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Roger Bigod
Matilda Marshal: A Favourite Historical Figure
17/10/2020 20/10/2020 Sharon Bennett Connolly9 Comments
It is my turn on the Historical Writers Forum Blog Hop today. The theme this time is Favourite Historical Figures. Now, usually, I would automatically go for Nicholaa de la Haye – and she is still my favourite. But today I thought I would have a change and introduce a lady I met whilst writing Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of History in Thirteenth Century Europe.
Matilda Marshal, Countess of Norfolk, Warenne and Surrey.
Matilda – also known as Mahelt or Maud – was the eldest daughter of the great William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, known to many as The Greatest Knight! She lived through on of the most tumultuous periods of English history, the reign of King John, Magna Carta, the First Barons' War and the minority of King Henry III.
Effigy identified as William Marshal, Temple Church, London
Although we do not have a birth date for Matilda Marshal, given that her parents married in 1189 and she had two elder brothers, Matilda was probably born in 1193 or 1194. She was the third child and eldest daughter of William Marshal and his wife Isabel de Clare. The Histoire de Guillaume le Marechale praises Matilda saying she had the gifts of 'wisdom, generosity, beauty, nobility of heart, graciousness, and I can tell you in truth, all the good qualities which a noble lady should possess.'1 The Histoire goes on to say; 'Her worthy father who loved her dearly, married her off, during his lifetime to the best and most handsome party he knew, to Sir Hugh Bigot.'2 Of William and Isabel's five daughters, it is only Matilda who is mentioned in the Histoire as being 'loved dearly' by her father.
In 1207 when the Marshal family moved to Ireland, William looked to settle Matilda's future. Now aged 13 of 14, Matilda was old enough to be married and William approached Roger Bigod, second Earl of Norfolk, to propose a match between Matilda and Roger's son and heir, Hugh Bigod. Hugh was Roger's son by his wife Ida de Tosny, former mistress of King Henry II and the mother of the king's son, William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury. Roger and Ida had married at Christmas in 1181 and so Hugh was probably in his mid-twenties when the marriage with Matilda was suggested.
Coat of arms of Matilda's 1st husband Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk
According to the Histoire William asked Roger Bigod 'graciously, being the wise man he was, to arrange a handsome marriage between his own daughter and his son Hugh. The boy was worthy, mildmannered, and noblehearted and the young lady was a very young thing and both noble and beautiful. The marriage was a most suitable one and pleased both families involved.'3 The match was a good one. After the marriage, Matilda lived with her husband at the earl of Norfolk's magnificent thirteen-towered castle at Framlingham. In 1209 she gave birth to a son, Roger, who would succeed his father as 4th Earl of Norfolk. Another son, Hugh, was born in 1212, and a daughter, Isabelle in 1215. A third and final son, Ralph, was probably born in 1216 or 1217.
Matilda's family was deeply divided by the Magna Carta crisis and subsequent civil war. Her husband and father-in-law had joined the ranks of the baronial rebellion in 1215, as had her brother, William Marshal the Younger, whilst her father remained a staunch supporter of the king, holding the Welsh Marches for the Royalist cause during the civil war.
In 1216 the war touched Matilda personally, with Framlingham Castle being besieged by King John, who demanded the castle's surrender:
The King to his well-beloved men, William le Enveise, constable of Framlingham, and all the knights presently with him in that castle, greetings. We command that you deliver up to our trusty and well beloved William de Harcourt and Elias de Beauchamp the castle of Framlingham. And in testimony hereof we thereto send you these our letters patent. Witness myself, at Framlingham, the thirteenth day of March, in the seventeenth year of our reign.4
We do not know whether Matilda was in residence at the castle at the time of the siege; her father-in-law was in, or on his way to, London and her husband Hugh's whereabouts are unknown, but he was not at Framlingham. The king allowed the constable, William le Enveise, to send messengers to the earl and seek advice on what they should do. The earl probably advised the constable to surrender as the castle capitulated to the king without a fight two days later. One of Matilda's sons, most likely the eldest, Roger, was taken as hostage.
It is not hard to imagine what thoughts and feelings – and fears – must have gone through Matilda's mind, knowing that her young son, only 6 or 7 years of age, was in the custody of King John. The king's treatment of Matilda de Braose was common knowledge, and rumours of what had happened to Arthur of Brittany were rife. Her own two older brothers, William and Richard, had also been held for several years as hostages to their father's good behaviour. It must have been a comfort to Matilda, however, to know that King John depended on the loyalty of her father, and so would treat the boy well, if only to avoid alienating the man whose support he sorely needed.
Framlingham Castle, Norfolk
Despite King John's death in October 1216, Matilda's husband and father-in-law remained in rebellion, supporting the claims of Louis of France, the dauphin, who had invaded England early in 1216 and controlled much of the south. The earl of Norfolk only came to terms with the Royalist government when the French prince returned home in September 1217; after which he was finally restored to the earldom of Norfolk and Framlingham Castle was returned to him. It was probably also at this time that his grandson, Roger, was returned to his mother; his last year as a hostage would have been when his own grandfather, William Marshal, was in power as regent. Which must have allowed Matilda to rest easier and allayed her fears for her son.
Matilda spent time with her father while he was dying in April and May 1219. The Histoire says of Matilda at her father's deathbed:
'My lady Mahelt [Matilda] la Bigote was so full of grief she almost went out of her mind, so great was her love for him. Often she appealed to God, asking Him why He was taking from her what her heart loved most.'5
It goes on to tell the story of the ailing William Marshal calling for his daughters to sing to him. William asked Matilda to be the first to sing:
'She had no wish to do so for her life at the time was a bitter cup, but she
had no wish to disobey her father's command. She started to sing since
she wished to please her father, and she sang exceedingly well, giving a
verse of a song in a sweet, clear voice.'6
Matilda's husband, Hugh, succeeded to the title of earl of Norfolk when his father died sometime between April and August 1221, probably aged well into his seventies. The new earl, however, only enjoyed his title for four years; he died suddenly in 1225, aged only 43. He was succeeded by their eldest son, Roger, then only 16 years old and therefore still a minor. His wardship was given to William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury, the young earl's half-uncle, but when Longespée died the following year, the wardship was transferred to Alexander II, King of Scots.
With custody of the young earl of Norfolk, and of all his lands, Alexander II married Roger to his sister, Isabella of Scotland. The only lands not granted to the king of Scots were those which Matilda held in dower as Hugh Bigod's widow. Matilda was still only 32 when Hugh died, with three of her four children still to care for. As a valuable marriage prize she, or her family, acted quickly to secure her future and safety and within three months of her husband's death, Matilda was married once more.
Arms of William de Warenne
Her second husband was William de Warenne, 5th Earl of Surrey, also known as Earl Warenne. William was the only son of Isabel de Warenne, Countess of Surrey in her own right, and her second husband, Hamelin de Warenne, half-brother of King Henry II. Matilda was the earl's second wife, his first wife, Matilda, daughter of William d'Aubigny, second Earl of Arundel had died childless on 6 February 1215 and was buried at Lewes Priory, Sussex. William de Warenne was a neighbour of the Bigods, having lands centred in Castle Acre in Norfolk, and he had joined the rebellion against King John at about the same time as Roger Bigod, although William was back in the Royalist camp by March 1217 and was a prominent participant in the negotiations which ended the war in August 1217.
Probably born in the late 1260s, William was considerably older than his new wife and the marriage appears to have been one of practicality, rather than affection. The earl had purchased Matilda's marriage, essentially meaning her dower in Norfolk, before July 1225. Matilda continued to style herself as 'Matildis la Bigot' in charters, with 'Matildis de Warenne' added only as an afterthought, or not at all. For example, a charter from the early 1240s, following the death of William de Warenne, has the salutation, 'ego Latilda Bigot comitissa Norf ' et Warenn.'7 This may be an indication that this second marriage was not of Matilda's own choosing and may even have preferred to remain a widow, rather than entering into this second marriage. The continuing use of her name from her first marriage possibly being her own mark of rebellion against her new situation.
After the resolution of the crisis of 1216/1217 William de Warenne served the crown faithfully, save for his brief involvement in the confederation against it led by Henry III's brother Richard of Cornwall, between July and October 1227. He was forced to surrender Tickhill Castle, but his disgrace was only temporary and in 1228 he received the third penny for the county of Surrey for the first time, an honorary payment previously denied to William and his father. In 1230 William de Warenne was appointed keeper of the east-coast ports of England during the king's expedition to Brittany. In 1236 he was cup bearer at the coronation of Eleanor of Provence and in 1237 he witnessed the reissue of Magna Carta; the ageing earl was one of the few surviving barons who had been witness to the original charter in 1215.
