St GEORGE FOR ENGLAND DecemberAugust 20202017
In this edition The Bennerley Viaduct HMS Forward Staffordshire – Unemphatic England Sergeant James Eric William Ballard
The Royal Society of St George Celebrating our past – looking to the future
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF St. GEORGE – The Premier Patriotic Society of England Founded in 1894. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Patron: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II £3.50 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 BEM JP Steve Maddock Margaret Pulfer Tel: 01424 814866 Tel: 01895 676004 Tel: 01424 814866 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Historian: Nick Hall Tel: 01427 668122 Battle Officia Email: [email protected] of B l NewAUTUMN / WINTER 2017 ritain Histo sletter of the rical Society 2 Issue 156 013 Ltd 100 years of the RAF 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” Head Of fice: Ca lais View Editor , Channel W and Managing ay, Fai John Pulfer B rlight, East Su Tel: 01 EM JP Di 424 814866 rector: ssex TN Always Remembered … Never forgotten Email: john Graves Reg 35 4BP Battle of Britain Historical Society 2013 Ltd. atbo Steve M istrar: [email protected] addock Historian: Tel: 01895 676004 Official Newsletter of the Nick Hall stevewmaddock@ Membership Secretary: Margaret Pulfe Battle of Britain Historical Tel: 01427 668122 gmail.com Society 2013 Ltd Email: scam Tel: 01424 814866r pton.1943@ Email: bobh btinternet.com [email protected] Members will receive bi-annual 24 page colour newsletters. SPRING / SUMM ER 2018 Issue 157 The Society has four main aims… • To ensure the Battle of Britain is never forgotten •
Head Office: Calais View, Channel Way, Fairlight, East Sussex TN35 4BP
Editor and Managing Director: Graves Registrar: John Pulfer BEM JP Membership Secretary: Steve Maddock Margaret Pulfer • To erect plaques in places where the “few’ were educated • Tel: 01424 814866 Tel: 01895 676004 Tel: 01424 814866 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Historian: Nick Hall Tel: 01427 668122 Email: [email protected] AUTUMN / WINTER 2018 Issue 158 • To look after the final resting places of the “few” • • To erect granite memorials to the “few” •
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
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Vol 18. No. 2 – August 2020 Front Cover: Battle of Britain Monument Capel le Ferne ©Ad Meskens/Wikimedia Commons 4 From the Chairman 5 AGM 2020 Agenda 7 My England St George for England 8 Trust Reports The Official journal of The Royal Society of St George 10 Branch News The Bennerley Viaduct The Society stands for: 18 I Respect for the Monarchy; Duty to our Sovereign and our Country; 20 Sergeant James Eric William I The cause of England and Englishness. Ballard In accordance with our Constitution, the Objects of the Society are: One 29 Supporting the Ring of Light To foster the love of England and to strengthen England and the Commonwealth by spreading the 30 Staffordshire – Unemphatic knowledge of English history, traditions and ideals. England Two To keep fresh the memory of those, in all walks of life, who have served England or the 36 News Commonwealth in the past in order to inspire leadership in the future. 39 Walk for the NHS Three Obituary To combat all activities likely to undermine the 39 strength of England or the Commonwealth. Four To further English interests everywhere to ensure 20 that St. George’s Day is properly celebrated and to provide focal points the world over where English men and women may gather together.
21 National Garden Scheme 7 40 Letters to the Editor 22 Garden of England . . . Under Threat 40 History 24 HMS Forward – Second World 42 50/50 Club War Membership Affiliations 25 Captain Tom 47 26 Alfred the Great’s Millennial 48 Branches List 28 Book Review 21 50 Shop Window
22 18 30
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 3 FROM THE CHAIRMAN
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF St. GEORGE people of their hard earned money, just when The Premier Patriotic Society of England they are more alone and vulnerable than ever Founded in 1894. before. It’s extraordinary how good we can Incorporated by Royal Charter. be – and how bad. Thank goodness for the Patron: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II good. Chairman: Joanna M. Cadman Whilst on the subject of human behaviour, Published at: The Royal Society of St. George, RSSG, P.O. BOX 397, Loughton, IG10 9GN, England in my view among the worst things about this Telephone: 020 3225 5011 year, after the pandemic itself, has been the E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rssg.org.uk behaviour of the media. They have lost no Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ opportunity to criticise and condemn every RoyalSocietyofStGeorge Twitter: @RSStGeorge Join us on LinkedIn – the Royal Society of St George word and every action of the government and Official Group the medics, even to the extent of lambasting Opening times: Monday to Thursday, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm ministers for neglecting to do something Editor: Stuart Millson early enough, and then, within days, Editorial Address Rumbeams Cottage, Ewhurst Green castigating the government for having done Nr Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 7RR the same thing before they should have done. Telephone: 01483 268627 E-mail: [email protected] George Andrews, FCIB FCIS FCIArb – President Emeritus Finding fault Vice Presidents Their perpetual finding fault has caused The Earl of Aylesford JP much more fear and despondency than there The Lord Cope of Berkeley PC The Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO should have been. We know we are in a bad Clifford James Trowse – Past Chairman place, we know things are not good and Mr B M Cronan won’t be for some time to come, we know Mr C P Fairweather Mrs Esme Robinson the future is unclear at the moment. We Sir Henry Paston-Bedingfeld Bt know that for ourselves, we don’t have to His Excellency Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton GCB have it underlined to us at every opportunity, RAF (retd) OMETIMES, IT’S DIFFICULT to together with the suggestion that, if only Past Presidents: William R Firth know where to start. John Clemence QPM we had competent leaders all would be well This has been and still is a year Members of Council S and, as it is, we might as well give up hope. without precedent, one which must have Chairman – Joanna M. Cadman The media have a lot to answer for, too, Deputy Chairman – Nick Dutt changed all our lives for ever, so its rather Vice Chairman – Christopher Houghton regarding the drive to obliterate our history hard to write a report about the life of the Honorary Treasurer – Alastair Clement FFA FFTA over the last few months. There is not one Honorary Secretary – Michael Riley Society. I can say, with certainty, that we are country in the world who can be completely Chaplain to the Society – Revd. Roderick Leece still here, still standing up for our country, General Secretary – Elizabeth Lloyd proud of their past, but if we don’t learn from Website Manager – Christopher Houghton still ensuring that we have a voice, but it the mistakes of the past we cannot build a North of England Co-ordinator – Michael Riley is a lonely job for us all, when we have Youth Representative – Dennis Stinchcombe MBE better future. That much is obvious and is Membership affiliations – Lloyd James been deprived for months of the pleasure dealt with in more detail later in the Journal, Schools and Projects – Nick Hinchliffe of seeing old friends, or even family. Who City of London – Paul Herbage, MBE but we must remember throughout all this Young Professionals Network – Cdr James Nisbet could possibly have imagined, when we saw that we have a country and a people to be Young Professionals Network – Farah London in the New Year on 31 December last year proud of, which richly deserve to be loved Council member – Lt. Col. Leslie Clarke what kind of a new year it was going to be? Events Administrator – Shirley Hankers and protected. Administration Centre staff I certainly won’t be wishing people Happy There have been subtle joys to this year: General Secretary – Elizabeth Lloyd New Year in the old carefree way anymore, I have never appreciated a spring as much Membership Secretary – Jade King when it has been brought home to us so Charitable Trust Members as this, nor our delightful English sense of Chairman – Bob Smith forcibly how fragile human existence and humour, which always seems to be at its best Secretary – Shirley Hankers happiness is. when we have our backs to the walls. I have Treasurer and Trustee – Lloyd James One thing that is uppermost in my mind is Trustee – Nick Dutt valued the little things – a day of sunshine, Trustee – Dennis Stinchcombe how extraordinary human nature is, and how a phone call from an old friend, and now Trustee – Joanna Cadman very different we all are. There have been so Trustee – Chris Houghton the chance to go out and see the people Trustee – Michael Riley many people who have given so much – the I love and care for again. They are all more Trustee – Nick Hinchliffe NHS staff of course, the shop workers, the precious than they were before. Special Responsibilities bin men, those driving our public transport, Standard Bearer – Lt. Col Leslie Clarke We don’t know what the future holds, Deputy Standard Bearer – Major Robert A Peedle MBE TD to name but a few of the front line people, we can only hope for better – we are good Yachting Association – Bob Smith but also the man and woman in the street, at hoping. We are also good at action and Photography – Fred Pearson and Georgina Burges who have come forward to care for their innovation, which will be our salvation, along This Journal is sent free to all full members and is available fellow man through shopping, collecting with our innate optimism. To paraphrase for purchase at £3.50. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements are those of the authors and advertisers prescriptions, being a friendly voice at the Michael Rosen’s lovely book ‘We’re all and the contents do not necessarily reflect editorial or end of the phone – in so many ways. And going on a bear hunt’: We can’t go over it, we official RSSG views. This Journal may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the Editor. then there have been the others – those who can’t go under it, we’ve got to go through it’. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements are those have battered at the doors of supermarkets Go through it we will, and meet on the other of the authors and advertisers and the contents do not so that they could be first in to sweep the necessarily reflect editorial or official RSSG views. We side. I look forward to that with all my heart. reserve the right to refuse any advertisement or article shelves clear, those who have berated I did say it would be hard to write without giving a reason. E&O.E. key workers because they weren’t getting about the life of the Society, and of course Design and Reprographics: Jim Duggan preferential treatment, those who have spat I haven’t, for which I apologise. But I have Tel: 01233 632969. Mob: 07714451952 at police and NHS workers so that someone written about something that affects the lives Printed by: The Gemini Print Group, Shoreham-by-Sea Tel: 01273 464884 else could have the virus as well as them. of us all, all members of the Society, and so To say nothing of the number of new scams ISSN Number: ISSN 2046-8369 I hope you will forgive me. that have been dreamt up to fleece vulnerable Have a good summer. Joanna
4 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND The Royal Society of St. George AGM 2020 3 pm on Saturday, 5 September – by conference call Please advise the office if you wish to join and you will receive a link the day before the meeting AGENDA 1. To receive and adopt the minutes of last year’s meeting. 2. Matters Arising. 3. To receive the Chairman’s Annual Report. 4. To receive and adopt the Examined Accounts for the year ending 31/12/2019. Please advise the office if you wish to receive a copy of the Society’s accounts for 2019 5. To re-elect such members of Council who, retiring in rotation, offer themselves to serve a further term under Bye-law 36 to elect new members of Council under Bye-law 39 and to appoint those who have been co-opted. 6. To appoint Accountants as General Examiner to the Society. 7. Any Other Business. By Order of the Council, 20 March 2020
2020 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Saturday, 5 September – AGM Sunday, 1 November (All Saints’ Day) – Annual Standards Service, St. George’s Church, Hanover Square, Mayfair, London ALL DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO CONSIDERATIONS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
EDITORIAL Nature resurgent of the year – and actually to pause for a much more common (but no less beautiful) UR OWN MORTALITY ASIDE, moment to watch those agile aerial visitors. allotment and garden-dwelling cabbage the Covid epidemic has brought the Meadows close to Four Acres (a small estate whites. fate and future of the natural world stranded in farmland) and Easterfields (an Suddenly, with human life and all O old route leading to the nearby village of the expectations we have, or had, of into our lives. As the human world became subdued and Ditton) suddenly became alive with the the permanence of our civilisation, the near-silent during the height of its biological sight and sound of skylarks – probably the resurgence and reassurance of Nature has crisis, Mother Nature found an immediate greatest number of this glorious species to never been more important. Will we, as a path for regeneration. In New York – with have been seen here for generations. And species – humbled, diminished by the crisis streets empty of yellow cabs and the sky in the old Cottenham orchard – a remnant that has brought so much suffering – now, at free from aircraft noise – scientists recorded acreage of apple and pear trees, but now last, learn to live with the world around us? the cleanest-ever levels of air quality and a precious, re-wilded landscape reverting And will The Royal Society of St. George purity. In Britain, locked-down, too, due to to ancient woodland (with oak and walnut now rise to the new challenge, of how to the insidious growth of the Coronavirus, saplings galore) – the rare nightingale could save that which we are in danger of losing? on our A-roads, deer crossed usually busy be heard on April and May afternoons and That grave and irreplaceable loss, not just carriageways, as if just following their early evenings. Blackcaps and warblers also of our country’s national traditions and usual tracks across country. And in gardens, joined the daily diary-list of less common identity, but William Blake’s “green and individual worries about health and family birds. Undisturbed, unregulated Nature in pleasant land” – the meadows, orchards, were temporarily softened by the clear, all its glory. marshes, mountains and municipal parks undisturbed sound, once again, of bird-song. With diminished traffic and petrol fumes which kept us, and keep us sane and free in Here in my own little plot of England, along The Rocks Road (quarrying once took this, our age of anxiety. As Stanley Baldwin, the mid-Kent village of East Malling, the place here in long-ago times), another rare three times Prime Minister of Great Britain resurgence of Nature was no less significant. species made an appearance: the tiny holly stated: “England is the country – and the Our hour-long ration of daily walks enabled blue butterfly, alighting on the lane-side country is England.” us to see the first swallows and swifts greenery – a beautiful colour-contrast to our Stuart Millson
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 5 The Beauty of England
Arched stone bridge at Kendal My England Carl Portman [email protected]
HE DEVIL WE KNOW as around the globe. Only by travelling can grow and develop. The Blackthorn and Covid-19 brought fear and misery we truly put our own lives at home in Hawthorn were magnificent, and the Tfor so many across not just perspective. But it is at home that people smell of the elder hit us every time we England but the world. Apart from the seem now to want to take their holiday. walked by. Everything was reaching critical issues around illness, it has been I recently commented on social media for the sun. The skylarks were never far a real challenge for so many people in about how beautiful England is, especially away, chattering away in the blue realm lockdown. Businesses have gone bust at this time of year. I have heard people above. We were blessed with a bounty of and sporting and personal events such as comment that being forced to stay home sunshine this springtime, which warmed weddings and holidays have had to be and walk/exercise locally meant they not only the skin, but the cockles of the cancelled. Plans made in earnest have have discovered a ‘new’ England on their heart too. Even on the rare wet and cold been shattered. Life as we had it took a doorstep. We know that it has always been days each walk in the countryside became hammering. It’s far from over yet as I there, but it isn’t enough to look – you as joyous as the last. write this column at the end of May. have to see. It has been humbling to look across In many ways the real test will be how On one of my dog walking excursions these Oxfordshire fields and imagine all we bounce back. Personally, I am very I suddenly stopped, and caught the most who have gone before us. Are the spirits positive, if only because that is my default incredible view. You can see from the of the Vikings, Normans, Saxons and character. People will still require goods photograph that the land and sky are Romans still here? England is an alchemy and services. Hair still has to be cut. alive to the rhythm of the season. It took of lives and cultures long since gone, but Food still has to be grown, distributed, my breath away and I felt so humbled, the present is the legacy that we leave eaten and disposed of. Babies have to so grateful to live here. You can keep for people yet to come. I wonder how be delivered into this world and other the pyramids, the leaning tower, the Taj will they remember us? Staying at home people will say goodbye to this life, and Mahal – I will settle for ten minutes to explore the richness and diversity of move on. I am certain that people will gazing at this verdant landscape. It makes England will bring its own rewards, not be out and about again, blinking into the me ask the age-old question, who am I least the confirmation that all we could sunshine, and some kind of normality will and why am I here? ever want can be found right here, on our prevail. But what might have changed in As the weeks wore on in lockdown our doorstep. terms of people’s thinking and behaviour? daily walk became more personal with Let me randomly target holidays. We all nature, befriending certain plants, trees Nil desperandum travel abroad and enjoy different cultures and hedges and watching them eagerly
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 7 TRUST REPORTS A VERY DIFFERENT St GEORGE’S DAY
OVID-19 MAY have prevented us from celebrating St George’s CDay in the manner that we would normally have done so. Instead of sharing St George’s day with our friends, family and fellow Society members we found ourselves at home, doing the right thing, respecting the lockdown and watching television. However, the BBC decided that our national day would be the perfect day to mount their Big Night In appeal. We’ve never been further apart, yet somehow never closer. That’s why, for one night only, Comic Relief, BBC Children in Need and BBC One joined together for a special night of entertainment, like no other. They celebrated the people who are making a difference and helped support those affected during these extraordinary times. The Society The Royal Society of St George stepped up to the mark and marked our special day by making a donation to this very worthy cause and branches from around the country made generous donations. The RSSG Charitable Trust was established in 1971 to support the Society in its charitable endeavours. Using the income from the interest on its capital, it supports people and groups whose projects, in the Trustees’ opinion, enhance the aims of the Society, identifying causes where Trust funds can make a real difference to the individual or group involved. We are delighted that the Charitable Trust was able to bring the Society’s total donation up to the magnificent sum of £13,000.
8 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND CENTENARY�
Black Tie Banquet in the Guildhall� to be preceded by a Thanksgiving Service in� the Church of Saint Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall on� Saint George’s Day� 23rd April 2021� Please book the date and contact our� Honorary Events Secretary Alan Cook� by email at [email protected]� to register your interest in attending� one or both events.�
Collaborations Matter
The Royal Society of St George and the English Business Council are now collaborating to increase awareness, build relationships, enhance membership engagement and ultimately provide additional branch funding.
For more information please check our website at www.englishbusinesscouncil.com for more information.
You can email [email protected] We are looking to open branch offices across England and around the world.
