a day of beauty

I've heard the word "beautiful" used to describe everything from a dress to  a pint of lager in the last week. 

I haven't heard the word "beauty" so often though. So what is beauty? I know it's in the eye of the beholder....but it's defined as a combination of qualities, such as shape, colour, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially sight, or a combination of qualities that pleases the intellect or moral sense.

And last Thursday I was surrounded by real beauty in such different forms.

Early that evening I'd been invited to the launch of the flower festival at Leicester Cathedral. This year's theme was the motto of King Richard III .."Loyalty Binds Me"

 Now, I have a very soft spot for the cathedral...I work about sixty paces away, I've spent much time there, but have never seen a  flower festival there.

In fact, I've never really appreciated or "got" a flower festival before. I prefer to see flowers growing ...in gardens, in parks, in the countryside. Or if they must be inside, I like them  arranged naturally, artlessly in a jug, not dressed up to kill in  contrived designs.

But beauty was all around the cathedral lit up at twilight, with the glow of the patina of polished pews in the candlelight, and flowers everywhere.

There was beauty of the flowers themselves, beauty in the creation of the displays, and such clever interpretations of Richard's motto.

It really was fascinating walking around the cathedral, admiring the regal and moving displays. Richard Buckley, the Director of the University of Leicester archaeological services was guest of honour ad the whole event seemed like a marker for a much more historic event which hopefully will take place next year, when Richard III is interred here.

But it was then on to watch the incredibly talented Kathryn Williams who was appearing at the Musician in Leicester. There was real beauty in her amazingly pure voice which effortlessly and quickly steals my heart again every time I see her perform.

There's beauty to admire in her clever lyrics of love, loss and everyday connumdrums which are so pleasingly partnered with just the right chords.

And I 'm moved by the beauty of the cello playing and arrangements of Ben Trigg...which complement Kathryn's vocals so well, as they performed old favourites such as Jasmine Hoop and Soul to Feet, as well as new songs from her new album "Crown Electric " which is released on 30th September.

So, what a brilliant night, being surprisingly beguiled by beauty all around.

Which means today's track has to be by Kathryn Williams doesn't it? This is the video for her latest single "Heart Shaped Stone"......please watch right until the ending....which made me laugh in sheer delight...

 

A day of spitting feathers - more about Richard III

I'm spitting feathers today. Really.

But if you don't live in the UK, you may wonder what I'm talking about. Well it's a saying which has two meanings.  It can mean I'm very  thirsty -a metaphor for my  mouth being so dry, it feels like it's full of feathers.
There's another meaning too....we also say it when we're angry -like being so angry I'm foaming at the mouth. So which of those am I today?  Let's put it this way , I don't want a glass of water...

Why?  It's all about the King who was found in a car park..

 I've found out that distant relatives of Richard III have been granted permission for a judicial review of the decision to rebury the king's remains here in Leicester.

The Plantagenet Alliance, which includes fifteen of his relatives, want his body to be buried in York, saying it was the King's wish. So  they've  launched a legal challenge to the decision made by the Ministry of Justice that The University of Leicester could decide where Richard's remains  would be buried.

Now, Mr Justice Cave has granted Judicial Review proceedings against the Secretary of State for Justice and the University of Leicester .

I can't believe it! It all began nearly a year ago....and I've been following the story both here on the blog...and as a BBC reporter working a mere two minute walk away from where King Richard III was found...see below

http://thinkingofthedays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/richard-iii-days-of-hype-and-hope.html

http://thinkingofthedays.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=richard+III
http://thinkingofthedays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/more-days-of-richard-iii-mania.html,

In February, the remains which had been found a Leicester car park were  confirmed as Richard's  by a team from the University of Leicester, led by Richard Buckley.

Now before the dig even began, a licence to carry out the dig, issued by the Ministry of Justice, gave the authority to decide where to rebury the king to the university. Quite rightly, in many people's opinion, it was felt appropriate that the King should be reburied in the cathedral just opposite where he had lay for nearly 500 years.

And where he has been remembered all over the city

In Castle Park Park Gardens, where you can smell where his statue stands before you see it....his statue is surrounded by the heady scent of nearly a hundred white roses....

 So, it seemed as if the matter were sorted....already thousands have come to Leicester, to the city where he set off on his last journey to the Battle of Bosworth, to see his resting place under the car park, to visit the temporary exhibition telling the story of who he was, and the now world wide famous archaeological dig to find him....

Leicester City Council's plans to build a £4 million  visitor centre are already well advanced and Leicester cathedral has already began a £1 million project to house the tomb of Richard III in time for his re-interment there next May. A  "significant space" is being created with a new floor, lighting and stained glass windows.