The Warenne stronghold of Castle Acre Castle, Norfolk
In his early 70s, William de Warenne died in London on 27 or 28 May 1240; he was buried before the high altar at his family's foundation of Lewes Priory in Sussex. In his memory, the king ordered that a wayside cross be erected on the road between Carshalton and Merton, in Surrey. Matilda bore her second husband two children, a boy and a girl, John and Isabel (later Isabel d'Aubigny). John would succeed his father as earl and attained his majority in 1248, when he succeeded to the vast Warenne estates. He would pursue a martial career and was one of Edward I's fiercest generals. Matilda did not marry again after William's death. In 1246, as the last surviving child of William Marshal, and with neither of her five brothers leaving a son, Matilda was granted the Marshal's rod by King Henry III. She did, at this point, change her name on charters, to 'Martill marescalla Angliae, comitissa Norfolciae et Warennae.'8
Emphasising her Marshal name as her father's eldest surviving child, Matilda was, significantly, claiming the title Marshal of England as her right, thus increasing her power and prestige, and taking the authority of the marshal as her own. Matilda appears to have acted independently during her second marriage, purchasing land in the Don Valley in South Yorkshire, close to the Warenne stronghold of Conisbrough Castle and after the queen she was 'undoubtedly the most powerful and wealthy woman in England from 1242 onwards.'9
Tintern Abbey Monmouthshire
Matilda Marshal died in 1248, in her mid-50s. Choosing to be interred with her Marshal family, rather than either of her husbands, Matilda was buried at Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire. Her three Bigod sons and their Warenne half-brother carried their mother's bier into the church, where she was laid to rest close to her mother, Isabel, two of her brothers, Walter and Ancel, and her sister, Sybil. It is through Matilda's marriage to Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, that the present duke of Norfolk also bears the title of Earl Marshal.
To follow the rest of the blog hop:
Courtesy of Wikipedia except Castle Acre Castle which is ©2019Sharon Bennett Connolly.
1David Crouch and Anthony Holden, History of William Marshal: Text and Translation; 2 ibid; 3ibid; 4Letter of 13 March 1216, Rich Price, King John's Letters; 5Crouch and Holden, History of William Marshal: Text and Translation; 6ibid; 7Chadwick, Elizabeth, 'Clothing the Bones: Finding Mahelt Marshal', livingthehistoryelizabethchadwick.blogspot.com; 8Vincent, Nicholas, 'William de Warenne, fifth earl of Surrey [Earl Warenne] (d. 1240)', Oxforddnb.com; 9David Crouch quoted in Chadwick, 'Clothing the Bones: Finding Mahelt Marshal'.
Rich Price, King John's Letters Facebook group; Robert Bartlett England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings 1075-1225; Dan Jones The Plantagenets; the Kings who Made England; The Plantagenet Chronicle Edited by Elizabeth Hallam; Maurice Ashley The Life and Times of King John; Roy Strong The Story of Britain; Oxford Companion to British History; Mike Ashley British Kings & Queens; David Williamson Brewer's British Royalty; Ralph of Diceto, Images of History; Marc Morris, King John; David Crouch, William Marshal; Crouch and Holden, History of William Marshal; Crouch, David, 'William Marshal [called the Marshal], fourth earl of Pembroke (c. 1146–1219)', Oxforddnb.com; Flanagan, M.T., 'Isabel de Clare, suo jure countess of Pembroke (1171×6–1220)', Oxforddnb.com; Thomas Asbridge, The Greatest Knight; Chadwick, Elizabeth, 'Clothing the Bones: Finding Mahelt Marshal', livingthehistoryelizabethchadwick.blogspot.com; Stacey, Robert C., 'Roger Bigod, fourth earl of Norfolk (c. 1212-1270)', Oxforddnb.com; finerollshenry3.org.uk; Vincent, Nicholas, 'William de Warenne, fifth earl of Surrey [Earl Warenne] (d. 1240)', Oxforddnb.com.
Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons' Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available from Pen & Sword, Amazon and from Book Depository worldwide.
Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:
Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon, Amberley Publishing, Book Depository.
Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon and Book Depository.
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©2015 Sharon Bennett Connolly
13th century, English history, European History, Magna Carta, Medieval History, Medieval Women, Plantagenets, Scottish history, Thirteenth Century, Uncategorized, Warennes, Women's HistoryCountess of Norfolk, Countess of Surrey, Earl of Norfolk, Earl of Surrey, Earl of Warenne and Surrey, Earl Warenne, Edward I, Ela of Salisbury, Hamelin de Warenne, Henry III, Heroines of the Medieval World, History Heroines, Hugh Bigod, King John, Ladies of Magna Carta, Magna Carta, Mahelt Marshal, Matilda Marshal, Roger Bigod, Silk and the Sword, Warenne: The Earls of Surrey from the Conquest to 1347, William de Warenne, William Lonspee, William Marshal
Magna Carta and the Princesses of Scotland
12215 Magna Carta, British Library
Other than the Queen of England, Isabelle d'Angoulême, only two women who can be clearly identified in Magna Carta itself. Though they are not mentioned by name, they are two Scottish princesses. The older sisters of King Alexander II had been held hostage in England since 1209, when John forced the humiliating Treaty of Norham on their ailing father, King William the Lion. Clause 59 of Magna Carta promised:
'We will treat Alexander, king of Scots, concerning the return of his sisters and hostages and his liberties and rights in the same manner in which we will act towards our other barons of England, unless it ought to be otherwise because of the charters which we have from William his father, formerly king of Scots; and this shall be determined by the judgement of his peers in our court.'
Taken from Marc Morris, King John
The king of Scots' two sisters referred to in the clause were Margaret and Isabella, the oldest daughters of William I (the Lion), King of Scots, and his wife, Ermengarde de Beaumont. The two girls had been caught up in the power struggle between their father and the Plantagenet kings. William I had been the second of three sons of Henry, Earl of Northumberland, and his wife, Ada de Warenne. He was, therefore, a grandson of David I and great-grandson of Malcolm III Canmor and St Margaret, the Anglo-Saxon princess. William had succeeded to his father's earldom of Northumberland in June 1153, when his older brother, Malcolm IV, succeeded their grandfather as King of Scots. William himself became King of Scots on Malcolm's death on 9 December 1165, aged about 23.
When William was looking for a wife, in 1186, King Henry II suggested Ermengarde de Beaumont, daughter of Richard, Vicomte de Beaumont-sur-Sarthe, and great-granddaughter of Henry I of England through one of the king's many illegitimate offspring. With such diluted royal blood, she was hardly a prestigious match for the king of Scots, but he reluctantly accepted the marriage after consulting his advisers. The wedding took place at Woodstock on 5 September 1186, with King Henry hosting four days of festivities and Edinburgh Castle was returned to the Scots as part of Ermengarde's dowry.
William the Lion, King of Scots
After the wedding, King William accompanied King Henry to Marlborough whilst the new Scottish queen was escorted to her new home by Jocelin, Bishop of Glasgow, and other Scottish nobles. Before 1195 Queen Ermengarde gave birth to two daughters, Margaret and Isabella. A son, the future Alexander II, was finally born at Haddington on 24 August 1198, the first legitimate son born to a reigning Scottish king in seventy years; a contemporary remarked that 'many rejoiced at his birth.'1 A third daughter, Marjorie, was born sometime later.
Margaret, the eldest daughter of William I and Ermengarde de Beaumont, had been born sometime between her parents' marriage in 1186 and 1195, unfortunately we cannot be more specific. Given the apparent youth of Ermengarde on her wedding day, Margaret's date of birth is more likely to have been 1190 or later. We do know that she was born by 1195, as she was mooted as a possible heir to King William I in the succession crisis of that year, when the king fell gravely ill. Primogeniture was not yet the established order of succession, nor was the idea of a female ruler a welcome one; the period known to history as the Anarchy, which followed King Stephen's usurpation of the throne from Empress Matilda, would have still been fresh in people's memories, even in Scotland. King David had, after all, supported his niece's claims against those of her cousin. The lesson of 20 years of civil war, albeit over the border, would have given William's counsellors pause for thought in their own succession issue.
Several options were proposed at the time, including marrying young Margaret to Otto of Saxony, son of Henry II's eldest daughter Matilda and nephew of King Richard I. However, it was also proposed that Margaret should not even be considered as heir, that the kingdom should pass to her father's younger brother, David. In the event, King William recovered and none of the options were pursued, but at least it means that we know Margaret was born before 1195. And when her brother, Alexander, was born in 1198, Margaret's position as a possible heir was diminished further.
Margaret's younger sister, Isabella's date and year of birth is unknown; she was older than her brother, Alexander, who was born in 1198, but may have been born any time in the ten years before. She is not mentioned in the succession crisis of 1195, but that does not mean that she was born after, just that, being the younger daughter, she was not a subject of discussions. Jessica Nelson, in her article for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, suggests that Isabella was born in 1195 or 1196.
