Collage of 2019 meetings.

Sadly Ralph Richardson, one of our best loved members and a former Chairman, died unexpectedly in January.

Debate on Perkin Warbeck led by Judith Sealey; and talks on Churches in Richard's Day (Carol Southworth); Francis Lovell (Stephen David); Medieval Malvern Churches (Jane Tinklin); Richard III's Relationships with Women (Rebecca Wheddon); and Edward I (Max Keen).

Other meetings were the AGM, a Social Get Together, and Bring and Share Christmas Lunch at Upton Snodsbury with wine and juice bought from branch funds.

The branch had a stall on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July in the main marquee at the Tewkesbury Medieval Fair, courtesy of the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society. We made a £50 donation to the Society.

The branch made a donation of £75 towards the purchase of the Richard III gold half angel for Buckingham Old Gaol Museum instead of sending each other Christmas cards.

We visited Worcester Cathedral Library, Great Malvern Priory, Little Malvern Priory and Hanley Castle Church, and Minster Lovell.

Chairman Carol Southworth’s beloved husband Mike died in February.

We held the January and February meetings, talks on Caring for the Medieval Wounded (Kevin Goodman) and Constance of York (Anne O’Brien). Then the country went into lockdown to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus. We cancelled meetings and everything else including Tewkesbury was also cancelled. Tewkesbury and Bosworth both had virtual festivals online.

As the AGM was cancelled and members could not meet, everyone got a free renewal for the year.

In August we tried our first Zoom branch meeting, listening to a talk by John Ashdown-Hill about The Search for Richard III. In September Val Sibley went ahead with the trip to Kenilworth Castle with members having to make their own booking and do their own tour. A few turned up and could sit outside socially distanced for a chat.

In October Jane Tinklin spoke on Zoom about Thomas Habington. In November Philip Hume spoke on Zoom about Richard Duke of York and Edward IV as Marcher Lords. A few members of the Canadian Branch joined us each time. We finished the year as always with a Christmas party and quiz, but on Zoom this time.

Sadly Joan Richardson, Ralph’s beloved wife, died on 31st October.

Phil Stone, Chairman of the Richard III Society, died in December.

In January the branch sent a donation of £25 in memory of Phil Stone to MacMillan Cancer.

Meetings were held on Zoom all year apart from a visit to Raglan Castle in September and the Christmas Party at Upton Snodsbury in December.

Tewkesbury Medieval Fair was cancelled.

Members of overseas branches and other UK branches sometimes joined our Zoom meetings.

We had talks on Richard III's Marriage Policy by Stephen David; Medieval Pilgrimage with Reference to Worcester and Evesham by Richard Carter; Henry VI, King of England: Saint or Simpleton? by John Reid.

Pamela Benstead was announced as the 2020 Winner of the Richard III Society's Robert Hamblin Award.

The AGM was on Zoom and members paid to renew for the year.

Talks continued on Zoom with Ludlow and the Woodvilles and What Richard of Gloucester had to Fear by Stephen David; Church Chests in Medieval Society: Their Chronology, Construction and Significance by Rachel Anna Sycamore; Lady Margaret Beaufort: Saintly Mother or Scheming Dynast? by Carol Southworth.

Carol Southworth also gave her talk on Margaret Beaufort to the Richard III Society on Zoom.

Talks resumed on Zoom with The French Connection: Richard III, France and the Battle of Bosworth by Mike Ingram; Owain Glyn Dwr: Worcestershire Legend? Or Worcestershire Fact? by Heather Rendall.

Sadly member Roger Hendrick died in November, beloved husband of Rosi.

Steve David talked about Sir James Tyrell on Zoom

Other talks in person were:
Curious History of Hugh Conway by Julian Davey;
Ludlow Heraldic Roll by Philip Hume and Rosalind Caird;
AGM plus short talk on Wilton Diptych by Carol Southworth;
Bosworth- the Battle of by Eddie Smallwood;
The Fascination of Heraldry by Hugh Wood;

Tour of Bosworth Battlefield led by Eddie Smallwood;
Back to talks:
Talk on Arrow Church and Sir Hugh Conway by Julian Davey;
Beauchamp Talk Jane Tinklin;
The Neglected Duchess - Elizabeth Plantagenet, Duchess of Suffolk, 22 April 1444 to c. 1503 by Steven David;
Clandestine and Disparate Marriages by Lynda Pidgeon on Zoom;
Christmas Party At 12.30 Upton Snodsbury

The Branch stopped attending Tewkesbury Medieval Festival and the Gloucester and Bristol Branch took over.

Issue 125 was the last issue of Dickon Independent as the Editor resigned due to ill health.

The first two meetings of the year were on Zoom:
Warwick the Kingmaker by John Reid;
The Medieval Buildings and Environment Richard III Would Have Known by Carol Southworth.

Talks in person resumed with The Survival of the Princes in the Tower by Matt Lewis, Chairman of the Richard III Society;
AGM and talk on The Lost Prince (Richard of Eastwell) by Judith Sealey;
Hanged, Drawn and Quartered by Eddie Smallwood;
Cecily Neville: Mother, Wife, Traitor, Survivor by Annie Garthwaite;

Two outings:
Guided tour of Ludlow with Phil Horsfall, a local guide;
Merevale Abbey and Proposed Trip to Private Grounds of Bosworth Battle Site with Eddie Smallwood;

Talks resumed:
Marguerite of Anjou by John Reid;
After Bosworth - What Next? by Carol Southworth;
Uncrowned - A talk by Ashley Mantle about his new book.

The last meeting of the year was the Bring and Share Lunch and Christmas Social at Upton Snodsbury Village Hall, 12.00 noon to 3pm.

Membership costs increased to £15 a year at the AGM, to take effect immediately, and the charge for attending a talk by an outside speaker was increased to £6.