Leicester Should Be Very Proud

[Ann]

We have been glued to the Channel 4 broadcasts live from Leicester Cathedral today for the re-burial of King Richard 111. It was a lovely service, and although opinion is divided on whether he was a good King or bad, I felt it awarded him dignity and respect. The interviews and research before and after the programme were excellent, we learnt more about the Wars of the Roses and King Richard than we ever did in boring history lessons at school 50+ years ago.

I am proud to be from Leicestershire and I felt it put the city of Leicester well and truly on the map. The discovery of the body in 2012 through to today's final resting place has been an amazing story. Anyone else been watching the events unfold all week?

[woofgang]

Yes I have been watching, very interesting...I thought that C4 could have done a better job though, I missed the Beeb style detailed commentary.

[maggiebee]

I really know very little about Richard 111, but as he didn't rule over Scotland I feel I know enough. Are you sure he was worth all the expense?

[Ann]

Yes Jon Snow could have been better - he called actor Robert Lindsay who was in the studio - Robert "Lacey" not once but twice - his face was a picture, he rolled his eyes heavenward!

[DaisyNonna]

1485, a Roman Catholic?
Not respected then.

[Ann]

Yes I think so Maggie - not much happens in this quiet backwater of the Midlands! LOL

[magicmick]

Not really been following this story Ann, so how do they know that it is Richard 111?.

[Ann]

Don't quite understand Daisy, he was bundled across a horse from the battlefield and just thrown into a grave ...... that is lack of respect surely?

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.le.ac.uk/richardiii/science.html

[DaisyNonna]

He was a Roman Catholic and deserved a Catholic burial in a Catholic Church.

[Ann]

So exciting Mick, they traced ancestors by DNA samples and proved it. Great work by Leicester University ....

https://www.le.ac.uk/richardiii/

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/

[Ann]

All credit should go to Philippa Langley of the King Richard 111 society .....

[PankySmooch]

How far down was he buried in that car park?

[anneasquith]

i'm glad you and others enjoyed it ann, I do wonder how much the ' whole thing' cost and who pays it though ?

[Ann]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhumation_and_reburial_of_Richard_III

1.5 metres deep .......

[PankySmooch]

Thanks Ann, amazing how they managed to locate him after all those years

[Jackdaw33]

All this expense to bury the rotting bones of a man who killed his own brother, his nephews and summarily executed peers of the realm during his short reign.

[Ann]

According to Leicester Cathedral's official site, most of the funds have been raised through an appeal, which includes trusts and private individual donors. I think the total cost is £2.5m but they are still some short, although donations from all visiting to view the coffin this week has not been added in yet.

[craft1948]

So burying Richard in Leicester will make this a tourist haven...good luck.