The two young princesses became the unwitting pawns in political relations between England and Scotland when the two kings, John and William the Lion, met at Norham, Northumberland, in the last week of July and first week of August 1209. The Scots were in a desperate position, with an ailing and ageing king, and a 10-year-old boy as heir, whilst the English, with their Welsh allies and foreign mercenaries, had an army big enough to force a Scottish submission. The subsequent treaty, agreed at Norham on 7 August, was humiliating for the Scots. John would have the castle at Tweedmouth dismantled, but the Scots would pay an extra £4,000 compensation for the damage they had caused to it. The Scots also agreed to pay 15,000 marks for peace and to surrender hostages, including the king's two oldest legitimate daughters, Margaret and Isabella.
Norham Castle
As a sweetener, John promised to marry the princesses to his sons; although Henry was only 2 years old at the time and Richard was just 8 months, whilst the girls were probably in their early-to-mid teens. The king's daughters and the other Scottish hostages were handed into the custody of England's justiciar, at Carlisle on 16 August. How the girls, or their parents, thought about this turn of events, we know not. Given John's proven record of prevarication and perfidy, King William may have hoped that the promised marriages would occur in good time, but may also have expected that John would find a way out of the promises made.
John's demand of Margaret and Isabella as hostages, with the sweetener that they would be brides for his own sons, may well have been to prevent Margaret marrying elsewhere. King Philip II of France had expressed interest in a marriage between himself and Margaret, a union John would be keen to thwart. Thus, John's control of the marriages of Margaret and Isabella would mean that they could not marry against the king of England's own interests. It also meant that King William had lost two useful diplomatic bargaining chips; marriage alliances could be used to cement political ones, and these had been passed to John, weakening William's position on the international stage. According to the chronicler Bower, the agreement specified that Margaret would marry John's son, Henry, while Isabella would be married to an English nobleman of rank.
When the sisters were brought south, they were housed comfortably, as evidence demonstrates. While hostages in England, Margaret and Isabella were kept together, and lived comfortably, although John's promise of arranging marriages for the girls remained unfulfilled. Payments for their upkeep were recorded by sheriffs and the king's own wardrobe, which suggests the two princesses spent some time at court. In 1213 Isabella was residing at Corfe Castle in the household of John's queen, Isabelle d'Angoulême; John's niece, Eleanor of Brittany, held captive since the failed rebellion of her brother, Arthur of Brittany in 1202, was also there.
Alexander II, King of Scots
One can imagine the frustration of the Scots, to see their princesses languishing in the custody of the English; their inclusion in clause 59 of Magna Carta evidence of this. Unfortunately, King John tore up Magna Carta almost before the wax seals had dried, writing to the pope to have the charter declared void, leaving Alexander to join the baronial rebellion.
When Alexander came to terms with the government of Henry III in December 1217, he pressed for a resolution to the marriages of himself and his sisters, Margaret and Isabella, still languishing in English custody. In June 1220, at a meeting of King Henry III's minority council, it was agreed that Margaret and Isabella would be married by October 1221 or allowed to return to Scotland.
King John had promised that Alexander would marry one of his daughters and Henry III, or rather his ministers, finally fulfilled this promise in June 1221, when his sister, Joan, was married to the Scots king at York. And it was probably at this event, when the Scottish and English royal families came together in celebration, that Margaret's own future was finally resolved.
It was decided that she would marry Hubert de Burgh, the king's justiciar and one of the leading figures of Henry III's minority government. They were married in London on 3 October 1221, with King Henry himself giving the bride away. It was a major coup for Hubert de Burgh, who came from a gentry family rather than the higher echelons of the nobility; though it was a less prestigious match for Margaret, the daughter of a king. The couple had one child, a girl named Margaret but known as Megotta, who was probably born in the early 1220s.
Hubert de Burgh from Matthew Paris
Isabella, however, remained unmarried and returned to Scotland in November 1222. Isabella's own marriage prospects may have been damaged by the relatively lowly marriage of her older sister. Nevertheless, Alexander II was keen to look after his sister's interests and continued to search for a suitable husband. A letter from Henry III alludes to a possible match between Isabella and William (II) Marshal, Earl of Pembroke but the earl was, instead, married to the king's own younger sister, Eleanor
Isabella's future was finally settled in June 1225, when she married Roger Bigod, fourth Earl of Norfolk, at Alnwick in Northumberland. On 20 May, the archbishop of York was given respite from his debts in order to attend the wedding of the King of Scots' sister:
Order to the barons of the Exchequer to place in respite, until 15 days from Michaelmas in the ninth year, the demand for debts they make by summons of the Exchequer from W. archbishop of York, because the archbishop has set out for Alnwick where he is to be present to celebrate the marriage between Roger, son and heir of Earl H. Bigod, and Isabella, sister of the King of Scots.
finerollshenry3.org.uk /content/calendar/roll_022.html#it204_001, 20 May
Roger was the young son of Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, who had died earlier in the year, and Matilda Marshal, eldest daughter of William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke. Roger was still a minor, aged about 13, and possibly as much as seventeen years his wife's junior. In 1224 King Alexander II had levied an aid of 10,000 marks towards the costs of his sisters' marriages, as well as contributing £1,000 towards Henry III's 1225 expedition to Gascony, suggesting the Scots king was eager to see both his sisters comfortably settled.
At the time of the marriage, Roger's wardship was in the hands of Henry III's uncle, William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury, but it was transferred to King Alexander II in 1226, after Longespée's death. Now in the custody of the king of Scots, Roger and Isabella moved to Scotland, living at the Scottish court until Roger attained his majority in 1233 and entered into his inheritance.
The Marshal coat of arms
Ten years after the sealing of Magna Carta, and 16 years after they had been taken hostage, the two Scottish princesses were both finally settled into marriage, though less exalted marriages than their father had wished and hoped for, with English barons, rather than princes or kings. Their younger sister, Marjorie, would also marry into the English nobility in 1235, becoming the wife of Gilbert Marshal, 3rd son of the famed William Marshal who had become Earl of Pembroke the previous year.
Marjorie died in 1244, Isabella in 1253 and Margaret, the eldest, in 1259. Rather unusually for princesses, who would often be married off in foreign lands and separated from family, the 3 sisters would share their final resting place and be buried at the Church of the Black Friars in London.
1W.W. Scott, 'Ermengarde de Beaumont (1233)', Oxforddnb.com.
All images courtesy of Wikipedia except Magna Carta, which is ©2015 Sharon Bennett Connolly
finerollshenry3.org.uk; W.W. Scott, 'Ermengarde de Beaumont (1233)', Oxforddnb.com; Marc Morris, King John; Jessica Nelson, 'Isabella [Isabella Bigod], countess of Norfolk (b. 1195/1196, 1270)', Oxforddnb.com; Nelson, Jessica A., 'Isabella, Countess of Norfolk', magnacarta800th.com; Louise J. Wilkinson, 'Margaret, Princess of Scotland', magnacarta800th.com; W.W. Scott, 'Margaret, countess of Kent (b. 1187×1195, d. 1259)', Oxforddnb.com; Keith Stringer, 'Alexander II (1198–1249)', Oxforddnb.com; Mackay, A.J.G. (ed.), The Historie and Chronicles of Scotland … by Robert Lindesay of Pitscottie; Ross, David, Scotland: History of a Nation; Church, Stephen, King John: England, Magna Carta and the Making of a Tyrant; Danziger, Danny and John Gillingham, 1215: The Year of Magna Carta; Crouch, David, William Marshal; The Story of Scotland by Nigel Tranter; Matthew Paris, Robert de Reading and others, Flores Historiarum, volume III.
12th century, 13th century, English history, European History, Magna Carta, Medieval History, Medieval Women, Plantagenets, Scottish history, Thirteenth Century, Uncategorized, Warennes, Women's HistoryAlexander II, Earl of Kent, Earl of Norfolk, Earl of Pembroke, Earl of Salisbury, Ermengarde de Beaumont, Henry II, Heroines of the Medieval World, History Heroines, Hubert de Burgh, Isabella of Scotland, King John, Ladies of Magna Carta, Magna Carta, Margaret of Scotland, Roger Bigod, Sharon Bennett Connolly, Silk and the Sword, Treaty of Norham, Warenne: The Earls of Surrey from the Conquest to 1347, Warennes, William Lonspee, William Marshal, William the Lion
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text:
Murder, She Wrote is een Amerikaanse detectiveserie voor televisie, met in de hoofdrol Angela Lansbury als Jessica Fletcher, een detectiveschrijfster die regelmatig een moord op haar pad vindt en die dan oplost. Het was een wekelijkse serie op CBS van september 1984 tot mei 1996 (totaal 264 afleveringen) en liep door tot 2003 met een aantal televisiefilms. In latere jaren was Lansbury producent van de serie; voorgangers waren Peter Fischer en Richard Levinson. In Nederland werd de serie uitgezonden door de NCRV.

