The University of Leicester’s Richard III Open Day will bring fun for all the family – giving everyone the chance to hear from the experts who helped discover the King.

The public will also be able to visit two key departments behind the Search for Richard III - the Department of Genetics and School of Archaeology and Ancient History.

The Richard III Open Day, held on Saturday 29 June, includes an exciting programme of public events to celebrate the discovery of King Richard III by the University.

Visitors can hear from experts Professor Lin Foxhall, Head of the University’s School of Archaeology and Ancient History, geneticist Dr Turi King, forensic engineering expert Professor Sarah Hainsworth, Renaissance literature scholar Dr Sarah Knight, and Dr Tracey Elliott of the School of Law.

There will also be drop-in sessions to the Department of Genetics and School of Archaeology and Ancient History, where guests will be able to participate in workshops, displays and demos.

Dr Turi King, of the University’s Department of Genetics, said: “The Richard III Open Day will be a great chance to hear more about the investigations and research which have gone into our discovery of Richard III.

"The Search for Richard III was very much a team effort - with many different University of Leicester experts from a wide range of departments working together on this incredible project.”

Dr Sarah Knight, of the University’s School of English, said: “This discovery has already affected the way we can use historical, literary and archaeological evidence to explore Richard's reign and how he was represented.

“My talk will look in detail at the late fifteenth and sixteenth century historical accounts of Richard, how the emphasis shifted throughout different Tudors' reigns, and how historical sources helped to shape plays about Richard in the late sixteenth century, not just Shakespeare's famous history play but also less well-known theatrical Richards.”

The events are also part of this year’s Summer Reunion Open Day, held annually for graduates of the University both across the UK and worldwide.

The day features a range of dedicated events and activities organised especially for graduates, staff and friends of the University.

There will be celebrations of the 90^th anniversary of the Department of Geography, the 50^th anniversary of the Department of Engineering and the 90^th anniversary of the Students’ Union.

There will also be a BBQ on the main campus, drinks in the 1923 Restaurant and children’s activities.

To book your place and for more information about the Richard III Open Day – which is open to the general public – go to: www.le.ac.uk/richardiii-openday

Any graduates of the University who would like to find out more about the Summer Reunion Open Day and book their places can call 0116 2231071 or email: alumni.relations@le.ac.uk

The Search for Richard III was led by the University of Leicester, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society.

Ends

Notes to media:

For more information, please contact Rosemary Faint, Alumni Relations Officer, on 0116 223 1071 or at: alumni.relations@le.ac.uk

The University of Leicester has been shortlisted for a clutch of national awards, in part following worldwide attention for the Discovery of King Richard III.

The first awards nomination is in the 2013 Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards which celebrate the sector’s leadership, management, financial and business skills. They are designed to showcase the extraordinary innovation, teamwork and commercial acumen of UK higher education institutions.

The University of Leicester has been shortlisted in two categories:

• Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team
• Outstanding University Fundraising Initiative

The University’s work surrounding openness in communicating animal research, its work on the Search for Richard III and the development of the debating platform Leicester Exchanges led to it being shortlisted for Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team.

Fundraising for the University’s Cardiovascular Research Centre led to the nomination for Outstanding University Fundraising Initiative.

In the second awards competition, the University of Leicester has been shortlisted for six national 2013 Heist Awards for Education Marketing.

The University has been nominated in the following entries:

• Best PR/ Advocacy Campaign
• Best Alumni or Fundraising Campaign
• Best Postgraduate Prospectus
• Best Student Recruitment Campaign
• Best Undergraduate Prospectus
• Heist Awards’ Marketing Department of the Year

The PR/Advocacy campaign category focuses on the media strategy surrounding the announcement of the Discovery of King Richard III and is a major component of the bid for Marketing Department of the Year.

Richard Taylor, Deputy Registrar, said: “Leicester is the only university in the UK to have won six consecutive THE Awards. There’s a good chance now that we may add a seventh. It’s pleasing to see the University shortlisted for such a range of awards. Working closely with academic colleagues, my marketing colleagues have been able to deliver some excellent projects and publications this year”.

Winners of the Times Higher Awards will be announced on 20 June while the Heist Awards ceremony will take place in Manchester on 11 July.

• The Search for Richard III was led by the University of Leicester, working with Leicester City Council, and in association with the Richard III Society.

Ends

Interviews (Friday morning only) – contact John Thomas at University of Leicester: 0116 2525038, email: jst6@leicester.ac.uk

Images available from er134@le.ac.uk

• Archaeologists find 13 burials
• They discover personal items like hairpins and belt buckles
• A ring is found bearing a possible early Christian symbol
• People with different beliefs were buried alongside each other

The University of Leicester archaeological unit that discovered King Richard III has spearheaded another dig and discovered a 1,700-old- Roman cemetery – under another car park in Leicester.

The latest dig follows the historic discovery of King Richard III by colleagues from the same unit.

The find has revealed remains thought to date back to 300AD – and includes personal items such as hairpins, rings, belt buckles and remains of shoes.

In addition, the team has found a jet ring with a curious symbol etched onto it, apparently showing the letters IX overlain.  Opinion as to its meaning is divided; it may just be an attractive design but it is also reminiscent of an early Christian symbol known as an IX (Iota-Chi) monogram taken from the initials of Jesus Christ in Greek.

The University of Leicester archaeologists have also identified the unusual practice of Christian burials alongside pagan burials.

In total, archaeologists have identified 13 sets of remains at the car park in Oxford Street in Leicester’s historic city centre.

Archaeological Project Officer John Thomas said: “We have discovered new evidence about a known cemetery that existed outside the walled town of Roman Leicester during the 3rd-4th Centuries AD.

