One Year Out

One year ago I was in Leicester, helping to bury a King.




Today we are celebrating the one year anniversary of the Reinterment of King Richard III. There are lots of activities in Leicester today.

These include:

• Children's Easter bonnet competition with medieval activities
• Book launch for How to Bury a King by The Revd. Pete Hobson
• Conflict 1485 Bosworth, with soldiers of the household of King Richard marching through the streets of Leicester
• A theatre production called Uncle Richard
• Medieval cooking and food tasting
• Calligraphy workshop
• Floral seminar

All of these sound very enjoyable to me but I will get to do none of them, being here in the United States.

But I am able to participate in one activity for the day.

Earlier this year, the King Richard III put out a request on their website for photographs taken during the Reinterment Week. They were planning to create a very large portrait of Richard III in the Visitor Centre, composed of all of these tiny photos.

Of course, I had to send in some photos so that I could be a part of the project. I would be in Leicester without being in Leicester!

Today the exhibit opened. It looks amazing! 

Here is the article about Remembering the Reinterment.

I was quite tickled to read that photos "came from as far afield as the United States." Because that includes me!

Unfortunately, I won't get to see the exhibit. It will be taken down before I return to Leicester. I will have to rely on others to tell me about it, if they are able to. They might even find me in the portrait, because I'm there! 

What photos did I include? You will just have to go to the Visitors Centre and try to guess!

Leicester Glows

The last activity celebrating King Richard and the Reinterment was a rather mysterious event called "Leicester Glows." It promised fireworks and lots of candles around the city centre and the Cathedral. Of course, I needed to see what that was about, but I had some doubts as to how it could entertain for several hours.

Was I amazed after all! We arrived after dark and the city really was aglow with firelight. The candles were large terracotta pots that managed to stay lit in the slight breeze. They were placed on the ground in formations and also on structures to create unique light sculptures.

The city really was glowing. It was so beautiful to walk among the lights and look at the formations. I think people were rather in awe of all of the candles. It took a lot of planning to place and light them.  I think the pictures do not fully convey the true feeling one got seeing all of the glowing candles.

King Richard's Horse

Looking at the Cathedral, it was also aglow. There was a special projection on the spire this evening.

Here is a compilation of the event from YouTube. It really was a "glow-rious" event and stunning conclusion to a fabulous week of activities.

Finally in Leicester!

Well, I made it here! I had an excellent trip, traveling from my home to Chicago and then to Heathrow. I made all of my connections, and no trouble at the UK border. I was asked why I was here, and the gentleman wanted to know what relatives I was visiting. I did not get much reaction when I told him cousins and Richard III. They have probably heard it all there!

I decided to take the National Express bus to Leicester. It was very inexpensive and direct. I enjoyed people watching in bus station--hikers, old people, mothers with children.

The coach arrived on time and I met my cousin for the first time in person. I know I am going to have a good week!

1 in 16

Yesterday I found out more information about how many people were invited to the reinterment through the ballot.

This article came out in the Leicester Mercury:

The World Comes to Leicester

This article tells me that 16 Americans are coming to the event. I wonder how many of those are not in the Richard III Society besides myself? The people interviewed were all connected to the Society.

I am 1 in 16 representing the United States. That is truly something to think about. I hope I will look okay. I am certain my behaviour will be impeccable!

The city of Leicester is getting ready for us. I hope I am ready for it!

Itinerary

Saturday, 21 March

• Leave South Bend for Chicago 5:53 pm
• Leave Chicago for Heathrow 7:00 pm

Sunday, 22 March

• Arrive Heathrow 7:55 am
• Catch National Express Coach to Leicester 9:30 am
• Arrive in Leicester at St. Margaret's Bus Station 11:45 am
• Royal Cortege by St. Nicholas Church 4:50-5:15 pm

Monday, 23 March

• Mr. Tom Brown, BBC, 10am, outside of Cathedral
• Bradgate Park
• Anstey and Rothley
• Requiem Mass at Holy Cross Priory Church at 5:00 pm
• Be in seat by 4:30 pm

Tuesday, 24 March

• Leicester Cathedral around 9:00am
• King Richard Visitor Centre at 10:00am
• Statue
• Guildhall
• Jewry Wall
• Bow Bridge
• Mrs. Bridges Tea Rooms
• Medieval Music in the Time of King Richard, Holy Cross Priory Church at 8:30 pm

Wednesday, 25 March

• Lincolnshire and North Sea
• Spalding
• Gosberton
• Skegness

Thursday, 26 March

• Reinterment Ceremony at 11:30 am, Leicester Cathedral
• Be in seat at 10:30 am
• Adrian Mole Musical at Curve Theatre

Friday, 27 March

• Warwick Castle
• Coughton Court
• Leicester Glows at 6:00-10:00 pm
• The Magazine
• Castle Gate

Saturday, 28 March 

• Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre
• Market Bosworth
• St. James Church, Sutton Cheney
• Abbey Park

Sunday, 29 March--Time Change, Forward One Hour!

• Leave Leicester at 6:30 am
• Arrive Heathrow at 9:30 am
• Depart Heathrow at 12:20 pm
• Arrive Chicago 3:25 pm
• Arrive in South Bend 7:26 pm

Other activities I would like to do while I'm in England (in no particular order):

• Leicester sights
• New Walk Art Museum
• De Montfort University new Heritage Centre exhibit
• Fenn Lane Farm
• Donington le Heath Manor House