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 9 NEWS FROM AROUND THE BRANCHES
BATH about Jane Austen’s time in Bath that is not common knowledge. But what of others? Pam Preece Samuel Pepys did a tour of the south-west I was interested to read recently, in a with a small party of people that included newspaper, that a single handwritten page of his wife and her maid. Was that after Mrs Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers was up Pepys complained to her spouse, “You for sale at almost £100,000. An astronomical never take me anywhere.” I jest or maybe amount but, what particularly interested not. Upon his stay in the city the Baths me was that this page contained details of fascinated Samuel Pepys by their extremes a comical misadventure that befell Sam in temperature but he did not see how it Weller during a trip to Bath Spa. I confess to could be conducive to good health to have never having read the ‘Pickwick Papers’, so so many people crammed into the water at I resorted to books and my computer to find once. out about the aforementioned chap. Mr Pickwick decides to leave the Sir Walter Scott London Club he has founded and, with a A writer who came to Bath in his latter group of friends, go round the countryside Sir Henry Raeburn - Portrait of Sir Walter Scott years for health reasons and stayed long in search of adventure. At one of the inns enough to be awarded a blue plaque was, Sir Oliver Goldsmith in which he stays, one of the servants so Walter Scott. He was born 15 August 1771 Oliver Goldsmith, whose best known impresses him that Mr Pickwick offers in a small flat in a shabby part of Edinburgh works are, The Vicar of Wakefield and She him, not only a higher salary than he is known of the Old Town He was the ninth Stoops to Conquer, was born in Ireland on currently getting but, also, a uniform and child to be born to Anne Rutherford and 10 November 1728 or 1730, or perhaps the so it is that Samuel Weller comes into the Walter Scott, a solicitor. I don’t know how year in between. Nothing is recorded of his employ of Mr Pickwick. Such a faithful many siblings he eventually had but six immediate family except that his grandfather servant does he turn out to be that when his reportedly died in infancy. Walter junior, and father were church ministers and young employer gets put into prison for breach contracted polio at a young age. There must Oliver was packed off to Trinity College, of promise, Sam arranges to get himself have been something special about him Dublin (in whose grounds a statue of him imprisoned so he can still serve his master. or perhaps his distraught mother couldn’t stands), to follow in the family’s footsteps As penned by Dickens, Sam Weller is bear the thought of losing yet another and enter the church. It was not to be: Oliver renowned for his witty sayings that afforded child, because he was sent to live with his much preferred and indulged in gambling, the Victorian readers much amusement and grandparents whose home was thirty miles partying and generally carousing. On being were widely quoted. Before I give you a from Edinburgh. Happily it worked, he expelled from Trinity for taking part in couple of examples, I will mention that Sam recovered although always remained lame in a riot, he went to Edinburgh and studied was given a speech impediment that meant one leg as a result of his illness. medicine for a while. That was the end of many of the words starting or containing a Whilst recovering at his grandparent’s education as far as Oliver was concerned ‘w’ would be pronounced as a ‘v’ and vice- home, an aunt Jenny and his grandmother and he went on a tour of Europe without a versa but I will not replicate that here or would spend hours at his bedside reading penny to his name and survived by living my computer’s spell-check would be most poetry to him or telling stories of their on his wits and busking, it seems he played unhappy. “Very sorry to cause any personal ancestry. Back in Edinburgh, his father’s the flute rather well. In 1756, he arrived in inconvenience ma’am as the house breaker fortunes had taken an upturn because the London little more than a penniless beggar. said to the old lady when he put her on the family were living in the New Town part of He obtained employment as a hack writer fire.” “There now we look compact and the city in a large house. In the fullness of for a publishing company, which sounds comfortable as the father said when he cut his time Walter went to University with the idea absolute drudgery, and as an apothecary. little boy’s head off to cure him o’ squintin’.” of following his father into law. He qualified Within a few short years, he became so Before I finish with Sam Weller, it was by and earned a modest income as an advocate. well-known through his writing that, with researching him that I discovered there is a It was on a trip to the Lake District that Samuel Johnson and a few others, he co- pub in Bath bearing his name. he met Charlotte Cartentier and only three founded a club especially for artistic types, Samuel Pepys weeks after that meeting Walter was sure she for example, David Garrick and Sir Joshua was the one he wanted to marry. His family Reynolds, where members would regularly Many writers have come to Bath over were concerned that being of French descent meet and dine together. Oliver Goldsmith had the centuries for various reasons. Charles Charlotte might be a Catholic. She was not, to keep writing as besides being addicted to Dickens I have dealt with briefly in a the wedding went ahead with his family’s full gambling, he was a soft touch for any hard previous Journal; Fanny Burney in great blessing and, as the story books say, ‘they luck story that was put to him. Also, he could depth and there is nothing I could write lived happily ever after’. be indiscrete and come out with a remark that During the course of his education, Walter would cause an embarrassed silence before a met and became a great friend of James hasty change of subject. Ballentyne, so when James and his brother Naturally, being a good-time chap he was set up a publishing business, Walter became a a frequent visitor to Bath. Sadly, there seems partner in the company. Through this he was to have been no-one special in his life, no able to have his poetry published. It is from close family members or intimate friends one of Walter Scott’s poems that we have, of either sex. When that flamboyant master to this day, the often quoted, ‘Oh! What a of ceremonies, Beau Nash died, Oliver tangled web we weave, when first we practise Goldsmith wrote a biography entitled, Life to deceive!’ Unfortunately, the publishing of Richard Nash of Bath, Esq in which he firm got into financial difficulties and, it was writes, “A person so much talked of and yet to save himself from bankruptcy that he took so little known.” The same could be said of Charles Dickens to writing his historical novels. Oliver Goldsmith.
10 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND GLOUCESTERSHIRE Abbey. The Herbert Howells Trust in Lydney celebrates his life and music. Patron: Mr. Edward Gillespie, OBE, I went to school in Lydney and later Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for worked there for John Thurston of the Watts Gloucestershire of Lydney Group. John and his wife Mary are President: Councillor Pam Tracey, MBE members of Gloucestershire Branch, as was Chairman: Mrs. Pat Ayres, MBE his late uncle, Melville Watts. Mary’s maiden Correspondent: Margaret Fuller name was Gunter – another link with Herbert Sadly, in common with many other branches, Howells (see below). all planned Gloucestershire Branch events Herbert Howells married Dorothy in were cancelled in the middle of March, 1920. In the same year he joined the staff including the highlight of our year – our St. of the Royal College of Music where he F.W. (Will) Harvey Memorial Window George’s Day Service. Tewkesbury Abbey stayed until 1979. Herbert and Dorothy had two children – Ursula (later a famous in several prison camps was tinged with has already been booked for next year on sadness. However, he was able to resume Thursday, 22 April 2021. The Abbey does actress) and Michael. In 1935, at the age of nine, apparently Michael asked his father his local friendships, which included Ivor not book any outside services on Friday Gurney, another Gloucestershire poet, and to evenings, so our Service will be on St. if they could visit the area where Herbert was born and they stayed at Gunter’s Farm support his family opened a legal practice in George’s Eve; but that has worked out quite Lydney. Unsurprisingly, his war experiences well because it will allow at least some of our near Lydney. Very sadly, during that holiday, Michael became seriously ill. They rushed profoundly affected him for the rest of his members to attend the joint Rotary/Society life but he continued to publish poetry. His St. George’s Day Gala Dinner in Cirencester back to London but he died three days later, purportedly of polio. Herbert was most famous poem Ducks was included in on 23 April. the BBC-produced volume The Nation’s So, having nothing to report on Branch deeply affected by this loss, as you would expect, and over the following years wrote Favourite Poems. activities, I thought I would take this several works in memory of Michael. One Will and the afore-mentioned Melville opportunity to tell you about two famous is Hymnus Paradisi, originally part of a Watts were cousins. Melville was a founder sons of Gloucestershire, to whom I have very much larger choral work, Requiem, and member of The F.W. Harvey Society and tenuous links! not completed until 1950, when Howells worked hard to ensure that Will’s poetry is more widely known. There is currently a Herbert Howells, CH, CBE responded to a request for music to be performed at the Three Choirs Festival at campaign for a Blue Plaque to be placed on The first is Herbert Howells, CH, CBE Gloucester Cathedral. The first performance the Harvey family home in Yorkley, near (1892–1983), composer, organist and teacher, was on 7 September 1950, the day after Lydney, and a commemorative window has who produced a large amount of Anglican the fifteenth anniversary of Michael’s been installed by The F.W. Harvey Society church music. He was born in Lydney, death. Possibly Herbert’s best known in Minsterworth Church, where Will grew up Gloucestershire, in a house in the High commemorative work is the tune for the and is buried. He is also commemorated by a Street next to the Baptist church where his hymn All My Hope on God is Founded, tablet in Gloucester Cathedral. father played the organ. That house became which is called simply Michael. Michael is My late mother was at school in Lydney the offices for a building company where buried at St. Matthew’s Parish Church in with Will’s daughter, Eileen. Eileen, now my father was apprenticed in 1935 as a Twigworth, Gloucestershire. Herbert died at ninety-eight, returned to the family home carpenter. Apart from six years serving with the age of ninety in 1983 and his ashes were after her brother Patrick’s death a few years the Royal Engineers during World War Two, interred in Westminster Abbey. ago and lives there with her daughter and and despite offers of employment elsewhere, son-in-law. my father spent his whole working life with F.W. (Will) Harvey In 2010 our Branch’s St. George’s Day the firm and was a Director by the time he In 1957 Herbert took part in a BBC radio Service included the Anthem, England in retired. One day Herbert Howells arrived programme to commemorate the life of Memory, sung by The Charlton Kings Choral at the house and walked round the various another famous son of Gloucestershire, the Society to music specially composed by its rooms with my father, re-visiting what had poet F.W. (Will) Harvey (1888–1957). The Musical Director, John Wright. The words been his bedroom and pointing out where his programme included reminiscences from were taken from Harvey’s poem: first piano had stood. The building firm is no some of Will’s friends, one of whom was longer trading and the house is now used by my maternal grandfather, Albert James. My Gloucestershire Friends: a soft furnishings business. There is a plaque grandfather and Will Harvey both served Sweet Motherland, what have I done for thee, on the wall marking it as Herbert Howells’ with the Gloucestershire Regiment during What suffered, what of lasting beauty made? birthplace and a Blue Plaque on his London World War One. My grandfather was at the I who ungratefully and undismayed home. His daughter set up The Herbert Battle of the Somme but thankfully came Drank from thy breast the milk which Howells Society based at Westminster home physically unscathed. Will Harvey’s nourished me poetry skills emerged from his contributions In childhood, which until my death must be to what might have been the first World War The life within my veins. Lo, from that shade One trench newspaper, The Fifth Gloucester Wherein they rest, thy dead and mine, Gazette. It led to his first published volume of arrayed works in 1916 – A Gloucestershire Lad. In honour’s robes, come clear and plaintively Will was decorated for gallantry and Voices for ever to my listening ear commissioned an officer but was captured in Which cry, “Not yet is finished England’s August 1916. During captivity he produced fight! two more volumes which he managed to Still, still must poets strive and martyrs bleed send home for publication. His younger To overthrow the enemies of Light, brother Eric, also a decorated officer, sadly Armies of Dullness, Cruelty, Lust, and lost his life in the final stages of the war, Greed!”
Herbert Howells, CH, CBE so Will’s homecoming after spending time Yet what have I done for thee, England dear? t
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 11 So my father’s working life was based in excuse to write briefly about two wonderfully is finally controlled by our marvellous NHS, Herbert Howells’ birthplace and they met creative sons of Gloucestershire for members scientists and so many others working to (at least once!); my grandfather and mother of The Royal Society of St. George, at a keep the country going at the moment. knew Will Harvey and his daughter Eileen; time when there is little activity to report in For further information about the Branch I worked for Will’s cousins, the Watts family; Gloucestershire Branch. and its (to be hoped soon to be resumed) Gloucestershire Branch has included Herbert I hope all members, their families and activities contact Margaret Fuller, Branch Howells’ music and Will Harvey’s poetry friends keep well. As sung by the late, great Secretary, on 01291 625069 or rssgglos@ in its annual Services . However, those Dame Vera Lynn and said by our National woodbro.plus.com or see the Branch’s page admittedly fragile links have given me an Patron – We Will Meet Again when this virus on the National website.
HALIFAX AND DISTRICT English Beef with ‘all the trimmings’ to be as President by the postponement of the accompanied by a drink (or drinks) to suit Branch AGM with his wife Linda, our (still) Like us, are sure all branches in the UK, an individual’s palate. President Bryan Harkness and Secretary ( and even perhaps round the world), Some twelve members ‘logged into’ the Cllr Geraldine Carter.In the middle are were extremely disappointed to have had Zoom meeting at 7.00 pm on 23 April and Mr Stephen and Dr Hazel Barker and a to cancel St George’s Day celebrations. enjoyed fellowship and a good chat, played screenshot of the whole gathering. However Member Michael Steele suggested the national anthem, toasted the Queen and The bottom row are member Miss a ‘virtual dinner’ for the Halifax and District even managed to play the song The Roast Caroline Pell, Guests Mr Brian and Mrs Branch.. ‘Zoom’ is a video conferencing Beef of Old England. After some half an Elaine Craven, Guests Mrs Diane and Mr facility that our branch had become aware of hour it was clear members dinners were Richard Sutcliffe, hosts Mr Michael Steele and, so Michael proposed we held a Zoom ready to come out of the oven, photographs and Ms Glenda Shaw, and the English meeting on our computers, laptops or iPads were encouraged of the evening’s enjoyment Roast Beef at the home of Mr Brian and on the evening of 23 April?” and a collage of photos resulted:- Cllr Mrs Geraldine Carter. Also appearing The idea was readily accepted and The top row (left to right) shows our on the screenshot are Mr David Horsman after some discussion it was agreed we Chairman Cllr Steven Leigh MBE who MBE, Mrs Julie Horsman and Mr Brian would enjoy (where possible) a meal of has been prevented from taking office Carter
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HUNTINGDON Bless starter, meat, dessert and wine who, at almost 100 years old, has raised a Bless the chef and those who serve us phenomenal amount of money for the NHS, The Royal Society of St. George Celebrate From sin and indigestion Lord Preserve us, who are at the forefront of the front line a Virtual St. George’s Day Dinner Amen” during this COVID-19 crisis. The Royal Society of Saint George A “Loyal Toast” proposed by Col. These are truly unusual times but we will (Huntingdon Branch) and Huntingdon Town Derek Bristow OBE DL, “England and get through them, and emerge into a ‘new Council held their first virtual event and are Saint George”, proposed by Mrs Debbie normal’ and life will go on. hoping it will be their last. Townsend, “The Town of Huntingdon”, We will come together again to celebrate Not to be defeated by Covid-19, our proposed by Cllr. Sarah Gifford and to “The St George’s Day but, in the meantime, whilst Chairman, Col. Derek Bristow inviting Guests”, Vice Chairman, David Hodge. in social isolation, stay safe and please raise members and guests to a virtual St. George’s your glasses to ‘The Queen’.” Day Dinner to be held in the many homes Rosemary Wheeler proposed the Toast to At 8 pm, the Branch stopped the Dinner across Huntingdonshire and around the world “Absent Friends” “Tell England we shall soon come back to join neighbours to clap for our heroes, the to celebrate St. George’s Day. To the woods in bluebell time NHS, carers, key workers and to all those We were delighted to be supported by To see the dancing daffodils services and volunteers who are working so many guests including Colonel Wendt and The chestnut and the lime hard to keep us safe – thank you. his wife Kristina, Commander of the 501st To climb the purple heather hill At the end of the evening an inspirational Combat Support Wing USAF and Randy And find the cold wind blows there still” poem sent into Blue Peter called “Stand L Potts, Honorary Chairman of the Royal Our President, Mrs Julie Spence HM Together created by Marcie, age ten Society of Saint George Carolinian Branch Lord Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire sent completed our virtual dinner: and their members from the USA. the following message to the Branch that In light of the troubles we have today Prayers for the virtual dinner were led by encapsulates the unusual and unprecedented There’s just a few things I’d like to say Reverend Jon Randall, the Vicar of All Saints Although the days of this feel long times we currently live in: Together as a country we stand strong Church, Huntingdon: “We find ourselves in unusual and Share your kindness and your love “Dear Lord, in these troubled times we thank unprecedented times. Even the normality It’s no time to be mean, push and shove you that we can enjoy a good meal together. Hold on to your loved ones, hold them tight We pray that even though we cannot meet in provided by the Royal Calendar has been Listen to the rules and do things right one place we would reflect positively on the disrupted - no gun salute on Her Majesty’s fellowship we share together. ninety-fourth birthday and no flags over Take time to enjoy all the little things The small things and the pleasure it brings On this St George’s Day, we thank you for the buildings. No Trooping of the Colour, no work of The Royal Society of Saint George and But most importantly of all Royal Garden Parties to salute those working Stay safe, be brave, we shall not fall. for Huntingdon Town Council. Would you bless hard for our nation, both nationally and those in leadership to make wise decisions on Members agreed that the evening had been our behalf. locally, in our communities, and no Gold a very successful St. George’s Day dinner God of hosts, who so kindled the flame of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award presentations with no guests turning up late, no complaints love in the heart of your servant George that he at Buckingham Palace to recognise the hard about the food, the wine excellent and bore witness to the risen Lord by his life and his work and enterprise of our young people. speeches reasonably short. death; give us the same faith and power of love Instead we have a dispersed Royal family Photos 1 and 2: Cllr & Mrs. Dick Taplin, that we who rejoice in his triumphs may come to grappling with new ways of working – Royal Mayor and Mayoress of Godmanchester share with him the fullness of the resurrection. hospital openings by video conference call, We ask all these things in the name of Jesus (RSSG Guests) Christ, our risen Lord and Saviour. Amen” and the sending of video, Twitter, Instagram Photo 3: Heather and Michael Williamson JP messages and more traditional letters of DL (RSSG Members) Followed by Grace led by Reverend Roy support to Royal patronage’s and those Photo 4: Monica Thompson (RSSG Member) Muttram: working on the front line. “Remember George our patron Saint Photo 5: Peter and Roslyn Cresswell (RSSG The inspiration of our nation As a nation we and the Royal Family, Members) God bless us as we gather now along with many other nations, have Photo 6: Col. Derek Bristow (RSSG Vice And join in celebration applauded the stoic and inspirational efforts President and Chairman) Bless us as we sit to dine of the wonderful Captain Tom Moore Photo 7: David Hodge (RSSG Vice-Chairman)
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ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 13 NORTH DOWNS some shopping; and, before the Church of England across the land closed its doors, President: Group Captain Patrick Tootal help with the opening of our local church, OBE St. James the Great. The flag of St. George still fluttered in the The Branch also made a financial donation North Downs area, despite the continuing to the annual English Music Festival, gloom and restrictions associated with the which in common, with every other event Coronavirus pandemic. across the United Kingdom, could not take With the grim news each day of hundreds place. We hope that our full communal of deaths, the Feast Day of our Patron Saint life will resume as soon as possible, but became a time of reflection, with Branch that when we do “return to normal”, the members dedicating themselves to the people of our country and indeed, across wellbeing of their families, neighbours and the world, will approach life in a more friends. And we are pleased to report that communitarian and thoughtful way. Finally, so many of us added support to various we give thanks to all those who have community initiatives: contributions and fought so hard to save lives: from the NHS assistance to our local foodbank at the East and care staff, to our soldiers who managed Malling Centre; the very welcome activity to build a 4,000-bed hospital in just nine of ringing and contacting local elderly or days, to everyone who gave something for Branch Chairman, Stuart Millson, at this year’s vulnerable folk, to see if they might need their country and fellow man. socially-distanced St. George’s commemoration
SEAHAVEN BRANCH card was send to that true hero, Captain (Hon Colonel) Sir Tom Moore on his 100th President: Laurie Holland birthday on behalf of the branch by Events Chairman. Bob Peedle MBE Secretary Liz Holland. Vice Chairman: Ann Abbott Before the Coronavirus restrictions came VE Day into force we just had time to hold a lunch VE Day, 8 May, should also have been a at the Inn on the Park at Deanlands, near day of special celebration and individual Golden Cross. Even then we refrained from members celebrated at their own homes. hugs and handshakes but still had a great Many went outside to have a socially get-together. Then the lock down came so distanced tea with neithbours. Chairman everything ceased. We missed our chance to Bob’s small road saw everyone outside, celebrate St George’s Day, but instead each some with trays of cakes for their member received a card to remind us all neighbours. A stall was set up to raise At the Seaford War Memorial for the VE Day two minute silence, our branch Standard was carried the importance of England’s National Day. money for Combat Stress and the grand total by Frank Holland. He was accompanied by his The branch is usually represented at the of £400 was raised. friend, Falklands War Veteran with the Standard Cenotaph each year but it was sad to miss During the approach to VE Day, Events of HMS Glamorgan, one of the RN ships to be hit this glorious occcasion this year. A greetings Secretary Liz Holland and Standard Bearer by an exocet missile, but survived. They dipped in respect of the men and women of Seaford who gave their lives both in the Services and the Civilians killed as a result of bombing of the town by the Luftwaffe. Frank Holland, gathered enough memorial crosses and pebbles so as to record the names of all 88 members of the Armed Forces from Seaford who lost their lives during the Second World War and the 20 civilians killed by bombing of the town by the Luftwaffe. This impressive feat by two branch members was appreciated by all and is a very worthy commemoration of those who died. The flower bed used is alongside the war memorial (see picture below left.) Normally in June the branch has a formal event to elebrate our Royal Patron’s official birthday, but this year even that was cancelled. The last Saturday of the month, was Armed Forces Day. Annually for the District of Lewes with surrounding towns and villages, our branch joins with Seaford Town Council to organise the event. This year the usual grand parade and inspection in the Martello Fields on the sea front at Seaford had to be cancelled. It was replaced
14 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND Seaford Town Crier, Peter White, announced the event just before 11 am in Traffic Patrols. He and Chairman Bob got to know each other in the 1970s when their On Armed Forces Day, early on parade were (L to R) Frank Holland with the Standard of St George and friendship started. A delightful surprise at Eon Matthews with the Standard of HMS Glamorgan who stood either side of TOMMY the funeral was that the Metropolitan Police by a small ceremony of members from the Seahaven Branch donated a prize for the Traffic Patrols provided three motor cyclists joint committee, including the Mayor, at the best window dressing of shop, office or as an escort, a really lovely touch that Seaford War Memorial. home, the theme being to thank the Armed pleased all the family immensely. He and Prayers were led by the Mayor’s Forces, past, present and future. Maureen moved from the Sussex Branch Chaplain, Rev Andy Machin, the We were not able to do much to help with to Seahaven in 2010 and were regular exhortations were read by Ken Jupp, local projects or charities this time, but for supporters of our events. He and Maureen Chairman of the Seaford RBL and Last St George’s Day the branch raised £500 for have always been much respected and loved Post and Reveille sounded by a trumpeter RSSG’s nationwide effort which gathered members and Derek will be sorely missed. from the Seaford Silver Band, Christopher £13000 for the BBC’s Big Night In Appeal. Sadly, Chairman Bob, being shielded was Goodchild. Despite a drizzle, the event We also donated £100 towards the Seaford not able to go and say goodbye to his old went off well, but again because of the and Newhaven Food Bank and another friend. restrictions there was no reception to end the £200 was given to the Seaford Emergency occasion, we just all went home. Team, who formed a delivery service to The help publicise the occasion the those people shielding or in lock down for groceries and medicines.
