

Ref 16c Pack of 5 of Ref 16a & Pack of 5 of Ref 16a Ref 16b Pack of 5 Red RSSG round £4.50 $10.00 €8.00 Ref 22 window/car stickers SAVE £1.50 buying them together Envelope Stickers £2.50 $5.50 €4.50 (2 A4 pages- 98 stickers in total) £2.50 $5.50 €4.50

NEW LOWER PRICE

Ref 19 Ref 21 England my England Favourite Poems of Ref 23 (A Treasury of all things England by Jane Bone china RSSG Mug English) by Gerry Hanson Regalia andMcMorland Gifts Hunter Order Form MEMBERS ONLY Please£9.99 $22.00complete €17.00 the order form and return it with your payment£14.99 $33.00 to: €26.00 £10.00 $22.00 €17.00 RSSG, P.O. BOX 397 LOUGHTON IG10 9GN. Please make your cheques payable to “The Royal Society of St. George”. Reft GNo.EORGE Description Qty Size Colour Price Total Price S il 2014 FOR ENGLAND Apr

In this edition: 1894 – a very good year Howard Ruff in Australia Violette Szabo – the story of a heroine

NOTE THE DATE h: St George’s Day: Cenotap Saturday 26th April ce Howard Ruff’s Grave: servi to mark 120 years: Saturday 10th May d Annual General Meeting an Conference at Bristol: Saturday 28th June

al Tree Dedication at Nation Memorial Arboretum:

Saturday 27th September.

y Royal Charter t. GEORGE – Incorporated b THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF S gland mier Patriotic Society of En £3.50 The Pre beth II on: Her Majesty Queen Eliza Founded in 1894. Patr Ref 27 Ref 28 Ref 24 Gold St. George imprint Gold St. George imprint St. George for England Blazer Buttons (2 large Blazer Buttons (6 large Journal – Past Copies and 6 small) and 6 small) £3.50 $8.00 €6.00 £25.00 $55.00 €43.00 £35.00 $77.00 €60.00 All prices include postage and packaging. It is preferred that cheques from overseas members be in Sterling, drawn on a London Bank if possible. Please note that £ prices are GBP (Great British Pounds). $ and Euro prices vary owing to postage andHave bank your conversion branch charges which have been incorporated into the selling price. name printed on the NAME ...... top banner on our NEW larger Hand- ADDRESS...... Painted Heraldic NEW Plaque with our COUNTY ...... LOWERPOSTCODE ...... COUNTRY...... PRICE Armorial Bearings EMAIL ...... TEL: ...... DATE ...... Ref 34 Total amount of Cheque £...... Ref 32 Great British Pounds (GBP) Large Heraldic Plaque with Please allow 12-14 weeks delivery for all medalsFlag, 5ft and by statues3ft and 4-8 weeks for all other items. Where itemsbranch are in namestock, you will receive them within 2-4 weeks of us receiving your order. If you(with require eyelets)e your order sooner, please ring us and we will do our best30cm to sortx 25cm this out for you. If you require any further information,£6.00 $14.00 please€11.00 phone 020 3225 5011 or Email:£79.00 [email protected] $174.00 €135.00

Debit and Credit cards are now accepted for payment. Please call us on 020 3225 5011 to place your order and pay over the phone (Please note there is a 2.5% surcharge for credit cards)

ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 51 Journal Advertising: Mechanical Data Full Page Colour Price Rate £400 Type Area / Half Page Colour Price Rate £250 Trim Size / Full bleed Non bleed Quarter Page Colour Price Rate £150 Full Page 297 x 210m m / 303 x 216mm 265 x 190mm Eighth Page Colour Price Rate £100 Half Page 130 x 190mm Quarter page 130 x 92mm Extra insertions discounts: Eighth page 62.5 x 92mm 1-3 insertions an extra discount of 5% 4-6 insertions an extra discount of 10% Bleed allowance 3mm 7-12 insertions an extra discount of 15% Vital matter 6mm from edge of page on all sides

Classifieds Production Data All classified advertising must be pre-paid – Files can be sent on disk. – To ensure correct output of The cost is 50p per word with a your files please send by post a laser or crom alin minimum charge of £10 (20 words) proof. – Software – All prices are exclusive of VAT InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop.

Publication Dates Copy Date Deadline Essential Information 31st January 31st May All Prices shown are exclusive of VAT 30th September

Contact – Elizabeth Lloyd Tel: 020 3225 5011 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.rssg.org.uk The Royal Society of St. George P.O. BOX 397, Loughton, IG10 9GN, England

Royal Society of St George Mission Statement and Vision

Royal Society of St George Mission Statement Royal Society of St George We will deliver our vision statement by supporting Vision the increase of our active Branch network throughout To be widely recognised as the premier English England, the Commonwealth and across the world; patriotic society; attracting members from all walks encouraging sustainable membership growth with the of life; celebrating important dates in English history; aim of doubling our membership by 2025; increasing supporting and encouraging the young; sharing and awareness in the Society and what it stands for maintaining our Culture; Heritage and traditions; particularly amongst the young; ensuring the financial having a voice on issues that affect our country; and security and stability of the Society with an effectively supporting charitable causes. and efficiently run back office operation; and standing up for and representing our country, its history and traditions, on TV, radio and in the press and social media.