Stramien
Iedere aflevering gaat over het dagelijks leven van een gepensioneerde lerares Engels, Jessica Fletcher, die detectives schrijft. In elke aflevering raakt ze op een of andere manier betrokken bij een moordonderzoek en blijkt dan de enige die begrijpt hoe de zaak in elkaar steekt. Critici steken er de draak mee hoe moorden Jessica volgen, waar ze ook gaat. Veel van de afleveringen spelen in Jessica's woonplaats Cabot Cove of in New York, maar het promoten van haar boeken en bezoeken aan familie en vrienden brengen haar naar alle uithoeken van de Verenigde Staten en Groot-Brittannië. Het is opmerkelijk hoeveel neven, nichten en andere familieleden Jessica als kinderloze weduwe heeft.

De relatie tussen Jessica en de politie wisselt van plaats tot plaats. Veel inspecteurs willen haar niet op het plaats delict totdat haar nauwkeurige deducties maken dat ze naar haar willen luisteren. Anderen zijn fans van haar boeken en vinden het leuk haar van dichtbij mee te maken. In de loop van de serie maakt ze vele vrienden bij de politie in diverse plaatsen in de VS en zelfs met een politie-inspecteur van Scotland Yard.

Enkele afleveringen worden "verteld" door Jessica. Hierin beleven voormalige bijrollen een hoofdrol en heeft Jessica er geen verdere rol in. Jessica verschijnt aan het begin van de aflevering om deze te introduceren en verschijnt dan pas weer aan het einde om het verhaal af te ronden. De show kreeg van de fans zoveel kritiek op deze verandering, dat de producers het slechts enkele malen hebben laten voorkomen. De fans konden niet zonder Jessica.

