According to a cutting my aunt from Leicestershire sent me, archaeologists from Durham University are using an aerial camera on the traditional Bosworth site to try and pinpoint areas for excavation, in the hope of uncovering firm evidence about the location of the battle. Unfortunately she hasn’t left a date on the cutting from the Leicester Mercury, but they hope to have a result this year. It doesn’t mention Atherstone, only the Dadlington alternative.

She also sent an article from the same local newspaper (dated 8 October 2002) about the skulls found in the River Soar and all attributed to Richard! But the really interesting bit is the statement that Dr Jenny Wakely, of the University of Leicester, would be able to say whether a skull belonged to a man, woman, or child, and tell its age to within 10 to 15 years. If only she could examine the skulls out of the urn! Annette Cashmore, Head of Genetics at the University of Leicester, says getting DNA from such an old skull is difficult but not impossible, but it might not be good enough to match with Edward IV’s.

David Baldwin, quoted in the same article, says the story of Richard’s remains being thrown in the River Soar might be more Tudor propaganda. He thinks the king’s remains are still in his tomb, under the streets of Leicester. Christopher Wren, the father of the famous architect, worked for the family who bought the ruined Greyfriars Priory. In 1612 he was shown a stone pillar in the garden, erected by the owner, with the inscription: “Here lies King Richard III, sometime king of England.”

At our AGM I was given two more newspaper cuttings. Judith Sealey gave me the article from the Sunday Times on February 9 2003 revealing that Shakespeare’s awful Richard III is to be played professionally by a woman for the first time, in an all-female production at the Globe.

Finally, Judith Chamberlayne gave me a cutting from The Citizen, Gloucester’s local paper, about an account book from Edward IV's reign which has been found at Berkeley Castle. It had been wrongly catalogued. It’s an exciting discovery, as it contains detailed information in Latin about his household and expenses during the 1470's.

St James’ Church in Oddingley has launched an appeal to raise £100,000 for much-needed repairs to the roof, wooden flooring and pews. In its glass is the royal coat of arms for Richard, Duke of York, when he claimed the throne in October 1460. See Ralph Richardson’s article in “Dickon Independent” issue 19, pages 3 - 5, and longer version in the “Ricardian”, June 1996, pages 421 - 428.

To make a donation, call John Geary on 01905 772588 or Lynne Morton on 01905 775929.

Tewkesbury Battlefield Society has commissioned a sculpture to commemorate the battle of Tewkesbury. It’s to be called The Arrivall and will stand on the roundabout just south of the battlefield, and feature two soldiers on horseback. Donations towards the cost of this sculpture will be much appreciated by the Battlefield Society, and should be sent to Mr S. Goodchild, Manns Court, High Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 5BP. The sculpture will be unveiled during the 21st anniversary of the Tewkesbury Fayre in July 2004.