RICHARD III SOCIETY
GLOUCESTER & BRISTOL BRANCH
Branch Programme 2025
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR UPCOMING EVENTS
SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2025
Queen Berengaria of Navarre
a talk by Dr Gabrielle Storey
[ZOOM PRESENTATION - start at 14:15 for 14:30]
Berengaria of Navarre was the wife of one of England's most famous of medieval kings, Richard the Lionheart. Yet her name has been lost in the shadows of her more famed contemporaries, including her mother-in-law, Eleanor of Aquitaine. In this talk Dr Storey will bring the life of England's most forgotten medieval queens to life, unpicking the myths and legends that surrounded her career as queen of England, and how she went from widow queen to a powerful lord in Le Mans. Sat between Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Berengaria's political career has often been assumed to be one of shadows. However, her impact and legacy went far beyond England's borders as she demonstrated the true power and authority of lordship as a dowager.
SATURDAY 1 MARCH 2025
Piracy and War in the Bristol Channel 1400-1700
From maritime activities of a wartime and piratical nature in the Bristol Channel in the 15th century this richly illustrated presentation goes on to explore such occurrences between 1600 and 1650 which are mainly unknown to many historians of the period. Finally an early19th century episode defies preconceptions and normal expectations. Altogether a thought provoking talk.
Illustrated talk by Philip Ashford
SATURDAY 5 APRIL 2025
Sir Anthony Woodville : Sophisticate or Schemer?
Illustrated talk by Danielle Burton
Based on Danielle’s biography of Anthony Woodville, published in Spring 2024. Was Anthony Woodville, brother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville, really as bad as some have portrayed him, or was he really a man of many talents?
Danielle Burton has been a member of the Richard III Society since the age of 9. She has a First in History and an MA in Public History and Heritage, both from the University of Derby. Her first history book, a biography on Anthony Woodville, brother-in-law of Edward IV, entitled Anthony Woodville: Sophisticate or Schemer was published in February 2024.
SATURDAY 10 MAY 2025
Visit to Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
Guided tour with Richard Goddard, chair of the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society
£23pp castle & grounds entry (10% discount if prebooked online), £5pp tour guide fee
entry from 10.00am (meet in the cafe at 10.15 or at the end of the 1.00pm castle tour)
Please prebook your general admission and tour online ASAP to ensure a place on either tour - there are only 20 places per tour so they may well sell out
Richard will lead a free informal one hour tour around Winchcombe after lunch - meeting point 1.5-2.00pm at the castle tour end point.
SATURDAY 7 JUNE 2025
This event has regretfully been cancelled
STUDY DAY : The Wars of the Roses in the Severn Vale
Watson Hall, 65 Barton Street, Tewkesbury GL20 5PX
* The Berkeleys during the Wars of the Roses by Dr Adam Dolling
* Wars of the Roses in the Severn Valley by Stephen David
* The Herberts and the Wars of the Roses by Nathen Amin
* Life and Times of the Newport Ship by Dr Toby Jones
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 12/13 JULY 2025
Tewkesbury Medieval Festival
We are delighted that we will once again be sharing the main Society stand at this superb annual event hosted by the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society.
SATURDAY 2 AUGUST 2025
Lady Eleanor Butler
Illustrated talk by Richard Goddard, Chair of the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society
[ZOOM PRESENTATION - start at 14:15 for 14:30]
Link to Eventbrite ticketing will be available here before July
The title will be Eleanor Butler- England forgotten Queen. The talk will explore Eleanor’s early life and her later involvement with Edward IV. It will look at the immediate aftermath of that relationship and how it opened the opportunity for Richard III to claim the throne.
SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2025
Visit to Medieval Gloucester
Guided walk of Medieval churches of Gloucester led by the Gloucester Civic Trust in the morning, and tour of Gloucester Cathedral in the afternoon
£15.00 per person which includes both city and cathedral tours payable by cheque, cash or BACS to branch treasurer : ardiliff@gmail.com
Both tours are limited to a minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 people, so early booking (by early August) is essential.
* Start at 11.00am at St Michael's Tower for an hour tour led by the Gloucester Civic Trust
* Reconvene at 2.15pm at Gloucester Cathedral for a private tour of the cathedral (cathedral entry will be covered as part of the tour fee)
SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2025
Talk by Carol Southworth, Chair of the Worcester Branch of the Richard III Society
What Happened After Bosworth
SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER 2025
BRANCH AGM
[ZOOM - start at 14:25 for 14:30]
There is no talk planned at this short meeting but branch member participation is essential for quoracy to approve any changes to branch arrangements.
SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2025
The Sons of Simon de Montfort
Illustrated talk by Steve David
SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER 2025
Medieval Christmas
[ZOOM PRESENTATION - start at 14:15 for 14:30] tickets on sale from October 2025
A Merry Tudor Christmas : Deck the halls and roast that turkey! How were the Tudors, from the King to the common man, enjoying the festive period?
talk by Kirstie Bingham of the John Moore Museum, Tewkesbury
PLEASE NOTE : ALL LIVE MEETINGS, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, WILL BE HELD AT THE EMMANUEL HALL, FAIRFIELD PARADE, LECKHAMPTON, GL53 7PJ
Meetings (Zoom and live) commence at 2:30 pm with the exception of field visits which are by arrangement. Any change to this time will be highlighted.
For meetings where there is an outside speaker a charge of £6 will be made to offset costs [£7.50 for non-Branch members]. When there is no visiting speaker fee there will be a general charge of £1 per person, again, to offset cost.
programme page updated 10 February 2025