Spelers

Vaste spelers
 Angela Lansbury als Jessica Fletcher
 Tom Bosley als sheriff Amos Tupper (1984 - 1988)
 William Windom als dokter Seth Hazlitt (1985 - 1996), een van Jessica's beste vrienden.
 Ron Masak als sheriff Mort Metzger (1989 - 1996), een voormalig NYPD-inspecteur die sheriff van Cabot Cove is geworden om wat rustiger te leven.

Regelmatige gastrollen
 Michael Horton als Grady Fletcher (1985-1995), Jessica's niet zo gelukkige favoriete neef.
 Jerry Orbach als Harry McGraw (1985-1991), een detective van de oude school die bevriend raakt met Jessica. Hij kreeg later een eigen serie "the law and Harry McGraw". Dit is niet het gewenste succes geworden, dus keerde hij hierna terug als gastrol.
 Len Cariou als Michael Hagarty (1985-1992), een Britse MI6-agent met een Ierse achtergrond.
 Keith Michell als Dennis Stanton (1985-1993), een voormalige juwelendief die nu als verzekeringsclaimonderzoeker met ongebruikelijke methoden zijn zaken oplost en dan het verhaal naar Jessica stuurt.

Gastrollen
Veel beroemde acteurs vonden het een eer een keer op te treden in Murder, She Wrote, zoals

(op alfabetische volgorde van achternaam)
 René Auberjonois
 Robert Beltran
 Kathleen Beller
 Pamela Bellwood
 Dirk Benedict
 Richard Beymer
 Morgan Brittany
 Capucine
 Barbara Cason
 George Clooney
 Courteney Cox
 Martin Landau
 Audrey Landers
 Piper Laurie
 Lee Meriwhetter
 Haily Mills
 Kate Mulgrew
 Leslie Nielsen
 Ken Olin
 Adrian Paul
 Matthew Perry
 Lee Purcell
 Emma Samms
 Tom Selleck (in zijn rol van Magnum, in de tweedelige crossover met zijn eigen serie)
 Gordon Thomson

Afleveringen
Zie: Lijst van afleveringen van Murder, She Wrote

Dvd
Alle 12 seizoenen van de serie zijn inmiddels op dvd uitgebracht. Ook is er een boxset met daarin alle vier de speelfilms.

Televisiefilms
Naar aanleiding van de serie werden een aantal films voor televisie gemaakt:
 Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest (1997)
 Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For (2000)
 Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man (2001)
 Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle (2003)

Internationaal
Murder, She Wrote is, met veel succes, in vele landen uitgezonden. Meestal werd de naam "Murder, She Wrote" gehandhaafd, maar in enkele gevallen werd de titel vertaald:

Trivia
 In het begin is Jessica Fletcher zelfs niet geïnteresseerd in de publicatie van haar eerste boek, en al helemaal niet in het speurderswerk. Echter, de problemen zoeken haar op en het vreedzame leven in Cabot Cove wordt een zeldzame overgang tussen haar onderzoeken.
 Angela Lansbury was een groot succes als hoofdrolspeelster in Murder, She Wrote, maar niet de eerste keus van de producent. Jean Stapleton en Doris Day kregen de hoofdrol aangeboden, maar wezen deze af.
 Jessica Fletcher verscheen in 1986 in een aflevering van Magnum, P.I. De tweede helft van deze dubbelaflevering hoorde weer bij de serie Murder, She Wrote.
 Lansbury kreeg voor Murder, She Wrote 12 keer een Emmy-nominatie (een record) en won er geen (ook een record).
 Eind jaren 1980 werden er boeken geschreven gebaseerd op Murder, She Wrote. In lijn met de televisieprogramma's worden de boeken geschreven door Donald Bain in samenwerking met de fictieve Jessica Fletcher.
 De buitenopnames van "Cabot Cove" zijn gefilmd in Mendocino, Californië.
 De geboortenaam van Jessica Fletcher is MacGill. Dit is ook de geboortenaam van actrice Angela Lansbury.

Externe link
 Engelstalige informatie over "Murder, She Wrote

Amerikaanse televisieserie
Programma van CBS

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


OCSC are currently seeking a Senior Electrical Design Engineer based in Dublin.
OCSC work on a wide range of projects including healthcare, education, retail, hotels, residential, student accommodation, residential care, public entertainment, utility projects, civil projects and many more. We also have a strong sustainability section within the group. We continuously support our engineers to develop their expertise in this field of engineering.
OCSC M&E has exciting opportunity for a Senior or Associate Electrical Engineer. The position would suit a motivated, practical and adaptable individual who has the ambition to work in a progressive and innovative design consultancy. The post holder will support the delivery of a range of projects across a wide range of sectors.
Work directly with clients and project engineers to define project requirements and develop technical solutions.
Lead Pre-Construction Engineering activities and the production of information including, design development, construction details, services coordination, technical submittals, sub-contracts, etc.
Knowledge & experience of CIBSE an Ashrae Design Guides, Building Regs, EN Standards and IEC Standards.
Experience in Dialux & Amtech.
Experience of client, vendor & contractor interaction & management.
Proactive, a good communicator with the ability to work well with others in a multifunctional project team.


The casual user may want to have different profiles for work and personal use, or different family members. Having different profiles would help separate work and personal life, or allow each family member to have his or her own set of bookmarks, settings, and add-ons.
Web developers might want a secondary profile for testing websites, apps, or other projects on different Firefox channels. For example, you might want to have some extensions installed for Web development, but not for general-purpose Web browsing. While using the Nightly channel, you may encounter some add-ons that have become temporarily incompatible with new API changes, until the add-on developer has a chance to update them. You can remove such add-ons from your profile for Nightly use while keeping them for use with other profiles.
For QA, testing, and bug triaging contributors, you may want to have multiple development versions of Firefox installed, each with its own profile. Creating new profiles for testing can keep you from losing your preferences, bookmarks, and history. It takes little time to set up a new profile, and once it is complete, all of your Firefox versions will update separately and can be run simultaneously.
In addition to the built-in Profile Manager and the external Profile Manager, there are a few third-party tools that make working with multiple profiles easy.
This list is by no means exhaustive. Please add any helpful tools you discover to the list!
Warning: If you use the "Delete Files" option, the profile folder, and files will be deleted. This action cannot be undone.