So what now? Who knows...but today the judge has said  the resting place of an anointed king is was a matter of "general public importance and touches on Sovereign, State and Church.".


So now it would seem there'll be a full High Court Hearing. I can imagine the urgent talks being held right now. Talks between passionate people  at Leicester City Council , Leicester Cathedral and the University of Leicester , on the legacy that the discovery of King Richard III has brought to all of us here in Leicestershire...and what it will mean if we lose the King.

I bet they're spitting feathers too...and when I say that, I wouldn't have thought that  they're all clamouring for a cup of tea ....

 

Today's track....well, here's Depeche Mode and "Wrong"...

 

 

More days of Richard III mania

Well it's been a busy couple of weeks ...who would have thought that Leicester would be the focus of the world's media for days?

Yes, those bones were those of King Richard III!  It's been such an exciting time for true Ricardians everywhere around the globe, and millions watched the channel 4 documentary about the search for the King.

On the night it was broadcast I was at work in the newsroom reading bulletins every hour on the hour. It was busy so was unaware that I was in the documentary too. But suddenly there were twitter and facebook messages saying I can hear you....and I've just seen you.

Of course the following day I watched..and yes, two pieces of audio were used from the day I was broadcasting from the car park where Richard was found....and two shots of me in the press conference - looking slightly gormless I have to say...

So, nothing to get excited about there...but there's been exciting developments since. Channel 4 have already commisssioned a second documentary about the King  after a consolidated audience of 4.9m - and it's Channel 4's highest rating show of 2013 to date.

We've also seen a fight between two cities over Richard. The City of York laid claim to the King, saying his bones should be interred there ...he was from Yorkshire. As you can imagine that hasn't gone down well here in Leicester. Yet despite the fact the Ministry of Justice licence to allow the original excavation states the legal right of the University of Leicester and Leicester City Council to choose the site of interment, York has continued to press its claim.

As if that wasn't enough excitement , a brand new exhibition opened in the mediaeval Guildhall ten days ago chronicling the search for Richard III and detailing the proof that the body found really was his.

There's some great touchscreen interactives in the exhibition and there's a model of King Richard's skull, made from the CT scan of the skeleton made at Leicester Royal Infirmary and 3D printed using a technique called laser sintering.It's been made by bods from Loughborough University (where I studied)

There's also some rather lovely floor tiles plus a section of carved stone frieze from the wall of the Grey Friars church. Hats off indeed to Laura Hadland,  a senior curator at Leicester City Council and her team who have worked around the clock to get this exhibition up and ready for action in such a breathtakingly short space of time.

When I say this exhibition is popular, there's been queues for days to see this exhibition. But do go...it's free to get into with fascinating glimpses of what's been the most thrilling archaeological finds for many years. Opening times vary, so do check with the Guildhall online before turning up.

 Meanwhile the Richard III Society have unveiled their design for Richard's tomb.

Many like the design but Leicester Cathedral is starting it's own preparation for the interment of King Richard III inside the Cathedral in a place of honour.. A date has been set - 12^th March - when the Architects brief will be agreed by the Cathedral Chapter, with whom the decision about a final memorial legally lies. This brief will then be made public.

 So we will wait and see what's decided...but the tomb must be in harmony with its surroundings within the cathedral. Whatever the design though, visitor numbers to Leicester Cathedral will go through the roof.

The BBC studios are within spitting distance of the cathedral and the guildhall, a stone's throw from the car park where Richard III was found, and I can't remember ever seeing so many people milling around here in the mediaeval heart of Leicester. This historic discovery has suddenly ignited a passion for our past....and long may it continue.

Today's track is slightly different to usual and much longer .....but do have a listen. It's a recording of a special concert held a week ago at the University of Leicester, where a group of historical music performers presented a musical biography of Richard III's life, of music from 1452 to 1485.

 

Thorley, Peter

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office Issue: 14 February 2013 Listen to Richard III’s life through music Recorder trio TritonE perform a musical biography of Richard III’s life at the University of Leicester A recording of the concert is available

Thu 14/02

The group are TritonE - a professional recorder trio which specialises in the performance of historical music.

 

According to Professor Lin Foxhall, Head of the School of Archaeology and Ancient History, at the University of leicester who was so heavily involved in the search for for Richard III,  “This concert offers another perspective on the life and times of Richard III, presenting the sound world in which he lived."

So why not have a listen and transport yourself back to the fifteenth century? 
 

http://soundcloud.com/university-of-leicester/the-search-for-king-richard-1