“The excavation, at the junction of Oxford Street and Newarke Street, lay approximately 130m outside the south gate of Roman Leicester, adjacent to one of the main routes into the town from the south (Oxford Street).  Roman law forbade burial within the town limits so cemeteries developed outside the walls, close to well-used roads.

“Previous excavations on Newarke Street had discovered numerous burials to the immediate east and north of the present site, all of which appeared to have been buried according to Christian traditions - buried in a supine position, facing east with little or no grave goods.

“Unusually the 13 burials found during the recent excavations, of mixed age and sex, displayed a variety of burial traditions including east to west & north  to south oriented graves, many with personal items such as finger rings, hairpins, buckles and hob-nailed shoes.

“One in particular appears to have been buried in a Christian tradition, facing east and wearing a polished jet finger ring on their left hand which has a possible early Christian Iota - Chi monogram etched onto it, taking the initial letters from the Greek for Jesus Christ.  If so this would represent rare evidence for a personal statement of belief from this period.

“In contrast a nearby and probably near contemporary grave appeared to indicate very different beliefs.  This grave had a north-south orientation, with the body laid on its side in a semi-foetal position, with the head removed and placed near the feet alongside two complete pottery jars that would have held offerings for the journey to the afterlife.  This would seem to be a very pagan burial, so it is possible from the variety of burials found that the cemetery catered for a range of beliefs that would have been important to people living in Leicester at this time.”

The excavations also add information to the increasingly well documented medieval southern suburb of the town, revealing remains of 12th-13th century quarries, cess-pits and rubbish pits that would have been dug in the backyards of properties fronting onto Oxford Street.

Mr Thomas added: “All of these pits contained a wealth of information from pottery, bone and environmental remains to help build a picture of medieval life in this part of the town.  A large 17th century defensive ditch running alongside Newarke Street was also discovered which was part of the town’s defences during the English Civil War.”

The site is currently earmarked for development.

• The Search for Richard III was led by the University of Leicester, working with Leicester City Council, and in association with the Richard III Society.

Ends

NOTE TO EDITORS:

For interviews contact John Thomas, project officer at University of Leicester Archaeological Services on:

For more information contact John Thomas (Friday Morning only) on tel: 0116 2525038, mob: 07788419598 (not for publication), email: jst6@leicester.ac.uk

Search for Richard III press pack (images and background information): http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/media-centre/richard-iii

Archaeologists who discovered King Richard III under a car park now plan to exhume a second discovery found nearby- a 600-year-old lead lined stone coffin.

University of Leicester Archaeological Services has applied to the Ministry of Justice for an exhumation licence and to Leicester City Council to extend their dig to discover more about the Church of the Grey Friars where King Richard III was buried

Lead archaeologist Richard Buckley, of the University of Leicester, said the stone coffin potentially contains the 14th century remains of a medieval knight called Sir William Moton. He is believed to have been buried at Grey Friars Church in 1362 – over a century before King Richard III.

The dig, due to start in July, will involve digging at the site of the former Alderman Newton Grammar School, next to the car park, and will entail partial demolition of a Victorian  wall separating the sites.

Mr Buckley said: "This will be a great opportunity to confirm the plan of the east end of the Grey Friars church to learn more about its dating and architecture, and will give us the chance to investigate other burials known to be inside the building."

Mr Buckley said the tomb is one of four graves uncovered during the Search for Richard III.

The dig is funded by the University of Leicester and Leicester City Council, and will add to the historical information available about medieval Leicester.

The former School where the dig is due to take place is being converted into a Richard III heritage centre to coincide with the reinterment at nearby Leicester Cathedral next year.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “It’s important that the University is given the chance to continue its excavation of the site, as it’s quite possible there are more interesting discoveries to be made within the old Grey Friars church.

“Our aim is for the gravesite located within 6-8 St Martins to become part of the new visitor centre, and the removal of part of the wall will be necessary to make this happen.  This application is therefore a step forward in the development of the site.”

The archaeological excavation would start at the beginning of July and last for around four weeks. There will be opportunities for the public to see the work in progress.

The University of Leicester discovered human remains with signs of battle trauma in August 2012.   The remains were exhumed in September and, following extensive scientific investigations, a team from the University of Leicester confirmed the remains were those of King Richard III in February 2013.

Following further examination by the University of Leicester, preparations are taking place for a reinterment at Leicester Cathedral in spring 2014.

The Search for Richard III was led by the University of Leicester, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society.

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS:

More information:  Please contact University of Leicester press office: 0116 252 2415 or pressoffice@le.ac.uk

A BREATHTAKING reconstruction head and face of King Richard III is due to take pride of place in Leicester as the first stop on a nationwide tour.

The replica head - made from detailed scans of King's Richard's skull -will take pride of place in Leicester's Guildhall, as a centrepiece of the current Richard III exhibition, from May 18 to June 9.

It will then go on a nationwide tour, where it will be displayed firstly at Bosworth Battlefield, in June and early July, before going onto Yorkshire, Northampton and the British Museum in London, where it will remain on display until February 2014.

The head will finally return home to Leicester in spring 2014 to go on permanent display at the city's new Richard III visitor centre, which is being created at the former Leicester Grammar School in St Martin's Place, next to the grave site.

King Richard's reconstructed head was commissioned by the Richard III Society, which has agreed for the head to be displayed eventually at the new visitor centre.

The model head relies on pin-point details from a CT scan taken of the king's skull by Leicester Royal Infirmary, following the discovery of his remains beneath the Greyfriars car park in August 2012 by a team of archaeologists from the University of Leicester.

It was created by the forensic art team of the University of Dundee, and offers the most accurate yet interpretation of what King Richard could have looked like in life. It was revealed for the first time in the Channel 4 documentary, The King in the Car Park, earlier this year.

Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: "Richard's story is a fascinating part of the city's history, and this replica head further helps bring that story to life.

"It is fantastic piece of work, bringing together the latest technology and forensic evidence to recreate King Richard's appearance.

"I am delighted that will be on display in Leicester. The temporary exhibition at the Guildhall has already proved enormously popular, and the addition of the head will no doubt attract many more visitors.

"We are most grateful to the Richard III Society for enabling this nationwide tour to take place.

"Once the tour is complete, the head will be given pride of place as a centrepiece in our new Richard III visitor centre, which I very much look forward to."

The temporary exhibition, entitled Richard III: Leicester¹s Search for a King, is running at Leicester Guildhall. For more details visit www.visitleicester.info/richardIII

Ends

For further information please contact Christian Dezelu, Press Officer, on 0116 252 6081.

For more news visit www.leicester.gov.uk/news or follow us at www.twitter.com/leicester_news

• The Search for Richard III was led by the University of Leicester, working with Leicester City Council, in association with the Richard III Society.

A podcast is available here: http://soundcloud.com/university-of-leicester/the-language-and-literature-of

Richard III may have undergone painful medical treatments for his spinal curvature, according to research from a University of Leicester researcher.

Dr Mary Ann Lund, of the University’s School of English, has carried out research into the kinds of scoliosis treatments available at the time Richard III was alive.

The remains of Richard III discovered by University of Leicester archaeologists revealed that the King suffered from severe scoliosis, which he probably developed in early adolescence.

Scoliosis – a lateral or side-to-side curvature of the spine – can be a very painful condition to live with.

But some of the treatments practised in the late medieval period would have themselves caused sufferers a lot of anguish.

Among the “cures” practised was traction – the same principle on which “the Rack” worked as an instrument of torture.

The patient would be tied under the armpits and round the legs. The ropes were then pulled at either end, often on a wooden roller, to stretch the patient’s spine.

The treatment would probably have only been available to those who could afford it.

Richard III would certainly have been able to afford the highest levels of medical care available – and his physicians would have been well aware of the standard “traction” methods for treating the condition.

Dr Lund charted the influence of Greek philosopher Hippocrates – who developed early prototype methods of dealing with spinal disorders – to the 11^th century Persian polymath Avicenna.

Avicenna’s treatises on medicine and philosophy were highly regarded in Medieval Europe. His theories on using traction in scoliosis treatment would have been widely read and practised by doctors in Richard III’s lifetime.

Avicenna also advocated the massage techniques practised in Turkish baths, and herbal applications, as treatments for back disorders.  In the longer term, patients might wear a long piece of wood or metal in an attempt to straighten their back.

Dr Lund said: “Scoliosis is a painful illness, and Richard would have been in quite a lot of pain on a daily basis. These methods could also have been very painful – but people would have expected treatments to be unpleasant.

“Medical practices could exacerbate conditions rather than improving them. These treatments would have only been open to people in the upper echelons. Richard would have probably received these treatments because he was a member of the nobility.”

Later methods of treatment for scoliosis included the orthosis, which was developed by French physician Ambroise Paré in the late 16^th century.

This was a tightly fitting metal corset for treating scoliosis made by an armourer, which would have been worn by patients to brace the skeleton in an attempt to correct the curvature of the spine.

You can hear more from Dr Sarah Knight and Dr Mary Ann Lund in our podcast: http://soundcloud.com/university-of-leicester/the-language-and-literature-of

Ends

Notes:

For more information, please contact Dr Mary Ann Lund on 0116 252 5262 or at: maejl1@le.ac.uk

More press material on the University of Leicester’s Search for Richard III can be found at: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/media-centre/richard-iii

• The Search for Richard III was led by the University of Leicester, working with Leicester City Council, in association with the Richard III Society.

The 2013 Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards celebrate the sector’s leadership, management, financial and business skills. They are designed to showcase the extraordinary innovation, teamwork and commercial acumen of UK higher education institutions.

Leicester has been shortlisted in two categories:

• Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team
• Outstanding University Fundraising Initiative

Richard Taylor, Deputy Registrar, said: “Leicester is the only university in the UK to have won six consecutive THE Awards. There’s a good chance now that we may add a seventh.”

Leicester work surrounding openness in communicating animal research, its work on the Search for Richard III and the development of the debating platform Leicester Exchanges led to it being shortlisted for Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team.

Fundraising for the University’s Cardiovascular Research Centre led to the nomination for  Outstanding University Fundraising Initiative.

The winners will be announced on 20 June.

More information: http://www.thelmawards.co.uk/thelma2013/shortlist

Ends

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 8 April 2013

The historian who decades ago correctly predicted the whereabouts of the remains of Richard III is to be celebrated at the launch of a new edition of his biography of the king.

David Baldwin, a retired University of Leicester historian, has brought out a new paperback edition of Richard III, his biography of the medieval monarch. He correctly predicted that the King’s remains would be found where they were originally buried - having pointed to the site in an article published in 1986.

The book, which was first published last year, has been updated with a new final chapter covering the University of Leicester’s momentous discovery of the king’s remains in Leicester’s Grey Friars car park.

In his 1986 article, David suggested the remains of the last Plantagenet king would be found on the site of the Grey Friary during the 21^st century.

He rejected the popular belief that Richard III’s remains were dug up and thrown into a local river when the friary was dissolved.

In his 1986 work, he pointed to the possible location of the burial site of King Richard III and wrote: ‘It is possible, (though perhaps now unlikely) that at some time in the 21^st century, an excavator may yet reveal the slight remains of this famous monarch’.