Obituary Derek Marrable The sudden death of our member Derek Marrable took us all by surprise. One week he was telephoning his old chum Chairman Bob to enquire after his health and the next he died. It was a great blow and our love and condolences went out to Maureen his wife. The numbers allowed to attend the funeral were low, so branch Standard Bearer Frank Holland and his wife events secretary Liz, went to the Crematorium At Derek Marrable’s funeral, the escort was with our Standard to salute him on his final provided by three Metropolitan Police Traffic Patrol motor cyclists, an Inspector and two drive but of course were not able to join On VE Day, President Laurie Holland visited Constables, as well as the Seahaven Branch the mourners in the chapel. Derek was a Chairman Bob to lend him a hand with the effort Standard carried by Frank Holland London Policeman, serving most of his time to raise £400 for Combat Stress
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 15 SUSSEX Our fellow members Nigel and Sidonie Stevens did even better. Here is Sid’s Pamela account of their evening. Arun (Acting Chairman) is on his own at ‘Well we raised a glass earlier, but went home, self-isolating but he still put a huge outside at 8 pm for the clapping. Nigel English flag in one of his upstairs windows waved his St George flag (pictured left) and one of his neighbours did notice and while our neighbours played Land of Hope comment on it. He also had a table with and Glory on their trumpets. I then played flowers, a candle and flags. ‘There’ll always be an England’ on the Barry and I (Acting Treasurer and piano and ‘We’ll Gather Lilacs’. Then we Secretary) are also self-isolating so what had white and red frozen yogurt lollies all to we could do was somewhat limited. We did celebrate England’s patron saint.’ find a St George’s flag to put on our gatepost Nigel also told me that he had made sure and we ordered roast dinners to be delivered that St George’s flag was hoisted above The from our local inn (The George in Henfield). Henfield Club in the centre of the village. I laid the little table in our conservatory with a cloth with red embroidered flowers, a vase Winning Poem in The Royal Society of St George (Sussex Branch) Children’s Poetry Competition 2020 Daring George fought the fierce dragon Raiding all its precious gold After George slayed the dragon Grateful girl felt brave and bold with ‘reddish’ flowers (not much out in the On St George’s Day each year garden right now), a candle and two small Never forget how he had no fear. English flags. We both wore red tops and had red wine for the 7 pm toast as suggested Written by Barney Harris (aged eight years by RSSG (picture left). pictured below)
16 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND WATERLOO loss of Ian Smith as a result of the disease People must remember that we have and of Chris Hulbert from cancer. Our been through worse as nation and are sympathies are with their families. incredibly lucky to have such an open and free society, with a freely elected President’s Government and a truly wonderful Message Monarch in Her Majesty the Queen. I Dear Committee was very fortunate to have been on the and fellow parade for Her Majesty’s Official Birthday Members, Celebration, which took place for only the We are now second time in History at Windsor Castle. four months into The performance by the men and women the strange world of our Armed Force was truly uplifting, an of living with excellent tribute to The Queen and thanks COVID-19. Our for Her Majesty’s reassuring leadership Presentation of the Waterloo tie to our newly country for the large part has displayed true over the last months. This demonstrates elected President Tata at our AGM on 17 grit and determination, following direction, all that is Great about an understanding February making sacrifices, in order to minimise the and strong Britain. You all remain in rate of infection and preserve the NHS. We our thoughts, especially those we have No words of mine can express the are now seeing a few shoots of hope which lost, please all take care and remain safe frustration of not being able to meet indicate a transition to better times, that wherever you may be. together during the Covid-19 pandemic, said over the last few weeks pressures and Kind Regards when I had plans to let you greet Tata frustrations previously retrained have come T-A. Major NK Twumasi-Ankrah personally. For us all it has been a to the fore due to events overseas. Despite Military Assistant to the General Officer traumatic time in the history of the World, these difficulties the people of this great Commanding London District and Major unprecedented in my life time. Sadly, as I country must not be divided at a time when General Commanding the Household have already informed you, we mourn the we are needed to maintain level heads. Division
WILTSHIRE BRANCH Peter was one of our first members along was always there with his wife Pat to help with his wife Pat having initially attended her and support the Branch. Branch Patron: Colonel James Arkell TD a St George’s Day dinner at Bibury Court In fact throughout all his time as a member Chairman: Mr Lloyd James Hotel organised by the newly formed Peter has been an unwavering supporter Secretary: Mrs Pat Wallington Knights of St George in the late 1990s. for our Branch and attending all our events Treasurer: Mrs Peggy May The fact that anyone turned up at all was with his wife Pat as she fulfilled her role as The Wiltshire Branch take this opportunity amazing given that no-one was celebrating Secretary. Peter’s presence at our events was to extend our best wishes to all fellow St George’s Day in Wiltshire at that time. much missed when he was unable to attend members for what has been and remains to From that tentative start the Wiltshire in the last couple of years following the onset be a very tough time in the adversity caused Branch of the Society was founded. of Parkinson’s disease and he resided at the by the current Coronavirus pandemic. We all Since then things have changed Ashbury Lodge Care Home. wish you well and good health for the future considerably as a result of our promotion Whilst the progression of this cruel to overcome this unfortunate and miserable of St George’s Day throughout the county, disease stopped him from being an active situation. which is now celebrated in several member, his passing was a sudden shock Hopefully we can all return to a normal Wiltshire towns. It is thanks to supporting to us all and came about having developed social life soon without being confined to members like Peter that we have been able pneumonia and Coronavirus on admittance the internet. to achieve this. to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon In the initial days the Branch had a where he sadly passed away. John and Seline May stand at Swindon’s Old Town Festival for a Peter will be missed by us all. The We take this opportunity of wishing our number of years and at the Uffington White sympathies and prayers of all the Wiltshire Deputy Chairman John May and his Horse Show where we promoted the Branch Branch members are with Pat and all their wife Seline well. Seline works at the and raised funds for local charities. Peter family. Great Western Hospital and fell ill with Coronavirus in March, although this was not initially diagnosed and shockingly the hospital refused to test her! Instead she stayed at home with the illness which resulted in John contracting the virus. After many weeks of being seriously ill we are greatly relieved that they have both been making a steady recovery and Seline has recently returned to work.
In Memory of Peter Wallington It is with much sadness that our member Peter Wallington passed away on Easter Sunday morning, 12 April 2020, aged eighty-three.
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 17 The Bennerley Viaduct David Bennett
18 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND NGLAND HAS MANY buildings the Erewash Valley between Awsworth in and structures that have, like time Nottinghamshire and Ilkeston in Derbyshire. Emachines, witnessed the passing of At the time it was built, Bennerley time. One such structure is the Bennerley Ironworks was to the north of the viaduct Viaduct. and served by sidings. Built in 1876 and opened in 1878 by the During the First World War in 1916 Great Northern Railway nine zeppelin to transport coal from airships conducted the Derbyshire and Nine zeppelin airships a bombing raid over Nottinghamshire conducted a bombing raid the Mildlands which coalfields, the viaduct included the area was constructed in over the Midlands around the viaduct. Restoration work on the viaduct wrought iron lattice Seven high explosive the viaduct was closed to rail traffic. After work, standing on stone capped blue brick bombs were dropped; one fell just north closure it was saved from demolition as the foundations. Due to a great deal of coal on the railway line that served Bennerley contract to demolish it was considered too mining subsidence in the area, it was unlike Ironworks. During the raid fifteen bombs high a cost. The high cost was due to the most railway viaducts which at the time fell on the nearby Stanton Ironworks. fact that the wrought iron structure could were brick built. Over time the heavy industries in the area not be cut up with oxy acetylene torch This structure runs for 1452 feet across closed down and were demolished. In 1968 and would have to be taken apart rivet by rivet. The cost of demolition was a factor but a range of organisations (Arkwright Society, local history societies, Association for Industrial Archaeology, various civic societies) all opposed British Rail’s attempts to demolish. The case went to Public Inquiry in 1980 and proposals were put forward then to incorporate the viaduct into a cycling and walking trail.
Railway Paths Ltd In 1998 it was given to a conservation group, Railway Paths Ltd, a sister charity to Sustrans who were developing the National Cycling Network. Recently Railway Paths Ltd have received a number of grants to have the viaduct restored as a cycle and footpath route. Working with them is the local community in the form of ‘Friends of Bennerley Viaduct’. The viaduct has acquired international recognition following its inclusion in the 2020 World Monument Watch, the only site in the British Isles to be included. Bennerley Viaduct, stands like a memorial to changing times to this piece of England from an area of heavy industry to a peaceful region for recreational pursuit in the countryside.
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 19 SERGEANT JAMES ERIC WILLIAM BALLARD Spitfire Pilot Added to Ranks of the Few Geoff Simpson
FTER EIGHTY YEARS a Spitfire Ballard was tasked to fly an X-raid sortie, (BBFA), wrote in 2000 about aircrew with pilot has been added to the meaning that he was sent to investigate a modest records in the Battle, “Yet the fact Aofficial list of “the Few”. The man report of an unidentified aircraft. The flight that they were there and played their part concerned is London-born Sergeant James was short, there appears to have been no decisively tipped the balance in our favour.” Eric William Ballard who had joined enemy activity in the area at the time and Additional factors taken into account No 610 (County of Chester) Squadron at there is no evidence that a German aircraft by the Air Historical Branch, the ultimate Acklington, Northumberland on 6 October was sighted. So Bill Ballard’s contribution decision maker in this field, were that the 1940. The squadron’s operations record to the Battle of Britain was limited, but signatures of his flight commander and CO book was not well kept and showed no that does not matter. A properly authorised were present in Ballard’s logbook, covering operational flight by “Bill” Ballard up to X-raid investigation counts as qualification the sortie on 8 October and there was no 31 October, the date on which the Battle of for the “immediate” award of the 1939-1945 evidence of alterations being made at a Britain ended. Star with Battle of Britain Clasp. later date. The latter is a problem with some However, Ballard’s logbook has been It is perhaps worth remembering what logbooks appearing today. found and shown to the Air Historical Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley- Sergeant Ballard went on to fly regularly Branch (RAF) by its new owner, Jacqui Norris, a long serving Chairman of the with 610. On 3 April 1941 he and Flight Watts. This shows that on 8 October 1940 Battle of Britain Fighter Association Lieutenant Stan Norris (who had seen action in the Battle of Britain with the squadron) shared in the destruction of a Junkers Ju88. On 27 August 1941 Bill Ballard failed to return from a Circus (a short range sortie for RAF bombers, escorted by large numbers of fighters, hoping to tempt German fighters to combat). Sadly this was the last Circus flown by 610 before it moved from Westhampnett in Sussex to Leconfield, Yorkshire two days later. His remains were never formally identified and he is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial. That the decision to add a new name needs to be taken eighty years after the Battle shows the problems associated with making definitive statements about the Few. I examined many of these issues in A History of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association: Commemorating The Few. “The Chesters” were certainly not the only squadron that did not maintain its operations record books in a comprehensive manner. On the other hand, as the University of London academic, Dr Tony Mansell was quoted as saying in my book, the people compiling such documents in 1940 had rather more to worry about than the convenience of future historians. This is one of the reasons why we still cannot say with certainty how many aircrew under the control of RAF Fighter Command took part in the Battle. The figure is about 2940, but more people have been added in this century and, as the case of Sergeant Ballard illustrates, there may be more to come. At the same time, there are names which have always been on the list that look doubtful as a result of modern research. Whether the terms of the Air Ministry Orders defining qualification for the immediate Star and Clasp were fair remains a matter of debate, as it does with most arbitrary definitions. However, decisions were taken at the Air Ministry for better or worse and the rules have allowed Sergeant Ballard, belatedly, into the fold.
20 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME Our Gardens are Re-opening
ATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME an- Most gardens will not be offering teas purchased ticket and not all the gardens are nounces the reopening of gardens in or other refreshments but, at some gardens able to open, so visitors need to check details NEngland to visitors where there is sufficient space, people will be on our website. All funds raised will go to the charity’s allowed to bring their own picnics. All build- “While our gardens have all been closed Help Support Our Nurses campaign. ings will be closed and access to toilets will we have run a very successful campaign, The National Garden Scheme is delighted only be provided in an emergency and so long Help Support Our Nurses, drawing attention to announce that its gardens in England have as it does not involve access to a house. to the amazing work on the frontline of the begun to reopen. Currently all gardens in George Plumptre, Chief Executive of the Coronavirus crisis being done by the nursing Wales remain closed, although we are in cor- National Garden Scheme comments, “We are charities we support. One hundred per cent respondence with the Office of the First Min- delighted that we are able to open the gates of of funds raised at gardens during the rest of ister. some of our gardens in England and welcome 2020 will go to the Help Support Our Nurses In order to comply with social distancing people. Right now our gardens are blossom- campaign. and other Government guidelines, gardens are ing into their late summer glories and so it is “While our gardens have been closed, gar- opening in a system of pre-purchased tickets. wonderful that our garden owners can share den owners have been making videos of their Each Monday, tickets for gardens that are them with visitors. gardens which we have been posting weekly opening in the coming days are added to the “For the current period the opening system as Virtual Garden Visits and encouraging peo- website and you can find full details, and the we are having to operate is quite different ple to make donations. That library of more perfect garden to visit, at www.ngs.org.uk/ from a normal open day when people just turn than 100 short films is available for everyone garden-tickets. up and pay at the gate. Entry is only by pre- to enjoy on our website.” (www.ngs.org.uk).
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 21 ‘The Garden of England’. . . Under Threat By Cllr. David Thornewell Born in Pembury hospital, east of the River Medway, I am a “Man of Kent”, but I have always lived in the parish of East Malling and Larkfield, west of the Medway, which makes me a “Kentish Man” by residence. But whatever my status I have always loved Kent. The “Garden of England”, with its varied countryside, towns and coast. But sadly this countryside is under severe threat from the current so-called “local” St. Mary’s Abbey, West Malling planning system.
22 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND STONE SANS
ITHIN THE PARISH where I live Extra housing sites were put into the is the old village of East Malling plan, two in East Malling, but there was Wand nextdoor the small town of also a demand to protect the setting of West Malling, clustered around its Abbey West Malling; to keep it separate and (pictured left) and its lovely High Street shield it from development. Large-scale which has many listed buildings. A good development, however, has taken place starting point to find out about a place in to the south of the town, on the old West Kent is to look at the entry in the King’s Malling wartime airfield which is now England series of books by Arthur Mee first called Kings Hill village, although in reality published in 1936. His long description this is a small town in itself. Any protection of East Malling is still very apt. He tells for West Malling was to be achieved by us: “The climb up its long street is well extending the greenbelt around the town and worthwhile. At the bottom is the splendid extending to the countryside between it and An Elizabethan house in the countryside of East church; at the top is one of the finest East Malling. Malling farmhouses in Kent. Between and about are Residents were encouraged by many Tudor cottages, lots of oasthouses, Government rules which offered protection had to be given unless there were special and lane adorned with elms and pines.” for the setting of old small towns and to reasons against, such as the site being in Sadly, the elms have gone, but the lanes prevent places joining up into a single urban the existing greenbelt; or affecting ancient with their hawthorn hedges and many area. There was much talk of “sustainable woodland; or in a flood-risk area. The fact ragstone walls remain, especially between development”. The Minister announced that a contested site was not in the draft East and West Malling. Some are designated that “unaccountable regional apparatus” plan had “little weight” and what has been as “Quiet Lanes” by the planners although used for previous plans would end and submitted regarding that plan cannot be that does not seem to carry the weight one that “Localism” was the new watchword. considered. So in effect, all those taking would wish. The existing greenbelt line actually runs part in the public consultation were to be through West Malling and we were further ignored. Local plan encouraged by the statement that such About five years ago the local Borough lines should follow long-lasting features, Malling Abbey Council started the process of updating its including rivers or roads, which the new line The result has been that developers have Local Plan as required by Government. does. seen their opportunity and submitted There was a public consultation process applications on many sites of “ordinary” and developers and landowners put forward Examination in Public countryside, including around the district of many sites for housing. The Government The draft plan was duly lodged with the East and West Malling. And if refused by statistical model deemed that land was Planning Inspectorate and we awaited the Borough Council the developers appeal, needed for some 6,500 extra homes and the hearing – called the “Examination so their site is considered in isolation before land across the borough was designated in Public”, but so far this has not been the Local Plan hearings. So far, this has to meet this requirement. The process was held – and due to the present “shut down“, resulted in two sites in West Malling being happening all across England, but locally delayed until the Autumn. However, in the allowed on appeal and one site refused after we convened several public meetings about meantime, it transpired that the Borough the two parish councils mounted a campaign the housing threat and many letters were had ceased to meet the Government’s rule to be represented by a barrister and their subsequently written by concerned local that each district must have a five-year land own experts. The latter site was particularly residents. supply. This meant that planning permission controversial, as it was next to the Malling Abbey and entrance to West Malling’s Conservation area. Another appeal to extend Kings Hill was refused, due to its likely impact on a landscape of ancient woodland. And now another application for 250 houses is pending and a leaflet distributed by another developer proposes yet another site between the two villages. The effect of all this is that the system relating to a Local Plan, with everyone having their say, is effectively set aside. Instead of a Plan-led system we are ending up with a “fill-up-the-next-field” version of planning in which the Planning Inspectorate takes on the role of the previous regional planners. A “Local Plan”? In name only. Now, not only in East and West Malling, but across Kent, the South-East and many parts of rural England, our valued countryside is threatened by a sea of speculative building. David Thornewell is the Liberal Democrat Chairman of East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council, and has served as a Borough Councillor for some forty years. He is a member of The East Malling villlage, from Mill Street, the tower of the church of St. James the Great visible at the end Royal Society of St. George, North Downs of Church Walk Branch.
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 23 HMS FORWARD HMS Forward – Second World War Bob Peedle MBE, Fellow of the Royal Society of St George
MS FORWARD has been sunk, so said Lord Haw-Haw. He was the Htraitorous Briton who defected to the Germans during the war to broadcast German Propaganda to listeners in this country. Well he was wrong, it would have been a miracle if HMS Forward had even been at sea. It was a Royal Naval land base consisting of a secret complex of tunnels sunk into the South Downs in the vicinity of the villages of Denton and South Heighton just north of Newhaven in East Sussex. It stayed secret to the enemy and to many others until after the end of the war. When the war started in 1939 the RNVR building in Newhaven was given the name HMS Forward. This was moved to a larger building called HMS Forward II and finally in 1941 the tunnels were started to create this The now derelict tunnels, some of which are now too dangerous to visit vital secret contribution to the war effort. The complex was designed by eighty- left on the roads that might tell an enemy conditions so any thoughts of making them nine year old Colonel F. H. Foster, DSO, where it was coming from. open to the public were dismissed. Geoffrey OBE, the Chief of Royal Engineers There were two main entrances to this as a result of his researches, which included (CRE) for Four Corps. This bomb-proof complex, in the west, one was a simple door talking to many people who served there establishment was meant to accommodate in the hill-side near the main road from or nearby during the war, published a book communications for the Naval Officer in Newhaven towards Lewes (the A26). This The Secret Tunnels of South Heighton. charge and for the Canadian Corps Coastal had a reinforced portal and was guarded by (ISBN 1 85770 101 1.) Artillery in the area. a semi sunken pill box. The other, to the His dedication at the title page is “This For the summer of 1941 construction east, was through an existing building high book is dedicated to the crew of HMS was carried out by 577 Field Company RE on the downs, Denton House. This had been Forward who wore headphones, not under the command of Major H Hawker, the former Guinness Trust Holiday Home helmets; who brandished Morse keys not who had been an engineer with Brighton which looked like a fairly normal village machine guns; who used teleprinters, not Corporation before the outbreak of the war. hall rather than a military establishment. It torpedos; despatching bulletins, not bullets; The result was 350 yards of minor galleries had been requisitioned by the Royal Navy and who contemplated the courses of and 227 yards of major galleries which were for the naval command of the area. clandestine convoys in secret silence. They then turned into offices and communications To enhance its security a number of too contributed to the Defence of the Realm rooms to be manned by service personnel. pill boxes were built, one near the Eastern and the winning of the War.” Secrecy was paramount and such major entrance was built to resemble a chicken Many people were interviewed, some building work might easily be spotted by house. Some of these boxes were also even on film recorded in 1993 and 1994 by German aircraft, who often used the nearby connected to the tunnel system to provide Geoffrey Ellis and Tom Bonnar. Displays of River Ouse as an aid to their navigation. emergency exists if necessary. the work of this secret complex can be seen Getting rid of the spoil from the tunnels A great number of the personnel manning in the Newhaven Museum. did not cause too many problems because this centre were WRNS as writers and nearby was the South Heighton Cement telegraphists as well coders. Although the Works Quarry where freshly quarried chalk temperature in the tunnels was kept at about would be quite natural. To reinforce the sixty-five degrees farenheit, it may not have need to keep this building work secret, been the ideal place to work being sixty foot a Lysander Aircraft flew over the site deep and thus, at the time, bomb-proof. regularly to see if there were traces of chalk During its working life, up to the middle of 1945, thousands of messages were handled by the centre. It also maintained plots of ship movements, both allied and hostile. It was a vital communications centre. Apart from daily routine work it was involved in such as the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942 and D Day, 6 June 1944 both of which needed much signal traffic both before and after the event. In the early 1990s, on the initiative of the late Geoffrey Ellis, curator of the Newhaven Museum, the tunnels, which had been closed On duty in the deep tunnels with WRNS and an and abandoned in 1945, were explored. Much Army officer of the tunnels were by then in a dangerous The western entrance as seen in the early 1990s
24 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND CAPTAIN TOM Captain Tom Dennis Stinchcombe MBE, Chairman Bristol Branch, member of Council and Trustee
HAVE BEEN GIVEN the privilege His military service in the war and of writing a piece for the journal on his pride in himself, his fellow man and I the most recent inspiring exploits of country would not let this pandemic get Captain (Colonel) Tom in his dedication, him down, in fact it gave him the will perseverance and complete and utter to get up and do something therefore to selflessness in raising so much money help defeat the problem not just be a part for and on behalf of our beleaguered of it. NHS who were in financial turmoil in He didn’t let his age or disabilities the Covid 19 crisis, a crisis that has confine him or restrict him and he caused untold damage and pain to so decided that he would walk and walk many people not only in our country but on his Zimmer frame in order to raise worldwide. as much money as he could for our
struggling NHS, he most certainly did this beyond everyone’s wildest expectations! He has raised an amazing £30+M. The very fact that this gentleman had already put his life on the line for us in the war which after the selfless courage alongside many more service men just like him actually ensured that we are all still here today.
He didn’t let his age or disabilities confine him or restrict him
Honorary Life Membership It is this resolve and determination that makes him someone special and in our eyes in the RSSG we feel that he should be honoured with an Honorary Life Membership. We salute you Captain Tom and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done for the people of Great Britain, without great, honourable gentlemen such as you, where would this country be today, you are a Hero in every sense of the word. It is people like you who has put the Great back into Britain and given us all back that feeling of pride and being proud of our country.
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 25 ENGLAND’S 1100th ANNIVERSARY Alfred the Great’s Millennial Derek Hilling
N SEPTEMBER 1901, a statue of Wessex and much of Mercia. From Kent to understood by all those people responsible King Alfred the Great was unveiled in Lichfield and all the lands to the west were for upholding them, even if they could not IWinchester as part of a multi-nation ruled by Alfred, but the Viking invaders read the English as written by his scribes. commemoration of King Alfred’s death, 1000 controlled East Anglia, the East Midlands years before. The eminent Victorians who and practically all of what we now regard 1100th Anniversary – a day of celebration? organised this event were mistaken about the as the North of England. It was left to So, 12 July 2027 will be England’s 1100th date of Alfred’s death as he had died in 899 Alfred’s descendants to finally unite the Anniversary. I believe that day deserves to be not 901, but that seems a minor detail now. English-speaking people under one ruler. celebrated the length and breadth of England. The Victorians had revived England’s interest His son King Edward (the Elder) and his A country is a single political entity, with in its early ancestors, the Anglo-Saxons, and oldest daughter Æthelflӕd (Lady of the defined borders, a common language and did much to illustrate the long line of descent Mercians) gradually extended the frontiers culture and a clear hierarchy of leadership from these early English people to the current of land which Alfred had saved from Viking and governance. Can any other country in day. At a public meeting held in London domination. Yet it was Alfred’s oldest Europe claim to have been in existence for as in March 1899 to champion King Alfred’s grandson – Æthelstan who completed the long as England? Commemoration Doctor Arthur Conan Doyle work. It was Æthelstan who was finally We are just emerging from an epidemic (pre-Knighthood) remarked thus - able to bring all the lords of the Viking-held the scale and impact of which few of us “I am a student of history, and know why territories in England under his control. could have imagined. This combined with an St. George – who was a native, I believe, apparent desire of some people to completely of Asia Minor – was chosen as the patron English Unification re-examine and even obliterate our past saint of England, but if the place was not his The modern definitive history of early allows us perhaps to begin to reflect on more by prescriptive right and usage, and if such England was published in 1943 by Sir basic issues. Who are we? What do we want a matter was to be decided in our modern Frank Stenton and is entitled Anglo-Saxon to be? How can we learn from the past? democratic fashion, St. Alfred of Wessex, England. Newer discoveries have extended We all know from our own experience I am sure, would be the sage and the hero our knowledge of early English history but that it is generally much easier to use whom we should select – the man who no academic historian since Sir Frank, has something which has already been created combined in his person all the virtues which contradicted his assertion that it was on than to start-up something new. So, this go to make up the best type of Englishman.” 12 July 927, near Eamont in Cumbria that 1100th Anniversary is an opportunity to ask I certainly would not want to deny Alfred King Æthelstan met with the various kings ourselves and our fellow countrymen some the Great his place in our affections and from across Britain and crucially with the basic questions. gratitude. It would not be an exaggeration to English Lord of Bamburgh. • How did we come to live in a country say that without the leadership of King Alfred Earlier that summer Æthelstan had led an called England? against the Viking raiders, then England army into the north after the death of Sithric, • Why was our country created? would never have been created. Alfred his brother-in-law and ruler of Northumbria, • What drove the men and women who undoubtedly gave substance to the idea of a who had renounced Christianity and created England to do this? land, even a nation for the English-speaking had returned to his old pagan traditions. peoples. He was a great leader of men Æthelstan’s army sacked and overran York Æthelstan – the man and his family both physically and spiritually. During his the capital of the Northumbria Kingdom, and If we are to commemorate England’s 1100th twenty-eight-year reign he worked to ensure brought that area under his control. When the Anniversary then it should not just be about the translation into English of important Lord of Bamburgh and other nobles from the Æthelstan, although his achievements will Christian texts. His bravery in battle and his Viking territory of Northumbria submitted to nevertheless be the focus. steadfastness in the direst of circumstances King Æthelstan in July 927, Æthelstan had in Michael Wood, the renowned English set Alfred the Great apart. King Alfred was effect created one nation for all the English- historian and broadcaster has described the rightly given the epithet – ‘the Great’. speaking peoples. From that day onwards, Wessex Royal Family of Alfred the Great Yet for all his greatness Alfred was never and his descendants as the most remarkable the King of England. He styled himself as and for the first time ever, all the English- King of the Anglo-Saxons. The land over speaking people were united under one ruler. and most gifted family in our history. The which he ruled included less than half of From that point forward King Æthelstan was game of ‘what if’ scenarios applied to history the area of modern England. He ruled over no longer just King of the Anglo-Saxons, is fraught with difficulties, but nevertheless a land that comprised the old Kingdom of he became Rex Angolorum, King of the I believe that England would never have English. In fact, after the meeting in Cumbria existed without the efforts of King Alfred in July 927 a member of King Æthelstan’s the Great, his children, grandchildren, and court wrote home to the Royal Family in great-grandchildren. Any celebration of Winchester thus – England should include those members of “Rejoice King Æthelstan lives, this King Alfred’s family who played a role in England is now complete.” England’s creation. A turning-point was 12 July 927. It was Probably the greatest problem with the day on which the English people had arranging an 1100th Anniversary is that realised the idea of a home for themselves King Æthelstan is relatively unknown, a fact – Ænglaland (a term not used regularly which to me makes his achievements seem until much later). The glue which held their all the greater. Part of the reason he is little homeland together was a common language – known is that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Old English (as we now call it) and a shared the definitive history of England written at culture. King Æthelstan insisted that all his that time, barely mentions him. On the death Alfred the Great laws, when read aloud in English, could be of his father (Edward the Elder) in 924 the
26 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND There is then an element of the tragic about Æthelstan, a man who was the first King of England but perhaps little remembered or loved by his near relatives and contemporaries. His tragic circumstances may explain why he freed his own slave – Eadhelm after his coronation in 925. To me as a distant observer he seems a very Christian man, and what better way to show one’s love of a fellow man than his manumission. To me this indicates a very elevated spirit, it suggests Æthelstan as a devout perhaps even holy man.
1100th Anniversary – can you help? At the time of my writing England’s 1100th Anniversary is just over seven years away, which may perhaps seem a long time to be organising something. Yet it was in 1888, thirteen years before the event, that Mr. Frederic Harrison first raised the idea of commemorating King Alfred’s death. So, I make no apologies for starting early! I believe that our society is ideally placed to initiate and lead a national celebration of England’s 1100th Anniversary, and indeed I hope that our members do get behind the idea. Let us engage the nation in a discussion about where England and the English people have come from. We should not be afraid to confront our history, warts and all! The first thing that I believe we should do is to get as many people together to see whether the idea is viable and if so, what form the commemoration should take. We ought to elect an Organising Committee if we are going to make this celebration happen. To this end I had begun trying to organise a meeting before I was overtaken by the Covid-19 crisis. It is still unclear what effect this is likely to have on the rest of 2020 so I have now shelved plans for a meeting until Spring 2021. In the meantime though I have created a Æthelstan presenting a book to St Cuthbert. The earliest surviving portrait of an English king Facebook page (search Englands-1100th- Mercians very quickly appointed Æthelstan So, to understand King Æthelstan’s Anniversary) which I hope members and supporters will visit and contribute to. as their King, but this was not the case with achievements we should perhaps also Discussion of the contribution of King the earls and thegns of Wessex. The leading appreciate that he may not have enjoyed Æthelstan to our history and heritage is men of Wessex initially favoured his half- all the elements of family life that were welcomed, as are suggestions as to the form brother, Ælfweard, whose mother was the available to his contemporaries. When of the commemoration. second wife of Edward the Elder. Ælfweard Æthelstan was young (perhaps only five or My last thought is about what we should though died within two or three weeks of his six) his father re-married and he was sent do to commemorate our 1100th Anniversary. father, so he was never crowned. away to live with his aunt Æthelflӕd in I would like a wood of native English trees It seems likely that Æthelstan was not Mercia. She was responsible for Æthelstan’s to be planted in Æthelstan’s honour. Man’s favoured by his extended family based in upbringing, much more so than his father. profound effect on his environment is a major Winchester, and it may well have been the He does not seem to have suffered by this issue of our time, and one of the best ways case that he became King Æthelstan in fact as Æthelflӕd was an accomplished to try to mitigate this is to plant trees, their September 925 as a ‘stop-gap’ candidate leader of men, she more than anyone must nature’s great carbon storehouses! whilst his half-brothers grew to adulthood. have taught him ‘state-craft’. It seems to me Ideally this wood ought to be 1100 acres The early English people did not like Kings that although Æthelstan was a member of a in size; but if this is too much for any one who were still children, and Æthelstan great family, by the time of his accession he place to bear, then for each county to create a had shown his ability to lead men on over was somewhat of an outsider. The families smaller wood and that in total they add up to several years. This matter of him being a of Edward the Elder’s second and third at least 1100 acres. If we could then persuade ‘compromise candidate’ for King may also wives did not necessarily want him, as they the National Trust or the Woodland Trust to explain why he never married or had any were keener to push the claims of their own accept this wood in perpetuity, that would be children, as far as we know. children. wonderful.
