Support for Richard III’s wishes grows
Issued by City of York Council
City of York Council’s campaign to honour the living wishes of England’s last Yorkist king is growing momentum with significant support expressed by some of the monarch’s descendants, civic leaders, cross-party politicians, and leading academics and historians.
Council leaders from all parties in Yorkshire and Humberside and the north east are voicing their support including Cllr Bill Dixon leader of Darlington, Cllr Tim Fox leader of Scarborough and Cllr Linda Cowling leader of Ryedale.
Pupils at Headlands Primary School in the city are going to write to the Queen as part of a Richard III project, while Millthorpe Secondary School students are debating the subject which they too will build into a project.
Cllr James Alexander, Leader of City of York Council said: “Support for Richard III as a man and monarch as evidenced by signatures on the petition and voiced to us, is as deeply and widely felt now, as in his lifetime.
“A number of his descendants have appealed to us to uphold their ancestor’s known living wishes to be buried in York where the king was establishing a chantry of 100 priests. By the time of his death in 1485, six altars were already in place in the Minster where prayers for his and his family’s souls were said.
“As there is no precedent for this an extraordinary situation, we have a duty to represent the voice of local people and have submitted appropriate representation to be considered by the respective authorities.”
Among the support received by City of York Council is:
Regardless of the license granted to the partnership of Leicester City Council and Leicester University (which was applied for without due consultation with family descendants and the wider public), York and the county of Yorkshire was, and remains, the physical and spiritual home of King Richard III. The burial of his exhumed remains should therefore be without question at York Minster which was, in life, his own wish
Stephen Nicolay
16th great grandson of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York – King Richard III being my 15th great uncle
Imagine this was a member of your family. Where would you want them to go? Where they wanted to go or the town they were taken to after they were killed, where they were stripped bare and put on public display? We repatriate those who give their lives in battle, so why is this any different? We don’t leave them a few miles from where they fell: they are brought home. Richard III deserves this, as does anyone. It is a matter of justice.
Charles Brunner
Descendant of Richard III’s sister, Anne of York, and his brother Edward IV, patron of the Richard III Foundation.
Richard III was an adopted Yorkshireman and regarded Yorkshire as his political and family home. The available evidence suggests that he wanted to be buried not in the Midlands or the South, but at York Minster. In Richard’s own time, royal remains were often exhumed and moved significant distances for more dignified reburial. Richard’s own preferences, and good historical precedent, therefore dictate that England’s last Yorkist king should be interred in the fittingly magnificent surroundings of York Minster.
Mark Ormrod
Professor of Medieval History, University of York
York was Richard’s city, the people of York loved him, and Richard loved York, you only have to look in York City Archives to see how much he was loved. For a city to put these words in writing was a very brave thing to do. Please let him come back to York and Yorkshire.
Sandra Wadley
Chairman, Society of Friends of King Richard III
The evidence is overwhelming that Richard wanted to be buried at York Minster. There is no evidence that he desired to be buried anywhere else. Richard’s son Edward (1473-84) was created Prince of Wales in York Minster in September 1483. At this time, Richard met the Dean and Chapter to discuss the building of a chantry (where prayers are said for the souls of the dead) involving 100 priests. Six altars of this chantry were already in place by the time of Richard’s death in 1485. It is difficult to find an explanation for these plans had Richard wanted to be buried anywhere other than York Minster.
Mike Bennett
Founder of the Richard III Museum
As the last Yorkist King of England and the last King to die in battle, Richard III is hugely important to the heritage of our historic city of York. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that King Richard wished to be buried in York and particularly in the Minster. The people of York and indeed Yorkshire are extremely grateful for the excellent work carried out by the archaeologists and the University of Leicester. We merely want the options for King Richard’s final resting place to be properly considered and I will do all I can to ensure that they are.
Julian Sturdy
York Outer MP
I would like to add my personal support to your campaign to have Richard of York buried at the Minster.
Cllr Linda Cowling
Leader of Ryedale Council
The remains of Richard III, last king of the York dynasty, should be buried at York Minster. It is the only fitting place for the burial of the king, amongst his own.
Cllr Mark Crane
Leader of Selby District Council
We believe that the remains of Richard III should be returned to Yorkshire, his childhood and spiritual home. He has been described as the country’s only northern king and we think it would be appropriate for him to rest in peace in the north.