If you don't stand for something, my father used to wryly intone, you'll fall for anything.
This Christmas, I am weaving a blanket for my father's legs.
For his long legs that walked to work (past the peony bushes, through the gate, while I watched from the back door, small hands waving).
Legs that paced the classroom while the scholar taught, pausing, praising an idea with full-bodied exclamation.
Legs that pulled my young body through the swimming pool like a raft parting still waters.
Legs that traveled the continents, bent to indulge the neighbor's dog, stood firm in fields of conflict.
Legs that now, sooner with each day, are retiring from their labor. They are tucking in, falling asleep, turning out the lights, shutting down.
As I weave, each thread on the loom holds a memory of this pilgrim life. Each shuttle passes through them as a prayer of love and letting go.
and fell, at last, for love alone.
~ by Stephanie on 12/22/2009.
Thanks for the Christmas nitro.
I just read this and am so blown away. This was a great idea for a blog — brava to you and Stephanie!
oh wow. what a gorgeous, poignant tribute. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Touching delicately in it's reverence and yet striking at the same time. Took my breath away. Thank you.


text:
Hilarius Moa Nurak SVD (* 21. Februar 1943 in Waekabubak; † 29. April 2016) war ein indonesischer Ordensgeistlicher und römisch-katholischer Bischof von Pangkal-Pinang.

Leben
Hilarius Moa Nurak trat der Ordensgemeinschaft der Steyler Missionare bei, legte die Profess am 8. Januar 1972 ab und empfing am 2. August 1972 die Priesterweihe.

Papst Johannes Paul II. ernannte ihn am 30. März 1987 zum Bischof von Pangkal-Pinang. Der Bischof von Larantuka, Darius Nggawa SVD, spendete ihm am 2. August desselben Jahres die Bischofsweihe; Mitkonsekratoren waren Alfred Gonti Pius Datubara OFMCap, Erzbischof von Medan, und Joseph Hubertus Soudant SCI, Bischof von Palembang.

Einzelnachweise

Weblinks

Römisch-katholischer Bischof (20. Jahrhundert)
Römisch-katholischer Bischof (21. Jahrhundert)
Steyler Missionar
Indonesier
Geboren 1943
Gestorben 2016
Mann
Pangkal Pinang
Römisch-katholische Kirche in Indonesien
Person des Christentums (Indonesien)
Person (Bangka-Belitung)


text:
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims March 2018 as Women's History Month
Issued on: February 28, 2018
Our history is rich with amazing stories of strong, courageous, and brilliant women. Since America's founding, women have played an integral part in American innovation and productivity, while simultaneously raising generations of lively children and providing leadership in their local communities.
Time and time again, women have demonstrated resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges. America's women have readily tackled the disruptive forces and demands of wartime and embraced the technological and industrial advancements of the past 250 years. We have seen the incredible fortitude of women like Mary Katherine Goddard, who, in 1775, served as postmaster of the Baltimore post office and printed the second copy of the then-treasonous Declaration of Independence. We have followed the exceptional leadership of women like Olive Ann Beech, the first female head of a major aircraft company, which produced thousands of aircraft for the Allied effort during World War II. And, we have been transformed by women like Marva Collins, who was working as a full-time substitute teacher in Chicago when she founded a low-cost private school for low-income children being left behind by public schools.
We can find similar stories throughout women's endeavors today. Women are leaders in a range of fields, from business and medicine to government and the arts. And, my Administration is committed to creating conditions that empower women to achieve even more. Access to paid family leave and affordable, high-quality childcare can help enhance women's ability to participate in the labor force and improve the economic security of their families. The recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provides new tax credits to businesses that offer paid family and medical leave to their employees. This landmark legislation also gives qualifying American families with children a significantly larger child tax credit and ensures that more families will be eligible to take advantage of this credit. When we support family-friendly policies, women have more freedom to explore opportunities and to thrive at work and at home.
My Administration is also supporting policies that promote women's economic empowerment. This is critical, as women now make up 40 percent of the entrepreneurs in the United States. Women business owners employ more than 8 million workers and provide them with more than $264 billion in wages and salaries. Just in the first year of my Administration, the Small Business Administration has increased lending to women-owned businesses by $128 million. We will also continue promoting the next generation of women leaders through mentoring, training, and education initiatives.
Through these and other efforts, we will support women throughout our society, recognizing that the successes of women strengthen our families, our economy, and our Nation. As we reflect on the role of women throughout American history, we remember that women must always have access to all the opportunities that our Nation has to offer. Indeed, ensuring access to these opportunities is vital to our Nation's prosperity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2018 as Women's History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, 2018, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Is Disaster Tourism an Unavoidable Reality?
It's like watching a train wreck. Wherever disaster and devastation strikes, tourists often can't help but to want to see the aftermath for themselves. Whether it is the Hurricane Katrina tours that cropped up in New Orleans, Ground Zero in New York, or tsunami destruction in Asia, the devastation becomes part of experiencing the destination, however morbid that may seem.
The latest such disaster was the deadly Costa Concordia accident off the coast of the Italian island of Giglio, where the ship still remains, partially submerged.
Multiple news outlets have reported that Tuscany tourism officials are encouraging travelers to visit the island as a "gesture of love" to help counter what they fear will be a drop-off in tourism following the incident.
The capsized cruise ship raises the question of whether people will actually want to go to Giglio specifically to see the vessel with their own eyes, an image that has become so vivid to many, and to bare witness to what is in fact a rather rare maritime event.
That people would want to see an event such as this, "I do think it's almost inevitable," said Sharr Prohaska, professor at New York University's Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism. "There are so many different types of travelers and there are those that are just curious."
But Prohaska and others in the travel industry believe that while it's inevitable, disaster tourism, or dark tourism as it is also referred to, can be executed tastefully and educationally.
Prohaska added that disaster tourism also raises awareness and often lends directly to voluntourism, whereby people who visit these sites then often want to be part of the solution, help with cleanup and recovery efforts, in part because they have witnessed it firsthand.
"After Katrina, the tours that happened in the city were controversial because some people thought it was insensitive to have bus tours going through neighborhoods that were devastated," said Kelly Schulz of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.
But, "from a tourism standpoint, for us, after Katrina, the tours were a positive thing," she added, noting that the Katrina tours helped bring tourism and tourism dollars back to a city that was very much in need of aid.
"And it also makes people want to help. One of the most positive things after Katrina was the whole voluntourism trend," said Schulz.
What is your take on disaster tourism? Do you think people should be encouraged to visit Giglio to see the Costa Concordia wreckage if they so desire? Do you think that there are sites where disaster tourism is more appropriate than others? Let us know by commenting below.