David was part of the press conference at the University of Leicester where the momentous announcement was made that the University had discovered King Richard III.  Lead Archaeologist on the project, Richard Buckley, referenced David Baldwin’s historical research at the press conference.

The new book is a scholarly but accessible account which studies Richard’s dealings with his contemporaries to answer the question: ‘what was Richard III really like?’.

David Baldwin said: “I was pleased that my 1986 Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society article assisted the archaeologists in their search for King Richard's body, and that the discovery confirmed my thesis that his remains had not been thrown into the River Soar at the Dissolution.

“It’s been very satisfying to have my work vindicated, indeed, it’s been quite exciting. When you put ideas forward you don’t expect to see them proven to this extent. I admit I thought there was only a slender chance of finding the king’s remains, but followed the project with great interest. Now, it’s hard to believe the extent to which my prediction has been proved right.

“My biography, which was first published in hardback in February last year, was due to be reprinted in paperback, so it was an obvious opportunity to add an extra chapter and bring the story up to date.”

Richard III, by David Baldwin, is published by Amberley. It is available from the University of Leicester Bookshop on 0116 229 7440 or at http://shop.le.ac.uk/ .

The book launch will occur at 6pm on Tuesday 9 April at the University of Leicester Bookshop.

The University of Leicester led the Search for Richard III, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society.

Ends

More information about the book can be found at: http://www.amberleybooks.com/shop/article_9781445615912/Richard-III.html

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 4 April 2013   

The University of Leicester today announced it has joined iTunes® U, the world's largest online catalog of free educational content from top schools and prominent libraries, museums and institutions, that helps educators create courses including lectures, assignments, books, quizzes and syllabi, and offers them to millions of iOS users around the world.

The University of Leicester on iTunes U will include lectures and research talks from the Alec Jeffreys Forensic Science Institute and the Institute for Learning Innovation, alongside departments including: Criminology, Chemistry, Engineering, English, Management, Mathematics, Media and Communications, Politics and IR and Psychology. Specific iTunes U course highlights and collections include: the Search for King Richard III, the Urban History course and The Social Life of the Factory, which will offer interactive videos, interviews, and books offering a social view of the post-war British manufacturing sector.

Professor Gráinne Conole, Professor of Learning Innovation and Director of the Institute of Learning Innovation at the University of Leicester, said: “We are delighted to have launched a presence for the University of Leicester on iTunes U. We believe we have released an exciting set of multimedia resources, which give a flavour of what is distinctive about Leicester's student experience.

“We have materials from across different disciplines and are particularly pleased to be able to include materials on Richard III. We think these materials will give learners an opportunity to explore the distinctive approach Leicester takes to teaching and learning, and that it demonstrates that innovative and pedagogical effective approaches to learning are core to our mission.

“We plan to continue to add additional material over the coming months to ensure that the site is vibrant and dynamic.”

The free iTunes U app, featuring courses, collections and educational resources, gives educators and students everything they need on their iPad®, iPhone® and iPod touch® to teach and take entire courses. With iTunes U, students and lifelong learners gain easy access to enriching educational content no matter where ideas are shared or interests are explored.

For more information, please visit The University of Leicester on iTunes U.

ends

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Terese Bird (Learning Technologist and SCORE Research Fellow, Institute of Learning Innovation) tmb10@le.ac.uk or +44 (0)116 252 5763.

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 15 March 2013

The 2013 Alumni Lecture: The Search for Richard III – the Archaeology and the Genetic

6.00pm on Thursday 21 March     

Peter Williams Lecture Theatre, Fielding Johnson Building, South Wing

Free and open to the public

This year's Alumni Lecture at the University of Leicester will provide an insight into the Search for Richard III with a focus on the archaeological search for the King and the process of identifying the skeleton.     

The lecture, ‘The Search for Richard III – the Archaeology and the Genetics’ on Thursday 21 March, will be presented by two University of Leicester graduates and leading members of the Richard III Project Team. It is free and open to the public.

Mathew Morris was Fieldwork Director on the Grey Friars dig and is an Archaeologist in the University of Leicester’s Archaeological Services; and Dr Turi King was Project Geneticist and Lecturer in Genetics and Archaeology in the Department of Genetics and the School of Historical Studies.

The University of Leicester led the Search for Richard III, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society.

Mathew will place Grey Friars in the context of medieval Leicester and will look at how the University of Leicester’s Archaeological Services undertook the search for the Friary, what was found and explain what it tells us about Grey Friars. Mathew will then examine the archaeological and osteological evidence for identifying the skeleton as Richard III.

Mathew said: “As an archaeologist it is really unusual to be given a chance to look for someone who you can actually put a name to, who isn’t anonymous but is an important historical figure with a tangible story."

To follow, Dr Turi King will speak about her part as the Project Geneticist and the DNA analysis which contributed to the evidence that these were indeed the remains of Richard III.

With her background in both genetics and archaeology, Dr Turi King was brought onto the Grey Friars project early on.  Her role was to advise on the excavation of any remains deemed suitable for ancient DNA analysis and then to conduct such analysis as it arose.

Dr King said: “This has been a tremendously exciting project to be a part of and it's been a privilege to work as part such a great team.  I will never forget the feeling of looking at the first sequencing results and seeing the match; I went utterly still.”

The Alumni Lecture will take place on Thursday 21st March from 6.00pm in the Peter Williams Lecture Theatre, Fielding Johnson Building, South Wing.

University graduates, staff, students and members of the public are all welcome to attend.

For more information and to book your place, please visit http://www2.le.ac.uk/alumni

You can also email alumni.relations@le.ac.uk or telephone: 0116 223 1071.