Gary Verity
Chief Executive, Welcome to Yorkshire
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Every other claim and argument aside, York Minster have said THEY DO NOT WANT THE REMAINS!!!
Amazing the number of people who claim to be descendants of Richard III. Richard III had no descendants. One illegitimate child who died in obscurity, probably in Kent and one boy child who died aged 11, not living long enough to become a father. What you people really mean is that you may be a blood relative,of which there are many,many thousands scattered around the world.
Olwyn
Not sure where Lyn Marie Cunliffe gets her information from but I assure you Leicester has no intention of putting Richard’s bones on public display. As to a Catholic funeral – there would be no chance of that in York Minster – Church of England remember, as is Leicester Cathedral. What is most fascinating is the mercenary attitude of people from Yorkshire. Time and again their comments revolve around money, Leicester wanting to bring in the tourists etc. Lyn Marie seems to be quite concerned that Leicester Council Tax Payers might spend money on a decent funeral and interment for Richard III and not recoup their outlay but I think we could just about stand the loss. Yes indeed York is a beautiful and historic City, the Citizens, Council and Tourism bosses are past masters at exploiting this and wringing cash from visitors’ pockets. The remains of Richard III would be one more string to their bow.So please don’t say Leicester wants him for a tourist attraction.Have you heard the one about the pot and the kettle?
Here, here Ian! I’m not from York but this is so clearly the right thing to do.
I am a resident of Leicestershire, not far from the battlefield. I am also a descendant of John of Gaunt who died in Leicester Castle. King Richard’s wishes must be observed and he must be buried in York. It mattered greatly to our ancestors. The King would surely not wish to be buried in the county where he was so badly betrayed. Loyaulte Me Lie, I hope Leicester finally shows loyalty to the King and gives up this nonsense driven surely by hopes of bringing tourists to the city – money. I hope York never gives up fighting for the King.
Well said and thank you. I am thrilled that even should we lose our campaign to have our King home at least there are people in Leicester who would appreciate him. Times are tough and I can understand why Leicesters traders might hope for more tourism from Richard but its not likely to last. I live near Haworth and it’s heavily dependent on Bronte based tourism, whenever there’s a new Bronte movie out or new find theres a few months increase before its the normal Bronte enthiusiasts only again and Leicester is alienting Richardians by its plans to dispaly his bones, not providing a Cathholic funeral etc, so its likely to lose a lot of Richardians. I think its possible Leicester will end up with a bill for interring Richard and the displays etc which it can’t cover from increased tourism long term, which would be a shame after they had done the dig etc
Olwyn
Oh how I agree with you Tim C. The silence from York was deafening until DNA testing finally confirmed that the remains of Richard III had been discovered.Bear in mind research and planning had been taking place since 2010. There could have been somebody, nobody, anybody or Richard III in that excavated trench and not a flicker of interest from York until all the hard work was done.
Please explain to me why it is that it is only when you find out that the bones discovered belong to Richard…where was the input from any body from York before that
Hi ,Its not true there was no input,I posted on my blog that Richard III should be home in York as soon as the dig came to light and so did many others but support has grown mostly because Leicester has been so disrespectful of our Kings memory and remains ,Richard III is well loved by local folk in the dales ,not academics ,many are farmers or work in other landbased jobs they dont neccassarily keep up with academic news so it was only once it became big news that they learned about the find but once they knew they have been vocal and active they have loved Richard for centuries when he had been long forgotton and reviled,its not about tourism or revenue most dont live anywhere near places such as York that would benefit and in any case Yorkshire is full of history and talented past residents such as the Brontes we are not influenced by tourism “perks” we want our King brought home to honour him and respect his memory ,,Liecster has no interest in presenting the right accurate view of Richard as a good king ,his memory and repuation will foever be sulllied by Leicester
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/961/861/672/return-king-richard-iii-to-yorkshire/#sign
Since August of 2012, The Richard III Foundation began a campaign to bring the remains of King Richard III home. Our initial petition which had names and comments from all over the world was sent to the proper officials and we began a new one listed above yesterday. Charles Brunner, a patron of the Foundation is also a descendant and let us all work together to bring him home.
Joe Ann Ricca
CEO/President
The Richard III Foundation