The afternoon began at Leicester's Jewry Wall with entertainment from Leicester's Morris Men.
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| The Leicester Morris Men posing near Jubilee Square |
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| The spire of Leicester Cathedral is visible top right. |
And then the coffin was alongside me and it all happened in a fleeting moment so I didn't quite manage to get a perfect shot but I'll have to make do with this:
It was fascinating standing with so many people (visitors from New York on my right and from Norfolk on my left) and watch this historic event but now I'm cold and hungry and so I shall go and get my supper. Tomorrow it's the pop-up market stall to sell my Children's Book of Richard III and Radio Leicester. Exciting, isn't it!
love the knights in armor - this is just so wonderful and looks like the weather is cooperating. It's meant to be. Keep posting
ReplyDeleteThey were so imposing!
DeleteThank you for sharing Ros, and I wish you lots of success tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Maria
DeleteI thought of you when they showed footage of the funeral procession on our local news. This must have been such an exciting moment for you, despite the cold weather! Good luck tomorrow at the pop-up market stall, Rosalind!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Yes, I'd heard it's being televised across the world!
DeleteHi Ros - I watched the Channel 4 programme ... and it was incredible to see the trouble taken with all things related to this unique event. Lovely to see your pictures ... one of the Knights was from the Wallace collection wearing his own armour (well you get what I mean) ... he said he likes to know and understand what it feels like - he's interviewed in his armour by Jon Snow ..
ReplyDeleteI loved watching him being brought out of the University on his travels through the countryside to Bosworth the battle field .. and then into Leicester as you show ... and then the transfer into the arms of the Church, and including the both the Protestant and Catholics (present and past religions of the 1400s), then the descriptions of the coffin (oak and yew) and earth being collected ... and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, being the royal representative - how appropriate as Richard too was the Duke of Gloucester ..
Then the chats with so many of the crowd .. kids, locals, historians, many of different religious ilk - as Leicester is the most multi-cultural city in the UK .. they were all as proud as punch ..
Wonderful shots and ... it'll be fabulous to hear you tomorrow morning .. good luck with your book too .. and what fun - New York and Norfolk visitors ... cheers and enjoy today - Hilary
I love those extra facts, like the two woods for the coffin and the earth from three locations. Thanks, Hilary.
DeleteOn Sunday I made a special effort to watch the cortege. I stood opposite the Bow Bridge looking at the coat of arms of Richard 111. Seeing your photos(thank you for that) I wish I had stood where you did and seen the horses and armour for myself. Standing next to me were a mother and daughter from U.S.A. and they were here for the whole week. The daughter had won a ticket for the ceremony in the cathedral on Thursday in a ballot. I heard speeches from the Mayor and The Lord Mayor.The Lord Mayor mentioned that it had been half a century since Richard 111 had crossed the bridge. OOPS. He should have checked with you Rosalind.
ReplyDeleteI almost went to Bow Bridge to watch. I think all locations had their different interests. It good day to be there, though, wasn't it.
DeleteWonderful pictures, Rosalind. I think the coffin shot is a really good view; it would have looked much less interesting and flatter had it been exectly opposite you. The Morris dancers look fabulous! It's lovely to see traditional dance becoming more popular these days.
ReplyDeleteLike Hilary, I watched the whole thing on Channel 4 and found it fascinating and moving (if slightly spoiled by the predictable rudeness of David Starkey). Jon Snow interviewed one of the knights in shining armour while he was still wearing it, and that was quite enlightening. Hope your book sells really well today :o)
I'm glad you like my shot of the coffin, Jane. I too love to see the Morris dancers. They're a lovely group.
DeleteI am really enjoying these daily blogs of yours Rosalind. The picture of the Morris Dancers reminds me of the female Morris Dancers "BLACK ANNIS" I believe Black Annis was a witch in the era of King Richard !!! The story goes that on the way to battle he caught her with one of his spurs. She cursed him and said that he would not come back alive. If it was not for her,who knows,history might have been different. Petra.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're enjoying the blogs, Petra. I have devoted a page in my book to the legend of the Witch of Daneshill (called by some Black Annis). She said that where his foot had caught the side of the bridge on the way out, his head would catch that same spot on the way back... or so they say!
DeleteI saw an ordinary hearse on TV and was disappointed. I'm glad he had more fitting transport for at least a part of the trip!
ReplyDeleteThe part we saw was truly fitting for a King, Anne.
DeleteOh you are having such a lovely time!!!!!
ReplyDelete:-))
DeleteYes, Ros, it IS exciting! Lovely to see those pictures from the thick of it. I like the woman clasping her hands together as the coffin passes her by. I hope you're selling books by the truckload today.
ReplyDeleteOh, Pippa, you are so observant. I hadn't noticed her. Maybe she's praying.
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