Keep abreast of the latest Alumni news and events on our webpage: http://www2.le.ac.uk/alumni

and via our Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/leicesteralumni

  Ends 

Notes to editors: 

For more information please contact Sharon Raynor via email at slc49@le.ac.uk or telephone: 0116 229 7464

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on behalf of Leicester Cathedral on 12 March 2013

At 12 noon tomorrow,  Wednesday 13^th March Leicester Cathedral will publish the Design Brief that will be given to the architects who have been selected to provide a scheme to reinter King Richard III in an appropriate way. The date follows a meeting on 12^th March at which the Cathedral Chapter will finalise the details of the brief including the recommendations of the Fabric Advisory Committee which met recently.

The document will describe the place of the Cathedral in Leicester’s history and culture. It will outline some of the issues faced by the challenge of honouring a king within a space used by many people and for a variety services, and seek a solution to ensuring visitors will be able to see the resting place while allowing prayer and worship to continue. The brief includes ideas currently being proposed and examples of the ways in which the tombs of monarchs and politicians are marked.

Canon Barry Naylor, Acting-Dean of the Cathedral, is delighted we can begin the process. “It’s been both a delight and a challenge to be asked to receive a king into the Cathedral. Since the announcement that he had been found thousands of people have come to see the existing memorial stone and to spend time in the Cathedral, and we know this will continue once he is reinterred. It is therefore vitally important that we take note of all aspects of Cathedral life now and in the foreseeable future in our plans.”

The Revd Mandy Ford is Chair of the Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee. “This is the first step in the design and consultation process which leads to receive planning approval from the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England. We hope to complete this process within the next few months, such that we will be ready for spring next year”.

The University of Leicester led the Search for Richard III, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society. The Discovery of King Richard III’s remains in a Leicester car park  was confirmed by the University of Leicester  on 4 February, 2013,  and, as Licence holders, the University announced plans  for the reinterment at Leicester Cathedral on the same day.

ends

The Architect’s Brief, together with some Frequently Asked Questions will be available on three websites from 12noon on Wednesday 13 March.

On the 12^th March Leicester Cathedral Chapter agreed the design brief to go to the architects who will be design the full scheme for the grave of King Richard lll. This brief should be read with the accompanying explanatory questions and answers. If photographs are reproduced please include the copyright information in the Appendix

The Diocese of Leicester www.leicester.anglican.org 

Leicester Cathedral www.leicestercathedral.org

University of Leicester: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dsuqo96jhgaro0v/c9IYoc5ECr

Notes:

Canon Barry Naylor will be available for interview from 12.30pm on Wednesday 13^th March. If you have not already done so and would like to speak to Barry in person or by phone please let us know as soon as possible to book a time.

Call Michaela, PA to the Dean, 01162615356 or email michaela.pursglove@leccofe.org

Liz Hudson

Director of Communications, Diocese of Leicester  
dl : 0116 261 5302
e: liz.hudson@leccofe.org  
St Martins House, 7 Peacock Lane, Leicester LE1 5PZ
Reception 0116 261 5200

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 12 March 2013

Photo Opps at Bosworth Battlefield on Thursday March 14: contact Dr Sarah Knight on 0116 252 2631 or at: sk218@leicester.ac.uk

University of Leicester students will visit the site of Richard III’s death and learn the art of Shakespearean stage fighting on Thursday, March 14.

First-year students who have been studying Shakespeare’s Richard III as part of their English degree will perform the final duel between Richard and Henry VII at the site of the Battle of Bosworth - the final battle of the Wars of the Roses.

A group of 40 students will be given a workshop by East Midlands-based theatre companies 1623 and Lostboys on combining Shakespeare’s words with a choreographed combat routine.

They will also learn more about Shakespeare’s historical sources for his play – and will gain an exciting insight into the University’s Search for Richard III.

Students will travel to Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park, near Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, and will arm themselves with mock swords for the workshops between 10.45am and 2.30pm.

The day was organised by Dr Sarah Knight and Dr Mary Ann Lund, of the University’s School of English.

The pair recently produced an article for the Times Literary Supplement charting the evolution of descriptions of Richard III as a “hunchback” in light of the discovery of Richard III’s scoliosis by University of Leicester archaeologists. Given the archaeological dig and subsequent discoveries the Bosworth trip has proved very popular among students, and the opportunity to visit the battle site is clearly of great interest given what has been found in Leicester this year.

Organiser Dr Sarah Knight, a senior lecturer in Shakespeare and Renaissance literature in the University’s School of English, said: “Literature students often read plays straightforwardly as scripts rather than considering them as three-dimensional performances. We wanted to give students the chance to expand their understanding of Shakespeare in performance.

“The comments in the wake of last year’s workshops suggest that students find thinking about performance and staging really stimulating when this is juxtaposed with close reading of the texts. It has been particularly interesting to read Richard III with students this year in the light of the recent discoveries.

“The video we made last year demonstrates the student’s engagement and entertainment.”

Students will also have a chance to look around the Bosworth exhibition on the day.

· The University announced on 4 February that the skeleton discovered in Leicester’s  Grey Friars car park in August 2012 was indeed that of King Richard III, the last Plantagenet King of England. The University of Leicester led the Search for Richard III, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society.

Ends

Notes:

For more information, please contact Dr Sarah Knight, of the University’s School of English at: sk218@leicester.ac.uk

Alternatively, please contact Dr Mary Ann Lund on 07531 282 781 or at: maejl1@le.ac.uk

To view the video made in a previous year, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI8syrsrnZw&lr=1

More press material on the University of Leicester’s Search for Richard III can be found at: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/media-centre/richard-iii

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 11 March 2013

Photograph of the mathematician team available at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6e0ym7y8si4igpx/01T5NkmQD-

Mathematics students at the University of Leicester have calculated that archaeologists had less than a 1per cent chance of finding King Richard III when they began their historic search.

