Chairman’s Blog Category
Napoleon Boilerparts
May 8, 2015 - The Chairman
One of Serjeant Gibson’s correspondents told him there was a firm recently gone into liquidation called Napoleon Boilerparts. I thought he was joking but on looking on the web there it is with two branches, one in Sussex and the other in Hampshire. However the correspondent also told us they had gone into liquidation and I […]
Hougoumont Sitrep
May 7, 2015 - The Chairman
Over the weekend Serjeant Gibson and I visited the battlefield and saw how the Hougoumont Farm is getting on. I must say it is beginning to look magnificent and will be marvellous to visit. The walls have been painted as you can see and the interiors are in pretty good shape too. There is still much […]
Circus Origin
May 6, 2015 - The Chairman
Who knows about Circus Ginnett? I certainly didn’t until the other day, when it was mentioned on the field of Waterloo. Show business started for the Ginnetts, a French family, in Briton after they were captured at Waterloo. At this time Ginnetts were big horse people and thought to be in the French cavalry. They […]
Racing Legends
April 12, 2015 - The Chairman
Having just watched the Grand National it reminded me that a correspondent recently informed us that although winners of the Derby were always English bred up until 1865 the winner that year was a horse called “Gladiateur”. It was a French bred horse and was nicknamed “The Avenger of Waterloo”. The same correspondent told me […]
Hungry for History
March 22, 2015 - The Chairman
It’s been a busy week with a trip down to Canterbury where Hungry for History supremo Victoria Neilson organised a gang of about 100 school children to receive an “Audience” with Peter Snow. They heard from him with a blow by blow account how the battle unfolded. We had a number of then dressed up in […]
Old Soldiers Do Die!
March 15, 2015 - The Chairman
My correspondent in Belgium has sent this picture from the Sphere Magazine to me, as it is of an old Yorkshire soldier. The 14th became the West Yorks. He was the last officer from Waterloo to survive. He died in October 1891. He was outlived by John Hopwood, who allegedly served at Waterloo and lived […]
Waterloo Euro
March 13, 2015 - The Chairman
The General and I had a good laugh at this cartoon over the French reaction to the rejection of the design of the 3 Euro coin. Wellington on the left is saying: “The Euro is stupid but with Waterloo on it’s a stroke of genius” whilst Napoleon says “What!” “Who made this?” and the gallant Grenadier […]
Mercer Found
March 12, 2015 - The Chairman
Thanks to the blog the General has found a Mercer. That’s a relief all round as it was proving difficult. Of further interest we were in Exeter today, having lunch with an eminent historian and one thing led to another and the General discovered that Cavalie Mercer was buried in St David’s Church. So after lunch […]
History Coming Alive
March 10, 2015 - The Chairman
The General and I went to an interesting session the other day in the House of Commons, where about 150 schoolchildren were treated to a talk by Dan Snow on the Battle of Waterloo. He was quite excellent as he decided to make them play the parts in the battle. So if you look at […]
Waterloo in the House of Lords
January 15, 2015 - The Chairman
On Monday afternoon there was a short debate in answer to a question on the Commemorations and should you be interested go to http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/150112-0001.htm#15011223000401. There was mention of the famous Maclise mural painting in the Queen’s Gallery in the House of Lords which is in need of restoration: This is a very intricate and complex matter and […]
