Richard Trelfa (The People that put  Gloucester on the Map)

An excellent evening which started with the induction of Andrew Davies as a new  member of the Rotary Club of Gloucester Severn and what an enthusiastic man he is.

Richard’s talk was amazing using his visual presentation to startling effect as he galloped through the centuries and yet keeping us on track.

He presented a history of many important people, some of whom had very notable careers, but who most of us did not know.  He started with a Roman general Vesparanium who first set up the Roman fort at Kingsholm next to the bridge over the old Severn in order to access the Iron Ore in the Forest of Dean.

Next came Miles, the Constable of Gloucester Castle, who then became Constable of England, as he worked closely with royalty.

Then William the Marshall, a knight closely involved with King Richard the Lionheart and King John and Henry III.  He looked after England whilst the Crusades were on and he sealed the Magna Carta whilst overseing the upbringing of the young Henry III and then won the Battle of Lincoln in the second Baron’s war.  What a busy life!  He also had something to do with the building of our Cathedral, but I got a little lost.

Another notable Gloucestrian I knew little of was William Sheppard, who after helping defending Gloucester against the Royalists, became Cromwell’s law reformer, writing many books  which were used for the next 200 years - notably one on conveyancing - bet that’s interesting!

A very impressive presentation especially from a man who used to build power stations!

Bob Paterson