text:
import sys
from Queue import PriorityQueue

def dijkstra(graph, start_node):
    queue = PriorityQueue()

    for end_node in graph[str(start_node)]["neighbours"]:
        queue.put((graph[str(start_node)]["neighbours"][str(end_node)], (start_node,
                   end_node)))

    visited = []

    while not queue.empty():
        cost, (start_node, end_node) = queue.get()
        if [start_node, end_node] in visited:
            continue

        distance = graph[str(end_node)]["distance"]
        if distance == sys.maxint or distance > cost:
            graph[str(end_node)]["distance"] = cost

        new_cost = graph[str(end_node)]["distance"]
        for new_node in graph[str(end_node)]["neighbours"]:
            cost = graph[str(end_node)]["neighbours"][str(new_node)] + new_cost
            queue.put((cost, (end_node, new_node)))

        visited.append([start_node, end_node])

if __name__ == "__main__":
    graph = {}
    nodes = []
    t = int(raw_input())

    for i in range(t):
        n, m = map(int, raw_input().split(" "))
        for j in range(m):
            x, y, r = map(int, raw_input().split(" "))

            if str(x) not in graph:
                graph[str(x)] = {
                    "distance": sys.maxint,
                    "neighbours": {},
                }
            if str(y) not in graph:
                graph[str(y)] = {
                    "distance": sys.maxint,
                    "neighbours": {},
                }

            graph[str(x)]["neighbours"][str(y)] = r
            graph[str(y)]["neighbours"][str(x)] = r
        s = raw_input()

        dijkstra(graph, int(s))

        total_cost = ""
        for i in range(2, n+1):
            cost = graph[str(i)]["distance"]
            if cost == sys.maxint:
                cost = -1

            total_cost += "%s " % cost

        print total_cost

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


First End of Month Shoot of the year!
Yes! Spring is here and the cakes are back for the first end of the month shoot of the season. We're breaking ourselves in nice and gently with some Warwicks (that's four dozen arrows at short and longer distances, with the big faces back on the bosses.) It should be a good introduction to shooting rounds for our recent completing beginners and a way to warm up the bows for reclassifying and submitting scores.
Hope to see a good turn out on the line tomorrow - the weather promises to be dry, we think.


Enjoy sweeping city views from this spacious one bedroom, one bath residence in the sky. The living and dining areas offer 9 foot high ceilings and a wall of windows which flood your space with an abundance of light. The open plan kitchen is large and boasts a breakfast bar, GE PROFILE stainless steel appliances, and rich granite countertops. The bedroom is spacious and is adjacent to the spa-like bath which features marble flooring, chrome fixtures, and a ceramic sink with granite counter and matching storage vanity. A 24-hour concierge, state of the art fitness center, roof deck with stunning city views, lounge, and laundry facilities, complete this comfortable apartment at the Packard Grande. Valet parking is available at a nearby garage for an additional monthly fee. Perfectly situated in the Rittenhouse Square/Avenue of the Arts area, this home just steps away from fine dining, one-of-a-kind shopping, world-renowned cultural destinations and exciting nightlife. The unit is on the coveted East-Facing side of the building.


At Barrington Hall we provide yacht charters around the world on motor yachts, catamarans and monohull sailboats. The Power Yacht listed below, Beija Flore, is one of the many yachts we offer for charter. Please contact us for up to date information on Beija Flore or any other yachts in your desired location.
Igor has been involved in the yachting industry since 2015 and his experience is already quite varied.
He first joined Beija Flore in spring 2015 he is now returning for the 2019 season. Igor is fulfilling his dreams of travelling the Mediterranean and visiting the hotspots in Sardinia, Corsica, and the French Riviera. He is naturally sporty, loves athletics, water and snow sports.


text:
Circle of Lights
By Sarah Ruttle
Story by Wanda Kelsey-Mendez
The sun was disappearing behind the iconic silhouette of the Plaza as I squeezed the shutter of my camera. The luminaries had begun to glow in the twilight and the sound of the fountain provided a backdrop to the murmur of voices. A hand touched my shoulder and I turned. "Excuse me," said the man with his family waiting shyly behind him. "Can you tell me what is happening here?"
I told him about Circle of Lights and how we gather each year to remember those we lost and to find comfort and strength with the community. "You won't believe this," his voice quavered. "I lost my mom this morning up the hill at the hospital and I brought my family to the Plaza to walk around. We're still in shock."
Smiling, I asked him if he would like to have a luminary for his mom and to light a candle for her. "We can do that?" he asked tentatively. "This service is for the community," I explained, "And, we'd love to have your family join us." I led him to the table where volunteer calligraphers were inscribing luminaries and left them with another volunteer who would help them place the luminary and light it.
Circle of Lights is a beloved tradition at Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care. It began as a way for the many caregivers on our staff to remember those they cared for, while bringing comfort to the families who lost someone dear to them. From there, it grew into a community event open to everyone who wished to remember, celebrate the lives of their loved ones, and find hope for the future.
With a pandemic keeping friends and families isolated, it's more important than ever to find ways to remember loved ones and share memories. Kansas City Hospice invites you to create a complimentary online memorial that you can share.
Visit KCHospice.org/In-Remembrance to learn more.
The simple, nondenominational ceremony of remembrance always incorporates the lighting of candles, a tradition that crosses many cultures and symbolizes remembrance for people of many faiths. Over the years, it has grown from a few luminaries to more than a thousand twinkling lights of comfort and healing. It is always scheduled for the Tuesday before Memorial Day.
I heard a squeal of delight. I turned and saw a family embracing one of my co-workers. Aleisha must have come directly from work. She was still in her blue scrubs and tears were glistening on her cheeks. As each family member gave her a big hug, she noticed me with my camera.
"Wanda, can you get a photo, please?" she asked. "This is the Johnson family and I helped care for Mr. Johnson last winter. They gathered for a family photo and an elderly lady touched Aleisha's face. "You'll always be part of our family," she said with certainty. "Bob's face lit up every time he saw you coming. You were his angel."
Around us I recognized nurses, aides, doctors, social workers, and chaplains interspersed with people of every age and background. Children gazed in wonder at the luminaries, the chairs began to fill for the service, and the familiar backdrop of the Plaza helped remind us of our community. The people of Kansas City joined together for a few moments to reflect.
Last year as the pandemic overshadowed events, the Circle of Lights was held virtually, as it will be once again this year. But, we look forward to gathering together once again in the community, to remember. More than 560,000 people have died in the pandemic, in addition to those who succumbed all of the life-limiting diseases that have not taken a hiatus. Sudden and unexpected deaths continue. In times of struggle and sadness, we need ways to express, embody, and release our grief.
By coming together to hold one another in care and community, we bear witness to the grief of others and find more compassion for ourselves and those around us. Supporting and being supported by others expressing grief helps us understand that we are not alone. By connecting as a community we can begin healing, individually and collectively.
"Grief expressed out loud, whether in or out of character, un-choreographed and honest, for someone we have lost, or a country or home we have lost, is in itself the greatest praise we could ever give them. Grief is praise, because it is the natural way love honors what it misses." ~ Martin Prechtel
On May 25, 2021, virtual candles will flicker as families gather in their homes for a simple service that means so much. To light a virtual candle, visit KCHospice.org/WeRemember
Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists
Sarah Ruttle


