Battle for the good name of a maligned king

I READ with interest your report by Martin Hickes (Yorkshire Post, March 30) concerning the research grant for Medieval Studies organised by the Richard III Foundation Inc. Mention is made in the article of the work of the Foundation (an American group) and their desire to clear the name of King Richard III from Tudor bias and misrepresentation.

Your readers may not be aware – and this article certainly does not indicate – that the Richard III Society in Britain and, indeed, worldwide has worked tirelessly to re-examine the role of King Richard in English history and literature. The Society was founded in 1924 and re-founded in 1956, and is privileged to have HRH the Duke of Gloucester as its patron. It has published many scholarly works on the late 15th century, and holds Triennial Conferences at various British universities, as well as granting bursaries for further study.

The Yorkshire branch of the Society, which is the oldest branch, was founded in 1960 and among its activities holds annual commemorations of the battles of Wakefield and Towton, as well as publishing books of local Ricardian interest and assisting with any Wars of the Roses research within Yorkshire.

Perhaps you would make this known to your readers, who are welcome to visit our website www.richardiiiyorkshire.com and find out exactly what we do to promote the good name of this much maligned king.