THANK you for publishing my letter about the media being "brainwashed " by Shakespeare's image of Richard III.

Alas. Your heading "Crookback Dick and the Bard" proved my point. Thank you!

William Shakespeare was no historian and living under a Tudor Queen he had to write accordingly. "Uneasy lies the head" and so on.

The Croyland Chronicles of the time describes Richard as slight of stature, with a pale visage and comely in appearance, a favourite of ladies at court.

It's possible that his right shoulder was overdeveloped because he was proficient with sword, lance and his favourite weapon, the short battleaxe.

At Bosworth field he unseated from his horse Sir John Chainey with one blow from said axe.

Henry Tudor's standard bearer was a six-foot-four-inches tall, a giant of his time.

Richard lost the field to Henry Tudor because of the turncoat Lord Stanley.

Richard rode to his bloody end surrounded by his loyal household knights, vain but not glorious.

Even at the age of 19, Richard led a band of mounted knights fighting for his brother at the Battle of Tewkesbury.

J BADGER,

Oriel Close,

Worcester.