And they worked out that the chances of discovering him on the very first day – as the archaeologists did – were just 0.0554 per cent, or odds of 1,785 to 1 against!

But, thankfully, the discovery was not entirely left to chance –the world-class research, planning, experience and expertise of the University of Leicester archaeologists reduced the odds against them.

It is now known that the team from the University of Leicester discovered the King following detailed research that helped them narrow down the possible location of the Grey Friars Church and burial site.

A detailed desk-study produced before the project began pinpointed the options available to the archaeologists who used over 30 years’ experience of digs in Leicester to work out the best places for the trenches as well as recognising the choir of the church where Richard was found - but there was a very high risk that his remains were no longer there or were under a part of the site not available for investigation.

As part of a maths project, undergraduate students on the Business Applications of Mathematics module were asked to work out the probability of the University of Leicester archaeologists finding the remains at the time they started the investigation.  They concluded that there only a 0.84% chance of the team discovering Richard - or about 120 to 1 against.

And they further calculated:

• the chances of Richard having been buried in the Grey Friars church were about 85%

• there was about a 98% chance that the location of the Grey Friars precinct had been identified with sufficient accuracy

• only 2,322m² of the total area of the Grey Friars precinct of 13,648m² (about 17%) was available for investigation. The students thought the chances of the choir –where Richard was reputed to have been buried - being in the available area were about 25%.

• The skeleton might not have survived, even if it were in the available area.  The students assessed the chances of the body still being there (if it had been there at all) as about 66%.

• One of the most difficult chances to assess was that the investigation carried out would identify the choir.  The students assessed the chances of the investigation finding the choir, if it were there, at about 15% and the chances of finding the grave within the choir if the choir were found at 80%.

• The students considered that the odds on being able to identify the skeleton as Richard’s were about 50%.

Dr Clive Rix, a visiting lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, said: “The odds of actually finding King Richard III were very low indeed. Any commercial organisation would be looking for the potential of fairly spectacular returns to justify an investment with such a low chance of success – but, of course, this was not a commercial venture.

“Rather it was a research project conducted by a world-class team from the University of Leicester. The fact that Richard was found at all is a testament to the skill of the archaeological team that spearheaded this Search and the expertise that resides across different areas of this University – plus, of course, a bit of luck. ”

Dig supervisor Mathew Morris, of the University of Leicester, was the first person to discover the remains. He said: “Had the first trench been laid just 50cm to the east of where it actually was - we might never have found Richard.”

The University announced on the 4 February that the skeleton discovered in the Grey Friars car park in August 2012 was indeed that of King Richard III, the last Plantagenet King of England.

The University of Leicester led the Search for Richard III, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society.

The archaeological team dug three trenches in the car park of the Grey Friars precinct – and in fact discovered Richard on the first day of the dig.  However, the identification could not occur until an exhumation licence was granted and the team was able to work out the location of the burial on the basis of information from other trenches that were dug.

Dr Rix added: “As part of their course, students look at applications of mathematics to current issues in business, presented by people currently working in those areas.  Assessing risk on the basis of uncertain information is an important aspect of management.  We thought this would be nice way to introduce the subject, as it was a very topical issue.

“Of course, we now know that Richard was there all along, so this is not a probability like the probability of getting ‘heads’ if you toss a coin.  This is more like the odds in a horse race - after the race, you know which horse has won but before it starts you can still assess the odds against each horse winning. 

“In this particular project there were only two outcomes and one of them – ‘we won’t find him’ – was a very short odds favourite.”

Lucie Mungapen (21) from Le Mans, France, is one of the students who worked on the project.  She said:  "The Richard III challenge was a very interesting and for sure the funniest project I had to do so far. I have been able to experience team work and to work on a real-life project for the first time. I can't wait to start working for real now!”

Richard Buckley, the lead archaeologist on the project from the University of Leicester, said: “I always said finding Richard was a long shot!“

The students had to assess, based on all the available evidence:

• the odds on the historical accounts that Richard had been buried in the Grey Friars church being accurate;

• the odds on the archaeologists being able to identify the location of the church;

• the odds on the church being in a part of the site that was available for excavation (given that most of it is now covered by modern buildings and roads);

• the odds on the skeleton still being there (if it had been there at all);

• the odds on finding the church, the choir within the church and the grave within the choir, given the very small length of trench that could be afforded;

• the odds on scientific analysis being able to identify the skeleton if found.

HOW THE CALCULATION WAS MADE:

The students adopted the following approach.

Firstly, break down the problem into the different assumptions that had to be satisfied if Richard’s skeleton were to be found and identified.  They then, on the basis of all the information available, assessed the odds on it being satisfied.  That required the following steps:

1. They had to assess how likely it was that Richard was indeed buried in the Grey Friars church in the first place.  Several historians recorded this shortly after the event, including John Rous and Polydore Vergil.  They were often writing from different perspectives and so the agreement can be regarded as significant.  There is also an account of Henry VII setting aside money to pay for an alabaster tomb for Richard over his grave in the Choir of Grey Friars church.  The students thought the chances of Richard having been buried in the Grey Friars church were about 85%.

2. They next had to decide how likely it was that the archaeologists could accurately identify the location of the Grey Friars Church.  “The earliest Leicester maps date back to the 1700s,’ explained Richard Buckley, lead archaeologist on the project, “but the first most reliable map that was made from a survey of the area dates to 1741.  This was the one we used.”  This map shows the location of the Grey Friars precinct but not the layout of the original buildings inside it, which had been destroyed after the dissolution of the monasteries 200 years earlier.  Comparison of the map with modern maps showed that the surviving streets and buildings were accurately recorded on the earlier map, so the students assessed that there was about a 98% chance that the location of the Grey Friars precinct had been identified with sufficient accuracy.