Below are the archives of our latest news. Use the sidebar on the right if you wish to jump to a specific post.
Taken on Bury Station in October.
The engine is 60009 Union of South Africa an A4 Pacific similar to Mallard.
Austin Thomas receiving the PAGB Nature Photographer Trophy from Leo Rich, PAGB President at the PAGB Inter Club DPI Championship at Warwick University.
This trophy was presented to the PAGB in memory of Colin Smith, a dear friend and fellow Wigan 10 nature photographer.
It was the first time that anyone from Wigan 10 had won the trophy.
I am absolutely delighted to be the current holder of The Colin Smith Trophy.
Colin was a real inspiration to me and helped me find my feet as a wildlife photographer, even before I joined Wigan 10.
Colin would spend time with me in the field and was always willing to offer friendly advice and support. To be one of the names on his Trophy is an honour for me personally and something I am sure Colin would be proud of too.
Thanks to the PAGB for awarding me PAGB Nature Photographer of the Year, 2014.
Many congratulations to the winning club Smethwick who presented a very impressive set of images. The images from the clubs who competed were of a very high standard, it was a pleasure to take part in the competition and Wigan 10 would like to give thanks to all the other clubs, judges and organisers. On a social level it was a great opportunity to see so many friendly faces and catch up with friends and acquaintances from across the United Kingdom.
Wigan 10 Foto Club is considering the possibility of taking on new members. Anyone who would like to express an interest in joining is welcome to contact us by clicking here.
Following a great week in February when we won 10 trophies as a club we decided that a celebration meal was required and last night we headed out to a restaurant in Lymm, recommended by Christine. We had a great meal with lots of laughs and just a little bit of photography talk thrown in. Not everyone was able to make it, as is always the case, but we all had such a good time that we can't wait to go out again!!
Going to Paris is exciting at the best of times but going to Paris to be presented with the FIAP World Cup has to be off the excitement scale !
Four members KT Allen, Kitty and Geoff Walsh and Joan Blease, travelled over to Paris and enjoyed the sights and sounds of that beautiful city. After enjoying a morning sight seeing the group made their way over to the FIAP headquarters where they were given the warmest of welcome by the President and various high ranking officials of FIAP. Many speeches were made in various languages but all spoke warmly about Wigan 10 and how everyone was thrilled that some of the group were able to be at the presentation.
The presentation of the trophies then took place and Joan was asked by her fellow members to give the acceptance speech – which she did. The speech was short (and in English) and was dedicated to the memory of Maurice Jones the much loved member of Wigan 10 who sadly lost his brave battle with cancer in late December 2013. Most of the people had met Maurice on a number of occasions and were saddened by the news of his passing.
In the evening the group attended a fantastic Gala Dinner in a very beautiful restaurant in the centre of Paris. Again the group could not have been made more welcome and the wine and conversation flowed once more.
Regretfully the long weekend came to a close – but the group had travelled around Paris seeing the various sights – but always having time to sit down and have a lovely coffee or bowl of French onion soup.
All in all it was a wonderful occasion and it is hoped that the club will be fortunate enough to travel over again next year.
Roy has done really well at Bird Guides POTY 2013 comp. Well done Roy!
The North Cheshire Challenges 2014 galleries have now been added to the achievements pages.
All the ingredients were assembled. Five images from each of the 27 competing clubs, a packed hall and a judge whose job it would be to sift and sort the pictures so that the cream would rise to the top.
The heat was certainly on at North Cheshire Photographic Society's annual DPI Challenge which took place on Thursday 13th February.
Malcolm Kus ARPS DPAGB EFIAP/b travelled down from deepest Northumberland to judge this competition, bringing with him the usual Midlands sense of fun we have come to expect from one of the top judges on the circuit.
His task was a difficult one with so many first class images. Throughout each round he seemed to be cooking on gas as images were dropped from the mixture.
After five rounds two clubs were in equal first place: Chorley and Wigan 10 Foto Club. Now only 5 images remained.
The cherry on the cake came Wigan 10's way when Malcolm picked Edwardian Era as the top image of night. Thus securing a win for us.
Sincere thanks must go to North Cheshire for their hospitality and flawless organisation. And, of course, to Malcolm – we'll send you a celebratory slice of cake!
This weekend saw the L&CPU Inter-Club PDI and Print Championships and it was a hotly contested event. All six sections were very close with Chorley pushing us very hard and North Cheshire showing their nature pedigree too. There were many great images on display and a team of excellent experienced judges sorted out the marks. All who were present enjoyed a feast of photography. When the dust settled we (Wigan 10) won 5 of the 6 competitions and were awarded the prize for best club overall. Chorley and North Cheshire were not far behind and the competition in the L&CPU is healthy and strong and that has got to be good news for the L&CPU. All the clubs mentioned (Wigan 10, Chorley & North Cheshire with the addition of Poulton in PDI) will represent the L&CPU at national PAGB events later in the year. An excellent weekend of high achievement for our club.
The images can be viewed on the following links or by clicking Achievements from the main navigation menu. There are also new galleries for the GB Cups, with the PSA galleries on its way!
As some of you may be aware Maurice has been battling stomach cancer since April this year.
He passed away at home, surrounded by the love of his family at 11.15am this morning.
Our condolences go out to Vi , his wife, and Laura and Gemma, his daughters at this sad time.
Maurice will be greatly missed. He was a true gentleman and held in high regard by many. May he rest in peace and be held in our hearts forever.
Flowers are being provided by the family only.
Cheques should be made payable to The Christie.
Please do not put cash in the post.


"Just 65 miles south of Denver, Colorado resides the city of Colorado Springs. As the second largest city in Colorado and the most populous city in El Paso County, it is home to many notable military installations including the United States Air Force Academy, The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Fort Carson Army Base, and Peterson Air Force Base. The United States Olympic Training Center is also located in Colorado Springs along with many religious institutions including Focus on the Family. In addition to these, it was recently announced that Colorado Springs will now house Walmart's enormous new data center.
Walmart chose Colorado Springs as the site for its new data center due to the incentives the local government offered including $4.5 million in rebates on their sales and business personal property tax. The trade off for the city is the estimated $488 million the data center will bring to the local economy over the next 15 years.
Not only did the large rebates come into play in Walmart's decision, but also the fact that Colorado Springs has plenty of land to house such a major data center project. In 2011, Walmart purchased 24 acres in Northern Colorado Springs for $5.3 million and plans to build a 210,000 square-foot corporate data center on the property. The data center will employ 30 people and will cost an estimated $100 million to build, along with another $50 to $100 million invested in machinery alone.
Due to its low-cost and reliable electricity, educated workforce, and practically natural disaster-free location, Colorado Springs can expect much growth in the future where data centers are concerned. In addition to Walmart's Colorado Springs data center, Progressive Insurance, FedEx and Hewlett-Packard also have data centers located in the area. The city is quickly becoming a hot spot for data center seekers everywhere and other sites have been proposed for future data centers."