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 27 BOOK REVIEW by Bob Peedle MBE, Fellow of The Royal Society of St. George Good For Society by Martin Parsons ISBN: 978-1-9736-8351-3
in which the author seems to enter into a and angles of attack. Irrespective of one’s debate with himself. Throughout the work own viewpoints this is a book well worth he quotes from the King James Bible. studying – it is not a storybook but a first The supportive Foreword is by Rt Hon class academic debate irrespective of your Lord Tebbit, but a very good description personal standpoint or pre-conceived ideals. of the work comes from Rt Hon Ann Perhaps one should read the author’s Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP conclusions towards the end of the book and Shadow Home Secretary who said “This first. His final paragraphs look at what he is a magnificent, detailed and authoritative perceives as significant challenge to our examination of the relevance of Christian historic national values, such as Islamism teaching to today’s Conservative Party. even and liberalism. He urges us to consciously when you do not agree with a deduction you affirm the value derived from our Judaeo- are still challenged.” Christian foundations as they provide a So one can assume that dedicated moral vision for conservatism. Martin Christian Tory Party members will receive Parsons is obviously worried about the wisdom and comfort from a book that future with his words “Today the nations of supports their beliefs. What about non the English speaking peoples stand again Christian and non Tory Party members? at a crossroads. They can either carry on as Well there is a military concept that you they are at present, unprepared for the storm have more power if you know all there ahead. Or then can: is to know about your opponents. Many “Stand at the crossroads and look; might see this as an attempt to justify God’s Ask for the ancient paths, influence and favour over Conservatives Ask where the good way is,, and their policies but take a view that it is And walk in it.” wrong. Each of the political movements is supported not just by Christians, but by About the Author many of other faiths and a multitude of Dr Martin Parsons has been an aid worker those who have no faith but may be Athiest in Afghanistan, teacher and academic. He It has been with some trepidation that I or Agnostic. has held senior leadership roles in education took on the task of reviewing this 680 page All that said, it makes a very good read both in the UK and overseas. He has book that seems to have religious and party whatever your views are. When looking been a passionate advocate for persecuted political bias which of course is against one at the political parties the author does not Christians especially Afghan Christians and of the long established mores of our Royal just concentrate on this country but looks those in Pakistan. He has degrees in both Society. We do not openly support any one at similar political parties across the world. Geography and Theology, a PhD in Islam political party. The sub-title is ‘Christian He introduces a balance in that liberal or and Christian-Muslim Relations and is a Values and Conservative Politics’. It would labour views and activities are not excluded fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. have been an easier task for me if it had from his debates. Historical development is He has written extensively for many been about Religion and Politics in general looked into deeply, with debate as to how political publications. He has dedicated his but the author wishes to highlight his view various subjects have been dealt with over book to those throughout the centuries who that the values of both Christianity and the years from education and defence to endured hardship, suffering and even death Conservative Politics are good for today’s health and human rights. to gain the freedoms we enjoy today and to society. Each of the twelve chapters is sub- those who gave their lives defending those From the outset this is an academic work divided to give space to a variety of subjects freedoms.
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28 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND RING OF LIGHT Supporting the Ring of Light NDAUNTED BY THE Society of St. George contributing. The George wrote a special Icon of Protection coronavirus outbreak, our friends St. George’s Day campaign then merged that shows our patron saint slaying a Uat the Order of St. George have with candle lighting on 25 April, for coronavirus-ridden dragon, for people to been continuing their worldwide activities ANZAC Day, so we were able to salute put in their doors or windows. on-line. our Australian and New Zealand friends If you would like a copy of the St. To celebrate St. George’s Day the in this year of important World War Two George Icon of Protection please send Order invited everyone to light a candle anniversaries. an SAE (stamped addressed envelope) in the evening as a sign of our worldwide With the Order’s usual international to St. George Icon, c/o Stumps Cottage, solidarity and hope in these troubled humanitarian relief work necessarily Tonbridge TN11 8JL, United Kingdom. times. on hold, the Order has also published a You’ll receive a copy of the icon for you With candles being lit around the world, resource page (www.george.st/covid19) to use and an additional copy for you to we formed a Ring of Light as a symbol of with advice on how supporters can help in send to a friend. (If you can include one our unity under the banner of St. George. their community. or more loose second class stamps to Photos of candles came in from Hungary, Since Old Testament times men and cover print costs, that would be helpful.) the UK, the USA, Ireland, Italy, Bosnia women have, in times of trouble, put For more information about the Ring & Herzegovina, France, Germany, and a sign of protection on their doors to of Light and the Icon of Protection please Spain, with many members of the Royal guard against evil. So the Order of St. visit www.george.st/ringoflight.html
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 29 ???
Lichfield Cathedral Staffordshire – Unemphatic England Derek Turner
RNOLD BENNETT opens his 1908 “Except to the initiated, Staffordshire celebrated counties, and at its southern end novel Old Wives’ Tale describing the remains a mystery. Even to the initiated it eliding into industrial West Bromwich, A“natural, simple county” surrounding reveals its secrets slowly. . . . Its cathedral Walsall and Wolverhampton, that tranche his Five Towns – a quiet countryside is under-estimated, its parish churches subsumed in 1974 into the bland new ‘West containing “everything that England unknown. Its castles are unheard of, its great Midlands’. Insofar as Staffordshire impinges has”, from hideous industry to Arcadian houses and gardens too little visited.” on wider awareness, it is often in unedifying tranquillity. Staffordshire, he emotes, “is connection with Stoke-on-Trent, long sadly England in little, lost in the midst of England, As in 1908 and 1978, so still in 2020. synonymous with mismanaged decline, unsung” – and all the better for being Part of the ‘problem’ is geography. or the Alton Towers theme park. But this unsung. Seven decades later, Henry Thorold Staffordshire is landlocked, its boundaries overlooked “England in little” has made restated the syndrome in his Shell Guide to marked by rivers in the north and east but many contributions to England in big. Staffordshire – elsewhere less obvious, surrounded by more Below the industrial and post-industrial,
30 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND sideways steps of the Dance, as the boy de Stafford, his descendants destined to play affects to fire arrows, are probably a pre- prominent parts in national history from the Norman reminder of the rights of the Hundred Years’ War on, marrying, supporting men of Needwood Forest. It was not only or subverting claimants or kings. By 1640, commoners who wished to conserve the the heir to the earldom of Stafford had fallen trees; one impecunious Georgian Lord Bagot, into “a very mean and obscure condition”, asked why he would not sell £50,000 worth and sold his title to Charles I for £800. of oaks, replied proudly “The Bagots are not Charles created a new viscountcy, but its timber merchants”. Other eighteenth-century possessor fell under suspicion during 1680’s luminaries were less sentimental, and the “Popish Plot” hysteria, and was beheaded. Forest had almost all been enclosed and grubbed up by 1804, this process rationalised The Martyrdom of Robert Sutton piously – Between 1640 and 1680, there had, of “An extensive forest is not favourable course, been civil war, and Staffordshire’s to the virtue and industry of its poorer religious divisions were complex. There inhabitants; it affords temptations to idleness had been sturdy resistance to Elizabethan and dishonesty.” reforms, imposed through such means as the 1588 martyrdom of Robert Sutton, who was Bagot’s Wood (according to a local diarist) executed “in a There is one extant tract, Bagot’s Wood, most villainous Butcherley manner by one and descendants of its one-time defender Abbots Bromley Antlers Moseley who with his axe cutt of his head still reside at Blithfield Hall, their coat-of- (while he had yet sence and was readye to the county is quietly rural, sometimes arms featuring appropriately another horned stand upp) through his mouth”. As late as archaically so. Palaeolithic axes, bone tools, ungulate, the Bagot Goat, probably brought Neolithic barrows, Bronze Age jewellery, and from the Rhône by a crusader Bagot, which 1620, Bilston was “much infected by popery hill-forts suggest human habitation predated persists in farm parks as a designated rare and infested with popish priests”, while the last Ice Age. The dominant Celtic tribe breed. The family’s motto is apposite – in 1624 Wolverhampton, hyperventilated was the Cornovii (probably meaning “People Antiquum Obtinens (“Possessing antiquity”). a Puritan preacher, “Rome’s snaky brood of the Horned One”), and they resisted Needwood still rustles in local toponymy, roosted and rested themselves more warmer Romans pushing slowly north through suffixed in Barton-under-Needwood, and safer and with greater countenance… forbidding terrain, its gloomy physicality acknowledged at Marchington Woodlands, than in any other part of the kingdom”. But suggested by the Romans’ name for Lichfield and honoured in absentia at Hanbury – Letocetum, derived from a Celtic word Woodend. Did Uttoxeter-born Henry Yevele meaning “grey wood”. “People of the (1320-1400), master mason at Westminster Horned One” rings true as ethno-descriptor, Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral, have vague as one of the most evocative sights to be memories of Needwood leviathans in mind seen anywhere in England takes place every as he upreared Perpendicular columns to September in Abbots Bromley. branching fan vaults?
Abbots Bromley Antlers The Staffordshire Hoard Although written accounts only go back Like the Romans, Anglo-Saxons battled to Robert Plot’s 1686 Natural History of through trees to conquer Staffordshire, taking Staffordshire, the Abbots Bromley Horn it for Mercia. At first worshippers of Wotan – Dance is unquestionably older. A twelve- remembered in Wednesbury and Wednesfield strong troupe – six men bearing reindeer – later they built churches at Ilam, Lichfield, antlers, Robin Hood astride a hobby horse, Stafford, and elsewhere, and a frequently Maid Marian, the Jester, a boy with a bow used palace at Tamworth. An estimation of and arrow, a triangle-player, and a musician – seventh-century importance can be gauged take the antlers from the parish church early from the Staffordshire Hoard, found in 2009 in the morning and spend the day making an near Lichfield, 3,500 pieces adding up to exhausting eight-mile perambulation with fifteen pounds of gold and silver, the largest many halts to dance at villages and houses, Anglo-Saxon treasure ever discovered in gathering money along the way for local England – a notably martial assemblage of good causes. The horns, which have been bosses, buckles, gems, panels, rivets, studs, carbon-dated to circa 1065, are mounted sword hilts, pommels and scabbards, and on carved wooden heads and supported by wire. But they were unable to resist the hand-staffs that rest on the shoulders. Support following century’s Danish “Great Heathen is necessary; the largest pair, borne by the Army”, which captured and long kept central lead Dancer, weigh twenty-five pounds and northern Staffordshire, while the rest was and have a span of thirty-nine inches. The subsumed into Wessex. antlers are also weighed down with ancienter War passed across again – Wessexers- connotations – divinity from Cerunnos becoming-English against Danes, these new and Pan up to the horned Moses, fertility, English against Normans, the rebellious nobility, pride, power, protection, wilderness shire feeling twice the mailed malice of – psychic reverberations from the old the Conqueror, only becoming inured after Statue of Blessed Robert Sutton over the font of impenetrable forest associated with Gawain 1070’s dread “Harrying of the North”. The Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic Church, and the Green Knight. Normans too transmuted, emblematised by Lutterworth; the church where his relics are now The totemic advances and retreats and the knight Ralph de Toeni’s rechristening as housed
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 31 the county had also been an early centre of mine in an English battle – and the King held dissent. Edward Wightman, the last heretic it thereafter until the end of the war. burned at the stake in England (1612), came from Burton-on-Trent – and there were Izaak Walton strong Presbyterian, Baptist and Unitarian The end of the first phase was in 1648, presences. George Fox visited Lichfield in its scene Uttoxeter, where the last major 1651, and in his Journal recorded a vision Royalist force in the field, commanded by he had, of blood flowing through the streets the First Duke of Hamilton, surrendered while he went up and down crying “Woe to to Parliament’s General John Lambert. the bloody city of Lichfield”. Hamilton had always been more interested Peers were naturally royalists, but the in Venetian paintings than British battles, Protestant gentry leaned towards Parliament, who confessed he was “To Much Bewiched while rank-and-filers followed the leads with Thoes Intysing Things”, owning 300 by of landlords. A mob of desperately poor 1643. It would have been better had he been moorlanders armed with fowling pieces and less dilettantish; he was decapitated in 1649, clubs, and led by someone styling himself and some of the Royalist volunteers captured “The Grand Juryman”, failed to dislodge with him were impressed into military service Stafford’s royalist garrison in February for the Republic of Venice, an ironic twist 1643. All were preyed upon and plundered they could doubtless have dispensed with. In by King and Parliament alike, and churches 1651, a Stafford man named Izaak Walton Portrait of IzaakWalton by Jacob Huysmans, were desecrated, most notably at Lichfield, played a powerfully significant role after the c. 1672 whose ancient three-spired church in red Battle of Worcester, entrusted with custody of sandstone was captured in March 1643 by Charles II’s “lesser George” jewel, which he the poor, burned twice but was restored by Parliamentary troopers, after a siege during helped convey to the exiled monarch. the town. It is now a museum dedicated to which their leader Lord Brooke was killed, Two years later, Walton published an the biographer’s own life, and the history shot through the eye utterly unmilitary of fishing, its sequestered appearance sadly by a deaf-and-dumb masterpiece, The affected by the rush of trains running between sniper on the spire, Peers were naturally Compleat Angler, Stafford and Stoke – urgency at odds with his appropriately on St. Royalists, but the Protestant the second most limpid placidity. Chad’s Day (Chad reprinted book in is Lichfield’s patron gentry leaned towards English. Walton, saint, and an eighth- who had already Samuel Johnson century copy of his Parliament attained celebrity Staffordshire’s most brilliant product was an Gospels is still used as biographer admirer, engaged by Walton’s personality, for special services). of Donne and struck by his skill, and sympathetic to Revengeful Roundheads subsequently Wotton, and knew Aubrey, Browne, Evelyn, his politics. Samuel Johnson emerged “broke up the pavements, polluted the choir Jonson, Milton, and Pepys, kept editing and disconcertingly silently into life in Lichfield with their excrement, every day hunted a reissuing the book for twenty-five years. on 18 September 1709, and was baptised cat with hounds throughout the church, The consolidated text starts in the Home hastily at home in case he did not live. Soon delighting themselves in the echo from the Counties, its protagonist (Piscator) stretching his bookseller father and doting mother goodly vaulted roof, and to add to their his legs “up Tottenham Hill” to strike up realised their son was not only physically wickedness, brought a calf into it, wrapped in conversation with a falconer (Auceps) and resilient, but even a child-prodigy. Johnson linen, carried it to the font, sprinkled it with a huntsman (Venator). They dispute good- was bored by his father’s trade – so absorbed holy water and gave it a name in scorn and naturedly about the merits of their pursuits in perusing the books that he ignored derision of the holy sacrament of baptism.” to delightful effect, retreating into rusticity customers, and on one occasion refusing to Following the Battle of Hopton Heath as antidote to 1642-1651’s horrors. Walton’s man his father’s stall at Uttoxeter market. near Stafford later that month, Prince Rupert advice is often of doubtful utility, but as This pricked at his conscience for decades, as recaptured the city – the first use of a land literature it is priceless; as Venator remarks to he confided in 1784, impelling him to make Piscator, “Your discourse seems to be music, a solitary penitential journey to Uttoxeter, and charms me to an attention”. around 1780, where he stood in the market square for several hours, hatless with his head The River Dove down in heavy rain, seemingly oblivious In Part II, the scene shifts to the River of public curiosity and impervious to the Dove, “one of the purest crystalline streams elements. Did the goggling locals know that you have ever seen”, which delineates the the large, ungainly lunatic was “Dictionary Derbyshire-Staffordshire border. The Dove, Johnson” of European fame, doyen of famous for trout and grayling, was also English letters? haunted by Walton’s young friend Charles Whatever his feelings about his father’s Cotton, who raised a Fishing Lodge on business, Johnson returned to Staffordshire its brink, with his and Walton’s initials after Oxford, to open a school at Edial. One intertwined above its door, and contributed of his three (!) pupils was another Lichfielder, a section on fly-fishing to the expanded David Garrick, who persuaded Johnson to Angler. Walton had in 1644 bought land swap provincial pedagogy for a wider stage. at Shallowford, on the Meece Brook near But Johnson often returned, and retained his Stafford, although he had to spend much accent; Garrick would mimick him, Boswell time in London (and would be buried in relates, Winchester). His house, which he left to the “. . . squeezing a lemon into a punch-bowl, people of Stafford, its rent to be used for with uncouth gesticulations, looking round
32 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND jasper, and plaques representing “Illustrious perpetual vortex of agitation”. Peel was Moderns”, including Johnson. (A less calming the country – the opposite objective modern claim to fame was the White Rabbit of Shakespeare’s Earl of Richmond (later of Etruria, a ghostly lagomorph that was Henry VII), in King Richard the Third, who seen in a secluded grove, accompanied by while encamped outside Tamworth, exhorts human cries for help – popularly supposed to his “Fellows in arms, and my most loving be the revenant of a murdered fourteen year friends, / Bruis’d underneath the yoke of old.) Many of Wedgwood’s designs stemmed tyranny” to rise against the “foul swine” from Sir William Hamilton, art-obsessed occupying the throne. Peel was interested ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples, in actual swine – the Tamworth pig, whose husband of Nelson’s Emma – and distant bloodline the two-time P.M. oversaw in rare relative of Charles I’s equally aesthetic Duke spare time at Drayton Manor. of Hamilton. Even more unusual animals are reported The fortune Wedgwood amassed from Cannock Chase, a 26 square mile cascaded down descendants, and would expanse of heathland southeast of Stafford allow a grandson, – lonely despite the a certain Charles proximity of large Darwin, leisure time villages, traces of to formulate his Trentham near Stoke must centuries of mining, ideas. Entangled in be the only place in England grazing and army here are faint echoes training, and many of cauldrons, pots where one can walk among visitors. When I and vessels, ancient Barbary macaques traversed it, for Samuel Johnson at Uttoxeter symbols of life – and hours I saw no-one, clay, from which men and had long silent the company and calling out, ‘Who’s for were once thought to have come. There were moor tracks, soughing Scots pines, odd rock poonsh?’” revolutions rather than evolutions when formations, brown ponds, small valleys, It is also surmised that the Happy Valley in we visited – a young man was performing and seven foot high bracken to myself, two Rasselas was inspired by Dovedale. Lichfield parkour in the centre of town, as oblivious to dogs, and fallow deer (thoughts of Abbots is proud of him, his birthplace a museum, passers-by as Johnson had been at Uttoxeter, Bromley). In under suffocating bracts and outside which is a bronze of Johnson seated they as unheeding of the daring athlete as the contorted trees, I found a ‘face’ in birch bark. as if enthroned, with plinth panels showing peasants of the dying aeronaut in Bruegel’s Signs warn of “sudden mining subsidence” him at mythologised moments – the three Landscape with the Fall of Icarus. and names like Camp Field, Dumps Covert, year old on his father’s shoulders listening Trentham near Stoke must be the only Dark Slade, Cold Man’s Slade, Dick Slee’s fixedly to firebrand Cannock clergyman place in England where one can walk among Cave, Gospel Place, and Deadmans Walk Henry Sacheverell, raised on other shoulders Barbary macaques, 140 of them living semi- suggest crepuscular history. as scholar, by admiring classmates, and ferally among tangled trees at the edge of a There is shadow indeed – a model World in1780 at Uttoxeter, when for a change the Capability Brown dreamscape, disconcerting War I battlefield constructed by prisoners- world weighed heavily on him. I bought a as monkeys always are in their similarity to of-war and briefly exposed in 2013 before secondhand Oxford University Press Greek- and utter difference from us. Where monkeys being reinterred, a German cemetery, a Katyń English Lexicon in his birthplace’s bookshop, now search each other for lice or look memorial, and the ruins of the Pagets’ aptly provoked by Johnson’s parapsychological dignifiedly into futurity, was once a ducal named Beaudesert. There is also folk horror, proximity into some vain hope of self- palace, home to Leveson-Gowers from 1540 oddly comforting eeriness – the wolves that improvement. to 1907, rebuilt by Houses of Parliament padded here into the 1280s transmogrified architect Charles Barry – “in its own way into werewolves and Gabriel Hounds, tales Josiah Wedgwood architecturally as important”, concedes of the Wandering Jew, big cats, black- As Johnson was setting the way we spoke, usually nil admirari Nikolaus Pevsner. eyed children, a mini-Sasquatch called smoke came to Stoke. Pottery had always Trentham’s owner, the Duke of Sutherland, the Man-Monkey (thoughts of Trentham), been made thereabouts (there are Bronze was so rich that in 1873 the Persian Shah told will-o’-the-wisps, knockings in mines, Age beakers in Stoke museum) thanks to the the future Edward VII “you’ll have to have spaceships, murders, satanism, vanishings local availability of clay, salt, lead and coal. his head off when you come to the throne”. and appearances – like at the Four Crosses, But now, Stoke and nearby villages started Yet by 1907, the house was unliveable, hyperbolised by the Daily Star in 2014 as to become an entity, “The Potteries” – a because of the stench from the industry- “The haunted pub everyone’s too scared to choking sprawl of grimy factories and bottle- defiled Trent, a victim of Stoke’s success. The buy!” shaped chimneys issuing an endless variety family decamped, the contents were sold, and Postmodern creepypastas, premodern of crockery, from naive earthenware flat- most of the structure demolished, leaving a leitmotifs of belonging and loss, old wives’ backs for cottage mantelpieces to exquisite great emptiness in manicured space – and on tales and Prometheanism – I thought as I neo-classical designs coveted by royalty. the Stoke road a great gateway to nothing, walked through a net-curtain of rain that These latter were produced by Burslem- and an 1807 mausoleum in the severest Staffordshire was neither “natural” nor born Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795), Greek style, a suitably Wedgwoodian coda. “simple”. But Bennett was right that it could capitalising cleverly on the 1760s revival More everyday evolutions than Darwin’s stand for all England – anomalous, engaging, of interest in classical antiquity, combining were seen in Tamworth, where Sir Robert indeterminate, wrapped up in irony and romantic retrospection with new materials Peel was M.P. from 1830-1850. His 1834 understatement. and glazes, and pushy sales techniques. His Tamworth Manifesto is credited with Derek Turner is the author of the novels Etruria works poured out boxes, bowls, reviving the Tories after the 1832 Reform A Modern Journey, Displacement and candelabras, cups, dishes, plates, reliefs, and Act – a politic blend of accepting reforms Sea Changes, and reviews for journals vases in generic Hellenic vein on a variety with restated antidisestablishmentarianism including The Spectator and Economist. of materials, famously ‘black basalt’ and and opposition to what Peel called “a His website is www.derek-turner.com
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 33 Celebrate St. George's Day -- 23rd April 2021 at the spectacular St. George’s Day Ball and Gala Evening featuring
One of the country’s elite military bands (To be confirmed) plus The Divine Co. Flag and Ribbon Dancers and much,much more
As an example only, this photograph shows the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines CTC entertaining guests at a previous event.
Friday 23rd April 2021 (Joint hosts: RSSG and The Rotary Club of Swindon Thamesdown) De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel, South Cerney, Cirencester Doors open 18:00 Call to dinner 18:45 Gala 21:00 Carriages 01:00 Dress code: Black tie or uniform Red & white theme preferred but not essential Grand Auction ♥ 250 prize tombola ♥“Open the box “event Price £75 per person – individuals, groups or tables of 10 or 12 Welcome drink & three course dinner Gala entertainment & Mini Proms Dancing to a live band and DISCO Tickets are expected to sell rapidly. To avoid disappointment Hotel rooms available reserve your space on the booking form shown opposite. C34oaSTc hGEORGEes w eFORlco ENGLANDme Thank you. Celebrate St. George's Day -- 23rd April 2021 at the spectacular St. George’s Day Ball and Gala Evening PROVISIONAL BOOKING FORM featuring ST. GEORGES BALL AND GALA NIGHT One of the country’s elite military bands (To be confirmed) on Friday 23rd April 2021 plus at De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel South Cerney The Divine Co. Flag and Ribbon Dancers I would like to attend this event and have indicated the required number of tickets in and much,much more the table below. I understand that this is a provisional booking and that a full information pack will be sent to me in due course.
Type of ticket Quantity Please post this form to: Individual tickets The Royal Society of St. George
Table for 10 people P.O. Box 397 Table for 12 people Loughton IG10 9GN Name…………………………………..... FTAO The General Secretary Signed…………………………………… or e mail to: e mail……………………………………. [email protected] Best Tel. No..…………………………… As an example only, this photograph shows the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines CTC entertaining guests at a previous event. 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 Friday 23rd April 2021 (Joint hosts: RSSG and The Rotary Club of Swindon Thamesdown) gift of money or property you may also reduced your Estates inheritance tax liability. The options for a donation, in your Will, are: De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel, South Cerney, Cirencester • A Legacy of a specific sum; • A Bequest of specific property; Doors open 18:00 Call to dinner 18:45 Gala 21:00 Carriages 01:00 • A Bequest of the residue of your Estate or a Share of it with other charities or individuals. Dress code: Black tie or uniform What to do to help us in your Will: Red & white theme preferred but not essential lf you wish to include a donation in your WILL please consult your Solicitor. Members of the Society can take advantage of a 50% discount offered by Omni Lifetime Planning Grand Auction ♥ 250 prize tombola ♥“Open the box “event See advertisement below for details A simple form of Legacy might include the following words: Price £75 per person – individuals, groups or tables of 10 or 12 “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) Welcome drink & three course dinner 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” Gala entertainment & Mini Proms This wording can easily be adapted to cover the Bequest of a Property or of All, or Part of, the residue of your Estate. Dancing to a live band and DISCO Tickets are expected to sell ln any case of doubt please ask your Solicitor or get in touch with the Society’s Administration. This is especially appreciated if you rapidly. To avoid disappointment intend to lay down conditions as to how the Bequest should be used. Hotel rooms available reserve your space on the booking form shown opposite. Coaches welcome Thank you. ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 35 NEWS
Jeffrey’s fundraising efforts were recognised after he was awarded an MBE in 2010 for his voluntary services and received praise from former Prime Minister Theresa May who said Jeffrey had “inspired millions of people”. Speaking of his achievement and future plans, Jeffrey said: “It has been wonderful to visit so many amazing care homes to see first-hand the high-quality care they provide. I was always received with enthusiasm and everyone I met was so friendly. “While doing the challenge I received many words of encouragement, including friendly waves, thumbs up and car horns tooting. I have also given away handkerchiefs since the lockdown began to bring a smile to people, must be about 300 now! Bingley veteran has been welcomed with enthusiasm and “The Care Workers’ Charity is an support by team members. One home exemplary organisation who provide crucial Jeffrey Long, raises noted how Jeffrey’s campaign was deeply support to our social care heroes. It’s been over £1,500 for impactful and that staff were amazed by his an honour to support them during this continued efforts. testing time and I look forward to raising charity Receiving £1,628 through online and more money as Jeffrey’s Walk for Carers EFFREY LONG, MBE, a military and offline donations, Jeffrey says he will continues!” Jfundraising veteran from Yorkshire, has continue walking if donations continue to Emily Barnett, Partnership and Events raised £1,628 for The Care Workers’ Charity stream in. All proceeds from his walk will Manager at The Care Workers’ Charity said: after a gruelling 100-mile walk. be donated to The Care Workers’ Charity, a “Jeffrey’s Walk for Carers has been The challenge, named ‘Jeffrey’s Walk for charity who provide current and former care a remarkable fundraiser for The Care Carers’, saw the eighty-eight-year old visit workers with crisis grants. Workers’ Charity. Jeffrey has been care homes in the Bradford District to raise ‘Jeffrey’s Walk for Carers’ is just the walking each day, meeting care workers awareness of the heroic efforts of social care latest charitable campaign the veteran has and spreading joy. It has been a pleasure workers. Racking up over 100 miles visiting embarked on. to follow Jeffrey’s journey, donate if you ten care homes over nine days, Jeffrey is Starting his charitable activities when he can to support Jeffrey and to support care now set to visit his eleventh care home, was 75, Jeffrey has gone on to raise over workers”. Currergate Care Home, on Thursday, 2 July £300,000 through daring challenges, such as To donate to ‘Jeffrey’s Walk for Carers’, at 3 pm. walking from London to Switzerland while please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/ At each care home he visited, Jeffrey carrying a 30kg backpack. fundraising/jeffrey-long-walk
Martin and Carol Coakley S ALL THAT HAD BEEN proposed Afor VE day for the branch and Haslemere and indeed anywhere else in the country was cancelled we decided to do something at home. Accordingly, Carol organised house dressing and a small tea party in Hazelbank Close with a select bunch of neighbours, see photos attached. A Spitfire flew over the house in the afternoon, ‘That Certain Sound’, we saw the Queen at nine o’clock and sang for Vera Lynn after that. The Union Flag overhanging the front door was flown in Haslemere on VE Day 1945 by the Nobbs family. Long time Haslemere branch member Joe Nobbs passed it to me when he sold his High Street shop a few years ago. The Stars and Stripes is mine, having been flown over The Capitol in Washington DC on the occasion of my birthday in 2019.
36 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND Jan and Phil Dunford of Farnham commemorated the seventy-fifth anniversary of VE Day by displaying their Austin cars, Merrythought and Matilda, for those passing by during their ‘lockdown’ exercise
David Thornewell sent this Yet who, undaunted, still proceed – Bravest of the Brave Own lives at risk and so aware – picture, of his flag decorations. Paul Hooley, 2020 The banners were originally flown To nurse those in the greatest need Whom fate’s entrusted to their care by his mother on VE Day 1945 Each time they don a mask or glove They too confront the terror rife Exists therefore no greater love Than that of those who risk their life To save another or comfort give To those about to say goodbye – Who may not have that long to live But will not, alone, be left to die The greatest of courageous acts Are shown by those with clearest eye Let those who follow not forget Of the grimmest of all certain facts – The selfless love each carer gave The knowledge they themselves For we will, forever, be in debt
could die To the bravest of the brave t
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 37 St Ives School – National Thank a Teacher Day EDNESDAY, 20 MAY was National WThank a Teacher Day and the children of St Ives School in Haslemere threw themselves into the day with typical gusto! Children sent in videos and drawings for their teachers, explaining their reasons for thanking them. Reasons ranged from ‘because you are the best teacher in the whole universe’, to ‘because my parents are rubbish at teaching’ and everything in between! Head Teacher, Kay Goldsworthy, said “We were thrilled to be inundated with videos and pictures of thanks and we loved them all. It’s no secret that remote learning has involved a huge amount of work for teachers, as well as the planning for the reopening of schools on 1st June, so the timing of National Thank a Teacher Day was perfect. It gave us all a real boost. Teaching is always about the children and seeing them all in photos and videos was wonderful. This is just another example of how St Ives is staying ‘Together Whilst Apart.’ ‘Together Whilst Apart’ is the school’s temporary motto, being used whilst the school is closed, and is forming a key role in all their planning – whether it is academic work, extra-curricular activities or pastoral care.
St Ives School Chalk “Being creative has always formed an integral part of a Drawing Challenge St Ives education and it is wonderful to see how the HIS WEEK, THE CHILDREN AT St childrens’ creativity is thriving Ives School in Haslemere have been T during this period of home taking part in a Chalk Challenge. learning. They have clearly had Whilst the school has been closed, due a lot of fun with this challenge to Covid-19, St Ives’ Head Teacher, Mrs and, by sharing them within our Goldsworthy, has been setting the children community, we are building on weekly challenges that are purely for fun and our spirit of keeping ‘Together to allow time away from screens and desks. Whilst Apart.’ This week’s challenge was to use chalk to ‘Together Whilst Apart’ is create a picture. Pupils have been so creative the school’s temporary motto, with the ways they have interpreted this being used whilst the school simple brief and Mrs Goldsworthy has been is closed, and is forming a thrilled with the results: key role in all their planning – whether it is academic work, extra-curricular activities or pastoral care. The school knows it is fundamental to keep the spirit of St Ives at the forefront of their children’s minds so they continue to feel involved and connected, ready for when they can be together again physically.
38 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND Walk for the NHS
N SALUTE TO CAPTAIN TOM, and Ito the incredible job that the NHS has done and will continue to do, I am dusting off my walking boots again and will walk 100 miles to raise money for NHS charities. Starting at the Medical Centre in Cranleigh, I will walk the ten miles to the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford, and back, every day for five days, to make the 100 miles. I haven’t set a date yet, but it is most likely to be the first week in October, while the weather is still reasonable. We will send out more details shortly, and put them on our website. I do hope you will support me, there can’t be a better cause. Joanna
St George’s Primary School, Wirral OBITUARY T ST. GEORGE’S Primary School Aon the Wirral, St. George’s Day has Ian White evolved over the past four years into a huge event for our children, staff and the local community. Last year, we organised a celebratory parade around Wallasey holding banners and shields that the children had created. Some of our students walked the parade playing the Djembe drum, whilst the St. George’s Day epic was sung throughout the streets! After our parade, we invited parents and carers back to our Topsite field to join our children for games, fun on bouncy castles, and delicious picnics. We had hoped to make the celebration this year even bigger and better than UST AS THE JOURNAL was going previous. However, our plans were a to press the members of the Seahaven little more low-key due to the Covid-19 Branch heard the sad news of the pandemic. Nevertheless, this did not J sudden death of branch committee deter our passionate emergency school member Ian White. Whilst watching children and our staff from celebrating the Across the school, and even those at television, in the comfort of his own home eponymous patron saint! home – from EYFS to Year Six – our along with his wife Jan, he suddenly and children delved into the life of St. George peacefully died. He will be greatly missed, and why England still commemorates the not just for his wise words on committee day. We came to school dressed in red and but his super support for the work of the white, and enjoyed a tasty picnic themed branch. lunch from our school’s Dragon’s Diner. It is not long ago that he felt well Children produced banners; bunting; enough to return to local politics and posters; beautiful artwork; lovely poems; became a district councillor and active and even amazing bakes! within his political party. He was a retired It was wonderful to see that, even in such London Police officer. strange times, our children and staff still Our feelings, condolences and love go embraced St. George’s Day wholeheartedly! to Jan, his wife and his loving family.
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 39 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
English courage – action, this day!
To the Editor of The RSSG Journal Napoleon’s own policies on slavery, incidentally, were far from clear. Dear Sir, The real purpose of the current We understand that yours are among (in iconoclasm is not to oppose slavery, our politically-correct times) one of our for there were numerous slaves in past few legally-permitted patriotic societies, empires (African kingdoms, ancient originally founded both to defend Queen Rome, the Islamic empire) living in and Country against subversion and to far worse conditions than those in the celebrate English achievements at home Empire before our Royal Navy enforced and abroad, and which rightly regards Lord their emancipation. The next pretext will Nelson as one of our great wartime leaders. be “racism”: Shakespeare, Darwin and As you no doubt deplore, Nelson and Churchill among the targets. The ultimate Drake are naval heroes whose monuments objective is to vilify, damage and replace have been vandalised or proposed for “White British” – and indeed “Western” demolition. It has even been suggested that civilization – as we have valued it. In fact, if the Trafalgar Square “Nelson” Column our Capital City already has a so-called is not easily blown up, the statue on top Diversity Commission to replace street should be replaced by a former communist names, and examine the “bygone” faces in terrorist from Africa. The Nelson Society our art galleries, etc. has refuted “slavery” and other accusations Surely England expects every man and against Horatio, but more could be said woman to do their duty fully to understand about his desire to prevent horrific atrocities and effectively to prevent this. as witnessed during the French Revolution Yours sincerely, and ex-slave Rebellions. His opponent Karin & Toby Craske, Norfolk
HISTORY Rule, Britannia the police allowed the statue of Sir Winston “advised” Bournemouth and Poole local Churchill to be defaced, authority that the statue of Baden-Powell On Saturday, 11 July, on the BBC Radio It was also appalling that a frenzied mob should be removed, as they (the police) Three programme, Music Matters, Chi-chi could take over the Bristol waterfront – with cannot find the strength to protect it. Nwanoku (OBE!) – a Professor at the Royal not a police office in sight – and destroy This is a deeply-worrying situation, Academy of Music – called for Arne’s (whatever the provenance of the piece, or and something needs to be done about it - work Rule, Britannia (originally from an the feelings of those present) a public statue. immediately. eighteenth-century opera on the life of The Government is giving the impression I look forward to your response. Alfred the Great) to be removed from the that it is appeasing mob-rule in Britain, and Yours sincerely Last Night of the Proms – the programme’s that the authorities have insufficient will to (Cllr) Stuart Millson presenter, Kate Molleson seemingly uphold the Queen’s peace. (Member of East Malling and Larkfield encouraging this idea, and comparing the Today, we learn that police have also Parish Council) removal to the toppling of statues. No mention was made of how the Jamaican baritone, Sir Willard White, proudly sang the piece at the 1999 Last Night, with Roderick Williams performing as soloist in the work at the 2014 Proms. Tom Tugendhat MP, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1 Ed: Rule, Britannia!” is a British patriotic song, originating from the poem “Rule, Britannia” by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. It is strongly associated with the Royal Navy, but also used by the British Army.
Letter to Tom Tugendhat Dear Tom, I would like you to raise with the Home Secretary, the issue of how a “demonstrator” (in actual fact, a rioter) was able, during recent disturbances, to climb onto the Cenotaph and begin the process of setting fire to the country’s flag – and also, how in the centre of the precincts of government, Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell t
40 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND HE PAST IS ANOTHER country and it is to our merit if we can consider it Tdispassionately. It is not to our merit to bow to hysteria and to decide that the only way forward is to obliterate the parts of our history that are less appealing. I have been amazed to hear educated and respected people talk in depth about which of our statues might stay and which should The Royal Society of St. George now be taken down. Or perhaps they should th 1894 to 2019 – 125 Anniversary all be removed and small discreet plaques The Premier Patriotic Society of England – founded in 1894 put in their place? Why? Does a statue Incorporated by Royal Charter Patron: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN that tells us something about this country’s Chairman: Joanna M. Cadman history take up so much room that we cannot leave it in place? Are we so poorly th une unable to view our country’s past that we have to have the temptation of glorifying it removed? Are we now such cowards that The ight onourable oris ohnson we must always bow to pressure from a ouse of ommons vociferous minority? ondon W My letter to the Prime Minister, asking for a reasoned approach to our country’s y email boris.johnson.mp parliament.uk and by post past has brought a response from the ear rime inister Minister of State for School Standards, who said that he ‘completely agrees that racism We deplore the level of discrimination and ine uality in this world, not only racial but religious and in all its forms is abhorrent and has no place sexist, which is deeply destructive of humanity and rightly promotes a great deal of anger. owever, in our society. Schools play a significant role we are very concerned at the current impetus to remove evidence of people of influence in order to in teaching children about the importance make reparation for our past misdoings. of having respect and tolerance for all cultures. The Department is committed to an There can be no doubt that, in the past, we, and every country in the world, have done things that we inclusive education system that recognises would not do now, but seeking to eradicate our history does not make amends, it simply destroys our country. and embraces diversity and supports all students to tackle racism.’ t may be the hurchill, aden owell, Gladstone, and many others have events in their family history He finishes by saying ‘is important that that are less than glorious, but that should not be allowed to detract from the debt that we owe pupils are taught how Britain has influenced them for what they did for their country and the ommonwealth. t is unnecessary for me to point and been influenced by the wider world. out that, without hurchill, we would almost certainly not have won the war against tyranny, A balanced history curriculum equips oppression and discrimination. Without aden owell, hundreds of thousands of children would not pupils to ask perceptive questions, to think have the life enhancing and character building focus that they do. hould their enormous critically, to weigh evidence, sift arguments, contribution to the country and the wider world that we live in now be wiped out – and, if it is, and and develop perspective and judgement. with it so much of our past and our history, who are we Fundamentally, it supports pupils to understand how Britain became the country it is today’. doing so, we pretend that they didn’t happen. We have to acknowledge that even our heroes have I do hope that this approach to how our doing so, we pretend that they didn’t happen. We have to acknowledge that even our heroes have children should view our country’s history will ensure that we can continue to have pride in our country, with all its flaws, its beauty and its nobility. contribution to the good of society and that, whilst we shouldn’t judge everything by today’s Joanna contribution to the good of society and that, whilst we shouldn’t judge everything by today’s the Government’s total annual expenditure. This surely says a lot about our ability to face our wrong doings the Government’s total annual expenditure. This surely says a lot about our ability to face our wrong doings
Joanna Joanna Joanna Cadman ChairmanJoanna Cadman Chairman
Administration Centre: P.O. BOX 397, Loughton, Essex IG10 9GN England Telephone: 020 3225 5011 Administration Centre: P.O. BOX 397, Loughton, Essex IG10 9GN England Email: [email protected]: 020 3225 Website: 5011 www.rssg.org.uk Adrian Jones’ St George and the Dragon, Facebook pageEmail: – www.facebook.com/RoyalSocietyofStGeorge [email protected] Website: - Twitter www.rssg.org.uk account - @RSStGeorge Hyde Park. Facebook pageJoin – www.facebook.com/RoyalSocietyofStGeorge us on LinkedIn – The Royal Society of St. George - Twitter Official account Group - @RSStGeorge.
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ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 41
50/50 CLUB 5 /5 CLUB
Support the Royal Society of St George Support the Royal Society of St George and win already been purchased the next nearest yourself cash prizes by joining the Society’s own number will be allocated. lottery – the 50–50 Club. On the first Monday of each calendar month The 50–50 Club was launched in January three numbers will be drawn from those 2011 and by the end of 2019 had raised more numbers sponsored during the previous month. than £12,800 in much needed funds to assist Fifty per cent of monies collected from those with projects to promote the Society and its sponsored numbers will be given in prize objectives. money, with the other fifty per cent going to the More participants will ensure more income for Society to achieve it’s four stated objectives and the Society and larger prizes. contribute to the Charitable Trust. Details of the Lottery are as follows: The prize money will be split into three prizes as The 50-50 Club takes the form of a monthly follows: First Prize: Sixty per cent; Second Prize: Lottery. Thirty per cent; and Third Prize: Ten per cent. To enter you can pledge to sponsor individual The Application/Sponsorship Form and Rules numbers between 1 and 400 for £5.00 each, per can be downloaded from the Society webpage: calendar month. www.rssg.org.uk The form is also available on the opposite page. There is no limit to how many numbers one person can sponsor but numbers will be Entries do not have to be purchased by allocated on a strictly first-come – first-served individuals. Maybe your Branch could sponsor basis. If number/s selected by members have some numbers?
To all 50/50 Club Participants, we are now able to pay you by bank transfer directly into your bank accounts, which will save you from having to go the bank to pay your prizes in. We will notify you by email if you have won a prize. For those of you who wish to take advantage of this please ring the office with your bank details and email address. Your bank details will be kept in the strictest confidence and destroyed once entered onto our banking system.
42 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: ......
Address: ......
...... Post code: ......
Tel no: ...... Email: ...... q I note that my details will be added to the RSSG database and will be used by the Society in connection with my membership and for no other purpose. They will not be shared with a third party. To enter you can pledge to sponsor individual numbers between 1 to 400 for £5 each per calendar month. MINIMUM DURATION 12 MONTHS. I/we wish to sponsor the following number/numbers in the Royal Society of St. George 50/50 club, commencing date:
...... at £5 per month for 12 months. NUMBER/NUMBERS I I I I I I I I NOTE: If the number requested is unavailable the nearest available will be allocated. I/we enclose a cheque made payable to The Royal Society of St George 50/50 Club for I number/s for 12 months = £……… or please fill in Bankers Order form for I number/s for the next 12 months.
BANKERS ORDER FORM – please print your bank details.
To the Manager: ...... Bank PLC / Building Society ......
Full address of branch: ......
...... PostCode: ...... Please pay to The National Westminster Bank now and on each month until cancelled the sum of:
In words ………………………………………… pounds sterling. Commencing Month: ……………… 2019.
To credit: The Royal Society of St George 50/50 Club. Account No. 66797586 / Sort Code 52-41-42. Please print your account details.
Your Account Name:......
Account No: ...... Sort Code: ......
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 The Administration Centre, PO Box 397, Loughton, IG10 9GN. Tel:020 3225 5011 Thank you for your support ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 43 ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE Omni Lifetime Planning Ltd specialise in Wills, ADVERTISING RATES BY Trusts, Asset Protection, Probate, Powers of APPLICATION TO HEAD Attorney and Funeral Plans. OFFICE We offer a 50% discount to members bringing the The Administration Centre, cost of a single will down to £75 and a pair of mirror P.O. BOX 397, wills down to £125. Loughton, IG10 9GN, England www.omni-lifetimeplanning.co.uk Tel: 01727 220053 [email protected] mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 3225 5011
Copy date for the December 2020 edition of Royal Society of St George St George for England New Address 31 October 2020 * * RSSG To submit copy contact Stuart Milson P.O. BOX 397 Tel: 07956 035821 LOUGHTON email: [email protected] IG10 9GN
DO YOU SHOP ONLINE? If your answer is yes, then you are in an ideal position to help raise funds for our Charitable Trust – and at no cost to you. Read on...
If you buy goods online or participate in grocery home shopping, then please check out the “easyfundraising” scheme below, as our Charitable Trust can get a donation every time a purchase is made through it by you. Simply go to: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/royalsocietyofstgeorgecharitabletrust If you then wish to participate, sign up with the Royal Society of St George Charitable Trust as your chosen charity, and continue shopping online as normal using this site as your portal. There are over 2000 participating stores which include; John Lewis, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Amazon etc. It’s absolutely free to you and our Charitable Trust can gain donations from the participating retailers of up to 2.5% or more of the value of your shopping when you use it. What’s more, they will send you a confirmatory email once the participating retailer has processed your transaction, letting you know how much has been donated to the Royal Society’s Charitable Trust on your behalf.
44 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND Application for UK Membership to the The Royal Society of St. George
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
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Note: This form is not to be used for Junior applicants under the age of 16.
I wish to apply for Membership of the Royal Society of St. George.
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Membership Fee*: Joining Fee Annual Fee Full Single £ 15.00 £ 20.00 Full Joint £ 15.00 £ 30.00 Youth (under 18 on January 1st) £ 0.00 £ 5.00 Life Membership £ 500.00 N/A Joint Life Membership £ 750.00 N/A Other (please see details in the journal or website) £ £
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Please arrange with your bank to pay by Standing Order Alternatively you can pay by Bank Transfer to: Account No. 00003854 Sort Code: 40-52-40
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Revision: 1st January 2019
This page is part of the Membership Application Form and concerns your personal privacy Pa e e laratio The Royal Society of St. George (RSSG) will hold certain personal information (known as ‘Personal Data’) about you. Personal data is i formatio from hi h ou as a i di idual a e ide tified. ithout this i formatio the is ot a le to i lude ou i its mem ershi .
The i formatio e ill retai a out ou de tit a d o ta t details: That i formatio ro ided ou o a e of this form A d if a i dire t de it or sta di order: etails of a a ou t. additio e retai details of our mem ershi t e ears of mem ershi a d su s ri tio a me ts.
o ill this formatio e used Authorised erso s ithi the admi istratio of the ro ess this i formatio i order to ommu i ate romote a d ma a e its a ti ities olle t a ual su s ri tio s a d for e eral admi istratio . f ou hoose to elo to a ra h of the authorised mem ers of the ra h admi istratio ill also ro ess our i formatio i order to arr o similar a tio s at ra h le el.
The RSSG will ensure: our i formatio ill e ro essed fairl a d le all . f for some s e ifi ur ose further erso al data is re uired it ill ot e olle ted ithout otifi atio a d terms of use. e siti e erso al data as defi ed i the e eral ata Prote tio e ulatio ill ot e olle ted or ro essed the ithout a full e la atio of its ur ose a d our e li it ritte o se t. ho do e share our data ith ith the follo i e e tio s the ill ot share our data ith a third art : There is s e ifi ritte o se t ou. From time to time it is necessary for the member’s database to be accessed for maintenance and upgrades by the service provider. This a ess is rote ted a le all i di o dis losure a reeme t. f ou are i a arti le i the t. eor e for la d our al or e site ut o l ame ra h a d o se t hoto
ter atio al urre tl the o l a ti it that rosses i ter atio al ou daries is data i e o erseas mem ers a d the distri utio of the our al. f a e e t arises re uiri our data e se t the e o d the the it ill o l our ermissio or le al s ruti .
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hat ri hts do ou ha e. roof of our ide tit : ou ha e the ri ht to see the erso al data that is held a out ou a d ha e a o ro ided to ou or someo e else o our ehalf i a ele tro i format a d at o ost. f ou elie e our erso al data e hold is i a urate ou a as to ha e it orre ted. here ou ha e i e o se t for the to ro ess our erso al data ou a ithdra that o se t at a time. ou a re uest our erso al data e deleted
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By signing this form I/we declare that I/we, understand and agree with the principles and terms of The Royal Society of St. George and agree to further its Objects as set out in the Royal Charter (as published in the Journal and at www.rssg.org.uk) and have read, understood and accept the privacy notice on this page:
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46 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND Revision: 1st January 2019
MEMBERSHIP AFFILIATIONS – DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
20% DISCOUNT OFF TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA AND ITALIAN NEW FOR 2020 – A FREE PERSONAL TAX REVIEW DISHES AT AVISTA, the Italian Restaurant at the MILLENNIUM HOTEL Contact Lloyd James, a qualified tax adviser with twenty years LONDON MAYFAIR. experience in tax Telephone 020 7596 3399 for the Italian food or 020 7596 3329 for a free tax review and if I can save you tax I will do so at a for the Traditional Afternoon Tea, which starts from £14.95 10% discount to my usual fee which starts at £90 per tax return per person and is served daily from 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm. Your only for RSSG members. membership card will need to be presented to take advantage Telephone Lloyd on 01793 827620 or of the above. email [email protected]
15% DISCOUNT ON ACCOMMODATION AT MILLENNIUM HOTELS. 15% DISCOUNT OFF THE ENGLISH TOASTMASTERS ASSOCIATION To take advantage of these discounts on accommodation and TRAINING COURSE The English Toastmasters Association are offering leisure break packages please state that you are a member of the Royal Society of St George when telephoning Monica 15% DISCOUNT off their fees to become a Toastmaster. The normal cost of Sanchez at Millennium Hotels direct on 0207 596 3138 training, annual membership and joining fees add up to £2,450 or emailing Monica at [email protected]. from the 1st April 2014, which includes £100 joining fee and £250 annual membership fee. MANY DISCOUNTS ON BOOKS AND TOURS: The courses are being offered at 15% LESS at £2082.50, A • 25% off Breese Books when ordered online. The largest SAVING OF £367.50. Training includes 3 full days after which producer of new Sherlock Holmes novels in the style of Conan further training is available on demand within the annual Doyle. Please visit www.baker-street-studios.com and quote membership fee. Meetings are held throughout the year with “RSSG25” two special meetings including breakfast and luncheon. These two special meetings are held in April close to St. George’s • 15% off historical location guide books ordered online such Day and in October around Trafalgar Day at the County Hotel in as Downton Abbey, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, Harry Chelmsford, Essex close to the Association’s HQ in Danbury. Potter and James Bond. Please visit www.baker-street-studios. Further training is available on demand and included in com and quote “RSSG15” the annual fees covering such subjects as marketing as • £50 off specialist detective tours to various areas related a Toastmaster, Masonic Ladies Festivals and Corporate to filming e.g. Downton Abbey, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Functions. With prices charged by Toastmasters generally Murders etc. Please visit www.detective-tours.com for more ranging from £250.00 to £750.00 per event, this is wonderful information. work for the right person and is greatly rewarding regardless of • £50 discount off Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery events the type of work that is undertaken. Please see: for small, medium and large party sizes. Please visit www. www.englishtoastmasters.co.uk murder-mystery.com If a Branch or group of members would for full details, email: [email protected], like to organise a trip to film locations or have a period costume telephone (01245) 222392 or 07971 409977. murder mystery please telephone Dr Antony Richards on (01223) 473025 10% DISCOUNT WHEN VISITING THE NATIONAL FRUIT COLLECTION at Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ. MRFLAG.COM Ltd A number of festivals and events are held celebrating British 15% DISCOUNT fruit, encouraging people to discover a wider variety of on all products except sewn flags. Telephone Kath the Sales delicious heritage fruit to eat and grow at home. These include Manager on (01792) 650044 or email Kath at sales@mrflag. a Blossom Weekend, Cherry Festival, Cider Festival and Apple com and state that you are a member of The Royal Society of Festival. They also offer courses on planning a fruit garden, St George. growing and pruning throughout the year. Guided walks are also available. For further details telephone (01795) 536250 or visit www.brogdalecollections.co.uk 10% DISCOUNT FROM OF CABBAGES & KINGS a source of design-led gifts and homeware by British based HOTEL AND CAR HIRE DISCOUNTS: artists, designers and crafts people. Please visit www. • 20% - 30% discount on hotel accommodation below similar ofcabbagesandkings.co.uk and enter code “ST GEORGE” offers available on public websites. when checking out. • 20% discount on car hire through Alamo and National • Your Society also benefits by receiving 2.5% on every 10% DISCOUNT FROM KNIT WITH ATTITUDE booking made with no extra cost to you. a small independent yarn shop that specialises in eco-friendly Please visit: www.membertravelspecials.com/RSSTG.aspx and ethically produced yarn and accessories for hand knitting and help your Society by making this your preferred means of and crochet. To receive a 10% discount please visit: www. saving money when booking hotels or car hire. knitwithattitude.com and enter discount code “St George” in your shopping cart before checking out. Alternatively please JOHNSONS STEAK HOUSE OFFER A 10% DISCOUNT OFF YOUR quote this code when visiting the shop at 127 Stoke Newington MEAL TO MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ST. GEORGE AND High Street, London N16 0PH. THE MILITARY FROM TUESDAY TO THURSDAY The newly built Steakhouse and Bar at Church Farm, Church Street, Old Hurst, Huntingdon, PE28 3AF serves home grown OMNI LIFETIME PLANNING LTD produce reared on the farm. Lunch is served Tuesday to 50% DISCOUNT ON WILL WRITING Saturday from 12 pm to 3 pm and dinner from 5.30 pm to 9.30 Bringing the cost of a single will down to £75 and a pair of pm with a Sunday Carvery available from 12 pm to 3 pm. For mirror wills to £125 for Society members reservations please telephone: 01487 824658 option 3, Email: www.omni-lifetimeplanning.co.uk Tel: 01727 220053 [email protected] or contact through Facebook email: [email protected] @johnsonsfarmshop.