3. One of the main problems was that most of the Grey Friars precinct had been built over, so only 2,322m² of the total area of the Grey Friars precinct of 13,648m² (about 17%) was available for investigation.  Fortunately, many of the unavailable areas were in parts of the site where the church was unlikely to be found.  Mediaeval friaries followed a fairly common plan:  “there would be a square courtyard or ‘cloister garth’ ranged around which would be a chapter house and dormitory (normally on east side), a church (on north or south sides) a refectory and a cellarer’s range (usually west)” said Mr Buckley.  The church would probably not have been on the very edge of the site or on the western edge so, despite the relatively small area available for excavation, the students thought the chances of the choir being in the available area were about 25%.

4. The skeleton might not have survived, even if it were in the available area.  But the soils in this area are good for the preservation of the bones and most of that part of the site available for investigation has never been disturbed.  After the Friary was abandoned a mansion was built on the site, with gardens and orchards.  The part of the site available for excavations was in the latter and it is unlikely that the skeleton would have been disturbed by cultivation.  Since then building development has been round the edge of the site, mainly under the area that is currently built on.  A story that the skeleton was dug up and thrown in the river after the burial was largely discounted.  The students assessed the chances of the body still being there (if it had been there at all) as about 66%.

5. One of the most difficult chances to assess was that the investigation carried out would identify the choir.  The total area actually investigated by trenching was only 172m², 7½% of the area available.  However, the skill and experience of the archaeologists in deciding where to place the trenches – and in particular using the information from each trench to guide the placement of subsequent trenches – has to be taken into account.  It was a matter of judgement, as well as good luck, that the first trench encountered the church (though it could not be identified as such until careful placing of the second trench identified the east side of the cloister) but the placement of the trench meant it would have been unlucky indeed not to encounter something.  Once the choir had been identified, it would have been relatively straightforward to carry out a more detailed exploration of it.  Taking everything into consideration, the students assessed the chances of the investigation finding the choir, if it were there, at about 15% and the chances of finding the grave within the choir if the choir were found at 80%.

6. If his skeleton were found, it still had to be identified as Richard’s.  A number of tests were possible, some of which would be reasonably conclusive and some would merely strengthen the case that Richard had been found.  The mitochondrial DNA test would be the most compelling, provided a suitable sample could be extracted from the skeleton, and the fact that a descendant through 16th generations of the maternal line had already been found made this a reasonable prospect.  Radiocarbon dating could show that the skeleton was definitely not that of Richard if the dates had been inconsistent but only provide supporting evidence otherwise, as its accuracy was unlikely to be better than to within 8o years.  The condition of the skeleton – did it show evidence of wounds consistent with dying in battle, and did it show evidence of the deformity reported by Shakespeare and others, if indeed such deformity existed, given the efforts to blacken Richard’s name after his death?  A range of tests was available but many of them would give at best supporting evidence.  The students considered that the odds on being able to identify the skeleton as Richard’s were about 50%.

Since all these conditions have to be satisfied and they are independent of each other, the percentages  can be multiplied together to give the overall chance of finding and identifying Richard at 0.84% - or about 120 to 1 against.

Odds of finding Richard on Day 1:

There were 12 days of investigation, plus a contingency day.  If all these days had been equally likely then the probability of finding him on the first day would have been one twelfth of the total probability.  However, the later days would have been more likely as the archaeologists could use the information from the first trench to inform their decisions about later trenches, thus improving their chances, so the mathematicians have discounted the one twelfth by 20%.  That means the chances of finding him on the first day were about 6.6% of 0.84% - 0 .0554% - about  1,785 to 1 against.

*Dr Clive Rix  is a freelance Business Adviser, in the fields of strategic planning, marketing and regulation.  He is also a visiting lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Leicester, where he specialises in business and other practical applications of mathematics.  He was Chief Business Adviser to the UK Competition Commission until 2002.  Prior to that, he was Head of Marketing Operations for British Coal, leaving after privatisation.  He holds a first class honours degree in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Bristol in the History and Philosophy of Mathematics.

NOTE TO EDITORS

For more information please contact Clive Rix on cr140@leicester.ac.uk

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on behalf of Leicester Cathedral in 7 March 2013

At 12 noon on Wednesday 13th March Leicester Cathedral will publish the Design Brief that will be given to the architects who have been selected to provide a scheme to reinter King Richard lll in an appropriate way. The date follows a meeting on 12th March at which the Cathedral Chapter will finalise the details of the brief including the recommendations of the Fabric Advisory Committee which met recently.

The document will describe the place of the Cathedral in Leicester’s history and culture. It will outline some of the issues faced by the challenge of honouring a king within a space used by many people and for a variety services, and seek a solution to ensuring visitors will be able to see the resting place while allowing prayer and worship to continue.

Canon Barry Naylor, Acting-Dean of the Cathedral, is delighted we can begin the process. “It’s been both a delight and a challenge to be asked to receive a king into the Cathedral. Since the announcement that he had been found thousands of people have come to see the existing memorial stone and to spend time in the Cathedral, and we know this will continue once he is reinterred. It is therefore vitally important that we take note of all aspects of Cathedral life in planning where and how Richard will be reinterred”.

The Revd Mandy Ford is Chair of the Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee. “This will be the first step in a design and consultation process which leads to receive planning approval from the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England. We hope to complete this process as soon as possible within the next few months”.

The University of Leicester led the Search for Richard III, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society.

-ends-

The Architect’s Brief, together with some Frequently Asked Questions will be available on the Cathedral website www.leicestercathedral.org

Note:

Canon Barry Naylor will be available for interview from 12.30 on Wednesday 13th. If you would like to speak to Barry in person or by phone please let us know as soon as possible to book a time slot.

