Rose-laying Ceremony for Bosworth Fallen this Sunday

Members of the Richard III Society will join other dignitaries at a poignant rose-laying ceremony at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre on Sunday (March 3).

The ceremony will mark the death of the 1,000 or so troops who lost their lives in the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses in 1485 when Richard was killed in battle paving the way for Henry to become the first Tudor monarch.

The event will include a reading by Leicestershire County Council chairman Councillor Peter Lewis, from a near-contemporary work penned by Polydor Virgil.

There will be further readings by the Rev. Linda Blay, minister for Dadlington and Stoke Golding, two villages which are very near to the battlefield site.

“It will be a very poignant occasion as we always have to remember those who lost their lives in the battle and the opportunity to lay roses will be another significant event in what has been a tumultuous few weeks since the bones of Richard III were confirmed,” said Councillor Lewis.

There will also be a response by Dr Phil Stone, chairman of the Richard III Society, with a blessing by the Rev. Blay before the roses are laid at the sundial by invited guests. The guest list includes Philippa Langley, whose mission to find the lost king resulted in the remarkable archaelogical discovery in Leicester.

The roses will be presented to the guests by the ‘Ladies of Les Routiers’ with a guard of honour also planned by Les Routiers.

Members of the Richard III are in the county this weekend for a conference at the University of Leicester with many Ricardians expected to travel to Bosworth for the rose-laying ceremony.

There is a temporary exhibition ‘Richard III – The Making of a Myth’ at Bosworth featuring interpretations of the monarch’s life by Manga-style artist John Aggs.

Visitors to Bosworth can also walk the Battlefield Trail with views to Bosworth Field, or take part in one of the expertly-guided Battlefield Walks.

There’s also a new leaflet on Bosworth available at libraries with a family discount offer (terms and conditions apply). A newsletter is also online at:

www.bosworthbattlefield.com

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