Richard III - The King in the Car Park

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
This is worth a watch if you've nothing better to do -
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/richard-iii-the-new-evidence/4od

Using the latest scientific techniques, experts at the University of Leicester and beyond have been able to work out the extent to which his potentially extreme spinal deformity would have affected his ability to be the warrior king famed for leading the charge at the Battle of Bosworth.
...
Dominic Smee, who suffers from the same form of scoliosis as Richard III and whose spine, with its 75-degree spinal curve, is deemed 'virtually identical' by the experts, agreed to collaborate with the scientists on a unique intensive physical programme to see how Richard's scoliosis would have affected his ability to wield a sword, wear armour, ride a horse and use a lance.
"This is Dominic's fifth riding lesson." :o
 

Roland

Well-Known Forumite
I am going to watch this when I get chance but to expect Dominic to be able to do the same things as Richard is absurd!

Richard trained and rode from an early age and would have had armour designed to help compensate for his deformity.

By all accounts he was a skilled rider and feared opponent!
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
http://kingrichardinleicester.com/king-richard-iiis-last-journey-route-announced/

On Sunday 22nd March 2015, a hearse will leave the University of Leicester during the late morning and travel to Fenn Lane Farm, reputedly the site of King Richard’s death, before moving on to nearby village parish churches of Dadlington and Sutton Cheney...

We'll see if it's a Catholic service...
King Richard’s coffin will be carried into the Cathedral for an evening service of Compline, at which the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, will preach the sermon...

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/67096
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Joking (were we?) aside, yes, it does seem odd, even to the point of surreality.

I'm not suggesting that anyone should add their objections via the petition by the way, merely pointing out that popular (if 351 people may be termed thus) protest is afoot.

Whilst it is almost an exercise in pure ridiculousness to entertain ideas of 'what he would have wanted', it would take a mind honed perfectly in the very art of ridiculousness to have thought he might have wanted that.

Mind you, i was once an observer at a Famadihana, to which this has a striking resemblance.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
'R' Almost Marked The Spot

Talk by Carl Vivian at Scaffoldshire Place on Thur 4th Dec, tickets £3 can be bought at Stafford Library (or call 278332).

Nothing obvious online to promote this, either it's very new and they haven't got round to it or, heaven forfend, they are further glorying in their ineptitude. This seems to be as close as one can get to it - http://www2.le.ac.uk/alumni/newseve...s-the-spot-filming-the-search-for-richard-iii -
In this short talk Carl Vivian picks out some of the highlights of the project and also shows some behind the scenes clips that have never been broadcast.
Booked my place today - actually booked two places if you fancy it G?
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Philippa Langley on Richard III *

Great Lives - Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04wv045

Interesting if you're interested, probably not so much if you're not.

Possibly actually quite interesting if you're not hugely interested, but are sort of keen to know a bit more, and don't mind squiffing half an hour on a bit of a primer, that sort of thing.

*not, like, necrophilia or nuffink

 
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