Call Michaela, PA to the Dean, 01162615356

Liz Hudson

Director of Communications, Diocese of Leicester

dl : 0116 261 5302

e: liz.hudson@leccofe.org

St Martins House, 7 Peacock Lane, Leicester LE1 5PZ

Reception 0116 261 5200

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 6 March 2013

Concept art of the new gallery wing available from pt91@le.ac.uk

The University of Leicester’s plans to provide the city with a new home for contemporary visual arts have taken a significant step forward with the news that Arts Council England has agreed to provide £600,000 towards the capital costs of the project.

The New Galleries Wing will be an extension to Embrace Arts, the University’s inclusive, multi-use arts venue at the Richard Attenborough centre on Lancaster Road. It will provide a number of interlinked spaces, all open to the general public, to showcase the best in contemporary visual art and sculpture

It is hoped the new wing will be opened by early 2015, subject to the University of Leicester raising the remaining £900,000 of the £1.5 million cost.

“This is a significant – and very welcome –  milestone for the project,” commented Professor Sir Robert Burgess, the University’s Vice-Chancellor. “We are extremely grateful to Arts Council England for its endorsement of our vision to create a national centre of excellence for inclusive arts practice in Leicester, to be enjoyed by local people and visitors to the city alike.”

Peter Knott, Director, Arts Council England said: “Arts Council is delighted Embrace Arts has been successful in its application, which will allow them to extend their existing gallery space for the display and interpretation of contemporary visual art.

“They have a strong history of promotion and engagement by and for disabled people in the arts but their current exhibition space is extremely limited. Our investment, which is conditional on the rest of the funding being secured, will allow them to build two flexible gallery spaces and a sculpture court.

“This will increase access for audiences and really add something to the already vibrant arts and cultural scene in Leicester.”

Sir Peter Soulsby, the City Mayor, said he was pleased to have supported the application to Arts Council with a letter endorsing the University’s plans for the new gallery. He said: “This will be another great quality cultural attraction in Leicester. Added to the amazing discovery of Richard III, it further strengthens Leicester’s claim to become a City of Culture.”

Professor Sir Robert Burgess said: “We have already secured almost £400,000 through our Development Team’s Breaking Barriers Appeal. We have been delighted with the positive response we have had so far from trusts and foundations – and from our own graduates, whose donations resulted in the highest amount we have ever raised in our annual alumni appeal. With decisions on some major applications due over the next few months, we are really hopeful that we can have the new gallery open for 2015.”

The main space in the new gallery will be double height, allowing the University of Leicester’s Embrace Arts to bring large-scale artwork to Leicester for the first time (Image credit: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios).

The extension to Embrace Arts will provide an additional 400 square metres of gallery space, increasing the size of the building by 50%. Originally known as The Richard Attenborough Centre for Arts and Disability, the building was the result of a campaign championed and led by Lord (then Sir Richard) Attenborough. It was officially opened on 27 May 1997 by HRH Diana, The Princess of Wales as one of her last public engagements before her untimely death.

“We are one of only two purpose-built accessible arts centres in the East Midlands for the promotion of arts and disability,” said Embrace Arts co-director Michaela Butter. “This new development will similarly be fully accessible and use the latest in technology, enabling disabled and non-disabled audiences to enjoy the very best of the contemporary arts in new and exciting ways.”

“The original plans for the building had allowed for a more ambitious gallery space than was possible at the time,” Michaela explained, “so we are delighted that we can now take that vision forward 17 years since it first opened.”

“In developing our plans we have worked closely with other visual arts providers, artists, community groups, disabled people and others, and will continue to do so,” she added, “to ensure we create a great place where everyone can enjoy and get involved in high-quality arts.”

The funding boost has been greeted with enthusiasm by, among others, Hugo Worthy, exhibitions officer – contemporary art at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, who said:

“I am thrilled that Embrace has secured this funding. It is a key addition to Leicester’s visual art ecology and will provide amazing new opportunities to see and experience contemporary art.”

Eric Rosoman of The Great Central Gallery & Studios said: “This new gallery space will help to bridge the gap between local artist-run spaces and museum exhibitions. We look forward to their exhibitions with interest and excitement.”

Embrace Arts is located at the Richard Attenborough centre on Lancaster Road near the fire station (LE1 7HA). More information is available at www.embracearts.co.uk

[Ends]

Notes to Editors:

Please find attached two artist’s impressions:

Image 1

A glass front to the new gallery space adjoining the existing Embrace Arts’ building at the University of Leicester on Lancaster Road will create a light and airy space for the display of contemporary sculpture and art with an outdoor sculpture court (Image credit: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios).

Image 2

The main space in the new gallery will be double height, allowing the University of Leicester’s Embrace Arts to bring large-scale artwork to Leicester for the first time (Image credit: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios).

Further details on this release are available from Gillian Garratt, Marketing Manager, Embrace Arts, email gg81@leicester.ac.uk, tel 07973 188898.

Embrace Arts

Embrace Arts offers opportunities to everyone to participate without barriers in ways that challenge and inspire. Its welcoming performance area, dance and art studios, gallery and bright foyer space enable people to engage with the arts as audiences, performers and learners. 

Embrace Arts fosters inclusive arts practice for artists, audiences and participants across all its performing and visual arts programming, both within the venue and in its outreach activities. Supported by the University of Leicester and Arts Council England and with Lord Attenborough as its patron, it currently engages with more than 45,000 people annually from the city, county and further afield.

Embrace Arts, Richard Attenborough centre, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 7HA. Box office: 0116 252 2455; e-mail: arts-centre@le.ac.uk.

Arts Council England

Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people's lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated £1 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk