Tuesday 16th September 2025 7.30 - 9.00pm (Doors open from 7pm)
Dorset Family History Society will be hosting a meeting at St George's Church Hall, Darby’s Lane, Oakdale, POOLE, Dorset, BH15 3EU with a talk by CHARLES REES entitled ‘RICHARD III AND HIS MOTHER’.
“Such is the trashing of Richard’s reputation by Shakespeare I thought I would attenuate it with an account of his mother. She was Cicely Neville, the rose of Raby, a great beauty and hugely wealthy. It makes him real whereas Shakespeare’s Richard is a tragic comic monster. Richard saw his mother assaulted, possibly raped when he was 7 and his father and brother killed when he was 8. Their heads were put on spikes at Micklegate, York. His mother had 13 children of which several died young. She was married to the Duke of York at 12 and had her first child when 24. She died when she was 80 having seen her four boys die, two of which were kings. The relationship between Richard and his mother must have been close from the letters written and her advice sought. Richard was a good law maker, good soldier and good administrator. He was the man to go to when the task was beyond others. I hope to humanise Richard and give the respect to his mother which she deserves.”
Charles Rees was a Family Doctor in Dorset for 38 years and worked for another 10 in Hospitals. He was a GP Trainer for 30 years. He has also been a member of the Richard III Society since 1979 and the American Civil War Round Table (UK) since 1990.
Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Plenty of free parking.
Entry is £3 to include tea/coffee and biscuits.
EVERYONE WELCOME TO ATTEND, BOTH MEMBERS & NON-MEMBERS.
Please check members E-news or the website
www.dorsetfhs.org.uk should there be any last minute changes.
