One way is by becoming a member of the newly formed 1471 Fraternity and thereby make a donation to the funding for this monument.

Membership is available at three distinct levels, Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Gold Membership

Is granted to any person, family or organisation that donates £1471.00p

Silver Membership

Is granted to any person, family or organisation that donates £147-10p

Bronze Membership

Is granted to any person, family or organisation that donates £14-71p

On receipt of their donation each member of the fraternity will be issued with a certificate reflecting the level of their donation. They will also be kept informed on the progress of the project and, when the great day arrives be invited to the unveiling ceremony at the Stonehill roundabout.

It is envisaged that the monument will be constructed during winter 2011 and 2012. Donations would be appreciated as soon as possible. These will be added to the monies already raised and enable the work to progress smoothly to completion.

To become a member please see;  1471 Membership Form

or if you would prefer to make a donation, for any amount, why not make it by Pay Pal.

The final confirmation was a bit of an anti-climax. We were hoping for blowing up of trumpets and unfurling of banners, but it was an email exchange between the Town Clerk and a solicitor at the Borough Council that heralded the completion. We now have an agreement from the County Council that the risks are acceptable, a licence from the Borough Council to the County Council allowing the erection and an agreement between the Town Council and the Borough Council about responsibility for the revenue costs. The only outstanding issue is the conditions we will impose for the transfer of ownership once the work is erected.

Having waited so long for this moment we must now turn our attentions to fundraising.

A lot of money needs to be raised, and at a very difficult time. It was good that we could announce the fund-raising phase at the Medieval Festival. Which was good forum for raising awareness in general, but was unlikely to generate lots of cash immediately. We have a fund-raising group set up tasked with investigating grants and to launch fund raising ideas. Any suggestions, particularly of little-known and wealthy Trusts, would be very welcome. Although we have been slowly accumulating funds over the last 14 years, and now have nearly half the amount required, we are now looking for donations from people or sponsorship from organisations who want there to be a permanent reminder of this important event in our nation’s history. If you wold like to share any fund raising ideas with us,  please use our contacts page. Or if you would like to make a donation, why not joint the 1471 Fraternity.

It was nice to welcome old friends from the Towton Battlefield Society, the Simon de Montfort Society, the Battlefields Trust and as ever the historical artist Graham Turner. We also had two local metal detectorists showing some of their finds, (including the locally found horse pendant showing the arms of Barre) they never seemed to stop talking to interested passers-by.

The Societies trebuchet Mark 2 also had its first outing. (Mark 1 was tested to destruction at an earlier school fete) Christened ‘War Mouse’ it stood up well and was put to some good fun fund-raising use. With some minor adjustments it served us well and will do so again in the future. A surprising number of people seemed intent on jotting down the construction details, maybe to make their own. Perhaps we should have had sets of plans on sale, or even do-it-yourself kits.

The Street Banners of Tewkesbury

In Tewkesbury the book is available from Allison’s Bookshop, the Abbey shop or the Tourist  Information Office, price £12.99.

Alternatively we can post copies to any UK address for £14.99, including postage and packing. Please send your address, order and cheque (payable to ‘Tewkesbury Battlefield Society’) to PO Box 147, Tewkesbury. GL20 9AP

If you are already a member of the Society copies are available for £10.00 each, or we can post you a copy for £12.00 inc. p&p. Please send your name, order and cheque to the above address.

Why not join the Society. £5.00 for individual membership and £10.00 for a book at the same time? This makes for even better value!

For purchases outside the UK please inform us of your address by use of our contacts page and instruct your bank to make a payment of £19.00 Sterling to, Tewkesbury Battlefield Society, Account No. IBAN GB22MIDL40441071312480, (BIC or Swift code MIDLGB2159H), HSBC bank plc, 11A High Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5AP. UK. Asking that our bankers notify us when the money arrives. We will then post your copies to the address supplied.

If you have any problems with this purchase please contact the Treasurer at, brian.howgate@Tisccali.co.uk

He continues to have a very busy professional life as an actor as well as being involved in a number of historical organisations. He presumably also has a private life, so we’re very grateful for his support.

Mr. Hardy is, among many other things, a trustee of the Battlefields Trust. It was in this role that we first met him, at a Battlefields Trust conference in Swindon in 1997. He proved to be a great friend to our cause, which at that point was protecting the battlefield. Among other things, he appeared on a national radio program (Today) to explain the importance of Tewkesbury, and ran rings around the Councilor who was foolish enough to attempt to present the case for housing developments on battlefield sites. We hope that this new relationship will be a long and fruitful one.