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 47 BRANCHES LIST
BRANCHES IN ENGLAND Greater Manchester Sheffield Mr. M. J. Riley, Mrs Margaret Jennifer Clark, Secretary The All Party Parliamentary Group Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0114 264 0524 The House of Commons Email: [email protected] (Membership is only open to Lords, MP’s Halifax Shropshire and staff of the Palace of Westminster) Geraldine Carter, Hon Secretary Email: [email protected] Mr. David Knott, Chairman Barrow in Furness Tel: 01743 368 552 Mr. D. Ward, Haslemere Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Sara Jane Gray, Chairman., Southend-on-Sea Email: [email protected] Mrs V Weaver, Mrs S Hankers, E.mail: [email protected] Bath & District Email: [email protected] Rev. Robert Webb Chairman Tel: 01702 748 702 Tel: 01225 484042 Huntingdon Col (Retd) DH Bristow OBE DL, Sussex Blackburn and East Lancashire Tel: 01480 383166 Arun Agarwal, Interim Committee Mr John Williams, Chairman Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Leeds Swale www.rssgblackburn.org.uk Cllr Wyn Kidger, Chairman Mr Paul David, Acting Secretary Bolton Email [email protected] Tel: 01795 471 876. Email: [email protected] Mr. Chris Houghton, Chairman Leicestershire Email: [email protected] Mr. Leon R. Spence, Chairman, The Tower Of London Tel No: 0116 319 9508 (Membership only open to Yeomen and Bradford Email: [email protected] employees of the Tower of London) Mr J A Fergusson, Honorary Secretary. Warwickshire Tel: 01274 583654 Lowestoft Email: [email protected] Mr. A. Clive Benfield, Mr Brian Caton Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] City of Birmingham Waterloo Mr D Reynolds, Chairman Maritime Wessex Mr. Bob Smith, Chairman E-mail: saintgeorgeinbirmingham@hotmail. Chairman Mr. Mark Buckley Email: [email protected] com E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rssgbirmingham.org.uk Wessex North Dorset North Downs Dr Jack Skelton Wallace, President City & County of Bristol Mr. S. Millson, Chairman, Mobile 07923 962 650. Tel: 01747 825 388 Mr D Stinchcombe, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Wiltshire North Surrey Mr. Lloyd James, Chairman City of Liverpool Mr. Roger Felgate, Chairman Mr B K Boumphrey, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Northumbria Branch City of London Mr. A .J. Nicholls, Chairman, Mr. Stephen G. Lane, Honorary Secretary, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Nottinghamshire City of Wakefield Mr. Colin Slater MBE JP Hon. MA, President Mr. Reg West, Secretary. Tel: 01924 864 799 Email: [email protected] City of Westminster Plymouth & West Devon Mr. Alan Broomhead, Chairman, Mr. A. Romilly, E.Mail:[email protected] Email: [email protected] Radford OVERSEAS BRANCHES Danbury Mr Phil J Harwood, Abu Dhabi Mr. Richard Palmer FMETA C.Inst.S.M.M. Email:[email protected] President The English Toastmasters Mr. Paul Billany, Secretary Association, Rushmoor Email [email protected] Lt. Col Leslie G.A. Clarke - Chairman Mobile: 07971 409 977 Adelaide Telephone: 01483 810 492 Email: [email protected] Mrs D Bone, Email:[email protected] Website: www.englishtoastmasters.co.uk Mobile: 07710 230 379 Email: [email protected] Bangkok East Anglia Ms Laura Smith, President Seahaven Email: [email protected] Mr. John Stannard, President Mr. Robert A. Peedle MBE TD.,Chairman Tel: 01502 512 734 Tel: 01323 899 985 Brisbane Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mrs V Skinner, Email: [email protected] Fenland St Neots Mr. Brian Kierman, Chairman Mr B Chapman, British Columbia Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Stephen McVittie, President Telephone: 01945 463 774 Email: [email protected] Seven Hills Gloucestershire Mrs. Christine Hirst, Chairman California Mrs Margaret Fuller Telephone 0113 253 5647 Princess Karen Cantrell, Chairman Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
48 ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND BRANCHES IN ENGLAND Greater Manchester Sheffield Carolinian Nairobi OVERSEAS AFFILIATED Mr. M. J. Riley, Mrs Margaret Jennifer Clark, Secretary The Honorable Randy L Potts, Hon Chairman Mrs Janet Barlow (Secretary) ORGANISATIONS The All Party Parliamentary Group Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0114 264 0524 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] St George’s Society Of Toronto The House of Commons Email: [email protected] Nassau Halifax Robert Baines, President (Membership is only open to Lords, MP’s Costa Blanca Mrs Sally Varani-Jones, PO Box CB-12883, Geraldine Carter, Hon Secretary Shropshire Tel: 416 597 0220 and staff of the Palace of Westminster) Mr. R. G. T. Hunt MBE, Chairman, Nassau, Bahamas Email: [email protected] Mr. David Knott, Chairman Email [email protected] Email: [email protected] [email protected] Barrow in Furness Tel: 01743 368 552 Email: [email protected] Website www.stgeorgesto.org Email: [email protected] Paris Mr. D. Ward, Haslemere The Society of St George, Philadelphia Andrew M.G. Simpkin, President Email: [email protected] Sara Jane Gray, Chairman., Southend-on-Sea Dar Es Salaam Mr Roger Brown, Secretary, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mrs V Weaver, Mark Golding – President Email: [email protected] Bath & District Mrs S Hankers, E.mail: [email protected] [email protected] Port Elizabeth Women’s Branch Email: [email protected] The St George’s Society Of Baltimore Sandra Strang, Secretary/Scribe Rev. Robert Webb Chairman Tel: 01702 748 702 Limited Tel: 01225 484042 Huntingdon Delaware (USA) Email: [email protected] Col (Retd) DH Bristow OBE DL, Mr. Harry T Aycock, President, Sussex Mr. Andrew A. Lundgren, Sabah Tel: 01480 383166 Email: [email protected] Blackburn and East Lancashire Arun Agarwal, Interim Committee Email: [email protected] Mr M Steel, MJS-Services, Email: [email protected] The St George’s Society of New York Mr John Williams, Chairman Email: [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected] Denmark Executive Director Leeds Swale South Florida www.rssgblackburn.org.uk Mr. Simon C Mears, President Anna Titley, Executive Director Cllr Wyn Kidger, Chairman Mr Paul David, Acting Secretary Email: [email protected] Mr Terence Wright, Chairman Email: [email protected] Email [email protected] Tel: 01795 471 876. E.mail: [email protected] Bolton The St George’s Benevolent Society of Email: [email protected] Mr. Chris Houghton, Chairman Devonport Sydney Leicestershire Hamilton Email: [email protected] The Tower Of London Mrs Elizabeth Page, Mr P M Cavanagh, Email: [email protected] Mr John W.S.Naismith, President, Email: Mr. Leon R. Spence, Chairman, Email: [email protected] Tel No: 0116 319 9508 (Membership only open to Yeomen and Texas [email protected] Bradford employees of the Tower of London) Cheryl Rios, Honorary Secretary Email: [email protected] Georgia Mr J A Fergusson, Honorary Secretary. Email: [email protected] Warwickshire Col. John T. Trout, Treasurer AFFILIATED SCHOOLS Tel: 01274 583654 Lowestoft Toowoomba Mr. A. Clive Benfield, Email: [email protected] Staff and children of Camelsdale Primary Email: [email protected] Mr Brian Caton Mr. Bob Anderton, President, Email: [email protected] Ms Charlotte Christian, Commander School Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Camelsdale Primary School, School Road, City of Birmingham Waterloo Mr D Reynolds, Chairman Warwick Camelsdale, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3RN Maritime Wessex Mr. Bob Smith, Chairman Gold Coast E-mail: saintgeorgeinbirmingham@hotmail. Mr P Munson, School Tel No: 01428 642177 Chairman Mr. Mark Buckley Email: [email protected] Mr. Graham Rumble Email: [email protected] com E-mail: [email protected] School email: Website: www.rssgbirmingham.org.uk Wessex North Dorset Email: [email protected] Zimbabwe (Harare) [email protected] Dr Jack Skelton Wallace, President Mr. Brian Heathcote, President, Head Teacher: Sarah Palmer North Downs Halifax City & County of Bristol Mobile 07923 962 650. Tel: 01747 825 388 Email: [email protected] Mr. S. Millson, Chairman, Carol Dodds, President St George’s Primary School, Wallasey Mr D Stinchcombe, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] St George’s Road, Wallasey, Merseyside Email: [email protected] Wiltshire CH45 3NF North Surrey Hong Kong Tel: 0151 638 6014 City of Liverpool Mr. Lloyd James, Chairman Mr. Roger Felgate, Chairman Mr. Jim Wardell, President, Email : [email protected] Mr B K Boumphrey, Email: [email protected] UK AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS Email: [email protected] E.mail: [email protected] Headteacher: Mr. Bernard Cassidy Email: [email protected] English Toastmasters Association St Ives School Northumbria Branch Jakarta Mr. Richard Palmer FMETA C.Inst.S.M.M. Three Gates Lane, Haslemere, Surrey Mr. A .J. Nicholls, Chairman, City of London Eamonn Sadler, President Mobile 07971 409 977 GU27 2ES Email: [email protected] Mr. Stephen G. Lane, Honorary Secretary, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] School Tel No: 01428 643734 Email: [email protected] Website: www.englishtoastmasters.co.uk Nottinghamshire School Email: [email protected] Kansai Shropshire War Memorials Association Head Teacher: Kay Goldsworthy City of Wakefield Mr. Colin Slater MBE JP Hon. MA, President Mr A Gibson Mr Clive I Blakeway Gildersome Primary School Mr. Reg West, Secretary. Tel: 01924 864 799 Email: [email protected] E.mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Town Street, Leeds LS27 7AB Website: www.stgeorgekansai.com City of Westminster Plymouth & West Devon Tel: 01952 550 205 Tel: 0113 201 2450 Mr. Alan Broomhead, Chairman, Mr. A. Romilly, E.Mail:[email protected] Kuala Lumpur & Selangor, Stourbridge Society of St George Head Teacher: Mrs C M Hoyle Email: [email protected] Mr Keith Harris, Email: [email protected] Radford Sally Addington, President OVERSEAS BRANCHES Email [email protected] Email [email protected]. Danbury Mr Phil J Harwood, Mobile 07973 266 842 Abu Dhabi Website: www.stgeorgesmalaysia.com AFFILIATED UNIVERSITIES Mr. Richard Palmer FMETA C.Inst.S.M.M. Email:[email protected] The Commonwealth Games Council Mr. Paul Billany, Secretary University of Bolton President The English Toastmasters Lisbon Commonwealth Games England, Rushmoor Email [email protected] Mr. Aris F. Mattheou Association, Email: [email protected] Lt. Col Leslie G.A. Clarke - Chairman Mrs B Neasham MBE, Executive Director, External Relations Mobile: 07971 409 977 Adelaide E.mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7831 3444 Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01483 810 492 University of Bolton Deane Road Bolton Mobile: 07710 230 379 Mrs D Bone, Email:[email protected] Michael Simpson, Interim Committee, Victoria Cross and George Cross BL3 5AB Website: www.englishtoastmasters.co.uk Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Bangkok Association Tel: 01204 900 600 www.bolton.ac.uk Mrs Rebecca Charlotte Maciejewska, East Anglia Ms Laura Smith, President Madrid Seahaven Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mr. John Stannard, President Mr. Robert A. Peedle MBE TD.,Chairman Dr F. E. F. Price MBE AFFILIATED CADET GROUPS Tel: 01502 512 734 Email: [email protected] The Countess Mountbatten’s own Legion Tel: 01323 899 985 Brisbane of Frontiersmen Sea Cadets Staines and Egham Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mrs V Skinner, Legion Major Derek Bristow OBE DL MStJ BA The Lammas Park, Wraysbury Road, Staines, Email: [email protected] Melbourne Middlesex TW18 4TT Fenland St Neots Professor Anthony Bailey, Chartered MCIPD Public Affairs Officer, International and Telephone: 01784 469064 Mr. Brian Kierman, Chairman Mr B Chapman, British Columbia c/o The English Speaking Union, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Stephen McVittie, President Victorian Branch, Post Office Box 9427, Home Commands Telephone: 01945 463 774 Email: [email protected] South Yarra, Victoria 3141, Australia Email: [email protected] Wisbech Sea Cadets T.S. Falcon 373 Seven Hills The Order of St. George Officer in Charge: Jade M Merson, Gloucestershire Mrs. Christine Hirst, Chairman California Mombasa Stuart A. Notholt, Grand Scrivener 19 Sandyland, Wisbech PE13 1NX. Mrs Margaret Fuller Telephone 0113 253 5647 Princess Karen Cantrell, Chairman Mrs.V. Knight, Hon. Secretary, Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07341 337135 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone Number: 01892 871 662 Email: [email protected]
ST GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 49 All items are available to order on our SHOP WINDOW website www.rssg.org.uk
Payment may be made via PayPal to our email address, [email protected] If you don’t have a PayPal account please type paypal.me/rssg into your internet browser and click to take you to payments, by cheque or please call us on 020 3225 5011 to place your order over the phone. • All major credit or debit cards are accepted For branch officers' regalia, please contact the office
Ref: RSSG003 Ref: RSSG05A Ref: RSSG05B Ref: RSSG05C Ref: RSSG006 Miniature medal with Metal Gilt Enamel Pin Badge Metal Gilt Enamel Pin Badge Metal Gilt Enamel Pin Badge presentation pouch. Metal Gilt Enamel Bar Brooch Butterfly Clutch Fastener Screw Back Fastener Bar Pin Fastener 38mm x 27mm Medal to be worn on the 23mm x 25mm 23mm x 25mm 23mm x 25mm right breast. £10.00 £7.00 £7.00 £7.00 MEMBERS ONLY 23mm x 80mm MEMBERS ONLY MEMBERS ONLY MEMBERS ONLY £39.50 MEMBERS ONLY
Ref: RSSG062 St George Pin Badge Ref: RSSG007 Ref: RSSG025 Butterfly Clutch Fastener Hand Painted Heraldic Plaque Elegant Rose Brooch 20mm x 20mm (Armorial Bearings) 45mm x180mm with Presentation Box £5.00 £59.50 40mm diameter MEMBERS ONLY £22.50
Ref: RSSG014 Ref: RSSG009 Tie Slide Red Enamel Cuff Links in Presentation Box Ref: RSSG012 in Presentation Box 53mm x 28mm Navy Polyester Members 18mm diameter £17.50 Tie with Armorial Bearings Ref: RSSG13A £19.50 MEMBERS ONLY £14.50 Multi-Motif Shield Tie – Polyester MEMBERS ONLY £14.50
Ref: RSSG030 Ref: RSSG010 Ref: RSSG011 Ref: RSSG029 Small Blazer Button Black Embroidered blazer badge Navy Blue Embroidered blazer Large Blazer Button 15mm diameter with gold coloured wire badge with gold coloured wire 20mm diameter £3.50 100mm x 114mm 100mm x 114mm £4.50 MEMBERS ONLY £17.00 £17.00 MEMBERS ONLY MEMBERS ONLY MEMBERS ONLY
Ref: RSSG020 Soft Touch Metal Pen with Stylus Ref: RSSG031 Ref: RSSG032 Black Ink 2ft by 3ft St George’s flag 3ft by 5ft St George’s flag £4.50 with eyelets with eyelets £4.00 £6.00 Ref: RSSG15B Ref: RSSG016 Ref: RSSG15A 5 St George’s Day Greetings Cards Pack of 5 red RSSG window/car stickers 5 Blank RSSG Cards with Envelopes with Envelopes 77mm x 72mm 150mm x 150mm 150mm x 150mm £2.50 £5.00 £5.00 MEMBERS ONLY MEMBERS ONLY MEMBERS ONLY
Ref: RSSG018 Ref: RSSG017 Ref: RSSG022 A5 Menu Covers with Armorial Bearings Full Membership Certificate St George’s Day Envelope Stickers Packs of 10 £5.00 2 A4 pages – 130 stickers MEMBERS ONLY MEMBERS ONLY £2.50 £6.00
St GEORGE FOR ENGLAND DecemberApril 20192017
The Royal Society of St George Celebrating our past – looking to the future
In this edition The Patron Saint of England Rudyard Kipling William Harvey Hot Cross Buns
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF St. GEORGE – The Premier Patriotic Society of England Founded in 1894. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Patron: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II £3.50 Ref: RSSG019 Ref: RSSG024 Ref: RSSG021 Past copy of the St. George for England England my England Book A Treasury of all things English by Favourite Poems of England Journal By Jane McMorland Hunter Gerry Hanson Please contact the office for availability £14.99 £3.50 £9.99
Shop Window Order Form Please complete the order form and return it with your payment to: RSSG, P.O. BOX 397 LOUGHTON IG10 9GN. Please make your cheques payable to “The Royal Society of St. George”. Ref No. Description Qty Size Colour Price Total Price
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 and bank conversion charges which will be incorporated into the selling price. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE EMAIL YOUR ORDER TO [email protected] FOR PRICES, POSTAGE AND PACKAGING International Customers are responsible to pay for any additional costs such as duties, local taxes or custom clearance fees which may be imposed in their country of residence NAME ...... ADDRESS...... COUNTY ...... POSTCODE ...... COUNTRY...... EMAIL ...... TEL: ...... DATE ......
Total amount of Cheque £...... Great British Pounds (GBP) If you require any further information, please phone 020 3225 5011 or Email: [email protected] Payment may be made via PayPal to [email protected], by cheque or please call us on 020 3225 5011 to place your order over the phone. All major credit or debit cards are accepted For branch officer's regalia, please contact the office 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 April 28 February August 30 June All Prices shown are exclusive of VAT December 31 October
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
Are you interested in the Royal Society of St George? Application form on our website at www.rssg.org.uk Would you like to join us? Or telephone the office on 020 3225 5011
Royal Society of St George Mission Statement and Vision
Royal Society of St George Royal Society of St George Vision Mission Statement To be widely recognised as the premier English We will deliver our vision statement by supporting patriotic society; attracting members from all walks the increase of our active Branch network throughout of life; celebrating important dates in English history; England, the Commonwealth and across the world; supporting and encouraging the young; sharing and encouraging sustainable membership growth with the maintaining our Culture; Heritage and traditions; aim of doubling our membership by 2025; increasing awareness in the Society and what it stands for having a voice on issues that affect our country; and particularly amongst the young; ensuring the financial supporting charitable causes. security and stability of the Society with an effectively 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.