Ricardian Bulletin Magazine of the Richard III Society ISSN 0308 4337 March 2013 Ricardian Bulletin March 2013 Contents 2 From our Royal Patron Centre colour section (between pp 40 and 41) 2 From the Chairman i. The face of a king; A tomb fit for a king 4 Lesley Boatwright: obituary, tributes and ii The skeleton legacy iii The remains at the Greyfriars dig 8 Society news and notices iv The Blue Boar Inn; Recent Ricardian 12 Future Society events finds 13 Society reviews 46 The Man Himself: 14 Contributions to the Bulletin Richard III – a psychological portrait 15 Other news, reviews and events Mark Lansdale and Julian Boon 20 Research news 57 Aymer Vallance: an early Ricardian 23–45 Looking for Richard: John Saunders 23 The evidence from the Greyfriars dig 60 A series of remarkable ladies. 3. Jadwiga 27 Who killed Richard III? The debate Jagellonka, Duchess of Bavaria continues Lynda Pidgeon Rita Diefenhart-Schmitt 29 In at the death Ragnar Magnusson 61 A character reference for Richard III from 30 Leicester City Council and the search for an unlikely source Mark Dobson King Richard III Sarah Levitt 63 The Thameside Boar – another ‘dubious 32 Celebrations down under Rob Smith and device’ Geoffrey Wheeler Dorothea Preis 66 Ricardian crossword 3 by Sanglier 33 The discovery of Richard III– a review of 67 Correspondence Channel 4’s ‘The King in the Car Park’ 70 Book reviews and notices Kenneth Hillier 72 The Barton Library 34 Flavour of the month Richard Van Allen 73 Branches and Groups 35 That was the week that was Wendy 77 New members Moorhen 79 Recently deceased members 37 A day in Leicester Kay Fletcher 79 Obituaries 38 The king in the car park crowned: initial 80 Calendar reflections on the press and television 80 Late news coverage Bruce Watson and Geoffrey Wheeler 44 On the lighter side? Satirical swipes and graveyard humour Geoffrey Wheeler The Ricardian Bulletin is produced by the Bulletin Editorial Committee. © Richard III Society 2013. Individual contributions and illustrations © the contributors except where otherwise stated. Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd. For details on submitting future contributions, please see p. 14 Bulletin and Ricardian Back Numbers Back issues of The Ricardian and the Bulletin are available from Judith Ridley. If you are interested in obtaining any back numbers, please contact Mrs Ridley to establish whether she holds the issue(s) in which you are interested. For contact details see inside back cover of the Bulletin 1 From our Royal Patron he death of King Richard III marked the end of the era of the TPlantagenets and the beginning of the Tudors. The exact fate of the monarch’s body was open to speculation. Today it would seem that speculation can be laid to rest and the newly-identified remains can be examined forensically and scientifically and conclusions reached as to the manner of the king’s death. Although such study cannot verify the stories that have been handed down to us over the centuries, it can at least give us a clearer picture of the man for whom there have been many varied judgements, both biased and otherwise. The technical skill of those involved in this project should not be overlooked and special praise should go to the team of professionals who have brought more clarity to an important story in the long history of the monarchy. HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, KG GCVO From the Chairman ince we have been on tenterhooks following last September’s discovery Sof human remains on the site of the Greyfriars dig, to say that these past months have been momentous is something of an understatement. However, in February, the remains were confirmed as being those of King Richard and, as I wrote in the Bulletin Extra, this is historic and poignant. Once again, I thank all involved in the project to find Richard III and all those involved in the dig and its aftermath. The Society has received much publicity as a result of these events as well as a goodly influx of new members. Let me take this opportunity to give a warm welcome to those who have recently joined us. Welcome to you all. The events of the past six months have inevitably created a lot of work for the voluntary officers of the Society who, in many instances, have been working almost full time on Society business. As for me, my wife is beginning to forget what I look like; I’m either at work or at the computer! I must thank everyone for their commitment and seemingly tireless work. Some members have suggested that we have been ‘keeping you in the dark’, by not telling you everything we knew when we knew it. I’m sorry if people do think this but I can assure you it isn’t so. Unfortunately, while the dig was happening and while the scientific testing was being done, we were left uninformed, too – Channel 4 made everyone directly involved sign non-disclosure agreements – even I wasn’t allowed to be told and in that respect, I was as frustrated as you. When I was allowed to be told of some of things towards the end, I was also made to sign a ‘gagging order’. Be assured, as soon as we know anything, we are passing it on – that’s why we issued the Bulletin Extra as soon as we knew the results last month. This issue of the Bulletin proper is another bumper one at 80 pages, the maximum that can be held within the covers. There is full coverage of the results of the Greyfriars dig and the media frenzy that accompanied it, including another colour insert. (I now know the meaning of the expression ‘a media circus’, by the way!) For The Man Himself we have an important piece from Leicester University giving a psychological portrait of King Richard. It’s a long article but given its significance, we think this is justified. It helps us to understand a little better the man behind the facial reconstruction. We also have our usual extensive range of news, reviews, comment and other features. The obituary and tributes to Lesley Boatwright are a reminder that evidence-based research has 2 always been the bedrock of the Society’s mission. At a time when Richard III’s reputation is receiving so much attention, it is even more important to retain this balanced focus and, indeed, to strengthen it. To this end, we are supporting the Research Committee in its endeavours to see through to publication the many projects on which Lesley was working. We now have a splendid new website which is the result of a lot of hard work by the team responsible and I would like to thank everyone involved. It has a fresh new look and considerably improved navigation and content; and there will be further improvements over the coming months. Whilst recent months have, in many respects, been exhilarating, they have also been challenging, not least over where the king’s remains will be reinterred. The arguments have aroused much passion and have not been without controversy and misunderstanding. However, the decision has been made and Leicester Cathedral will be the king’s final resting place, a decision that we must now respect. The choice of Leicester Cathedral will not please everyone, and I understand the feelings of those who said it should be York Minster. However, it is important that King Richard’s reinterment is not surrounded by continuing controversy. His posthumous reputation has had more than enough of that for the past 500 years. The Society must not be seen to be squabbling over King Richard’s remains. Instead, we must all be grateful that he has been found and is now to receive the honour and dignity that is due to an anointed English king. The Chapter of York Minster made its position clear with its statement that: ‘The Chapter supports the terms of the Ministry of Justice licence and the wish of the Chapter of Leicester that Richard should be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral. The Chapter of York commends Richard to Leicester’s care and to the cathedral community’s prayers.’ The Society has put forward proposals and a design for a suitable tomb for King Richard in Leicester Cathedral (see the colour section in this issue, p. i) and, as we go to press, these are being considered by the Cathedral Chapter and the Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee, though the final decision will be made by the Cathedral Fabric Commission for England. The design commissioned for the Society is for a free-standing table tomb and features Richard’s boar, the white rose for the House of York and the cross of St Cuthbert, this being a symbol of Richard’s piety. If built, the tomb will be made in a pale honey-coloured stone, the colour representing Richard’s emergence from the obscurity of the unknown grave into the light of recognition and honour. To date we have received enough donations to cover the costs involved and in the June Bulletin we will provide a full update on the funding position together with news of any further developments. As I write we are looking forward to the Leicester conference which we promoted in the Bulletin Extra and is now fully booked. There will be a full report with photographs in June’s Bulletin. An exceptional year lies ahead, with the prospect in the spring of 2014 of the reinterment of King Richard’s remains. I promise we will try to keep members informed about the arrangements for this event.