William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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St Michael's Church, Himley is in Himley, Staffordshire, Churches in Staffordshire.
On 29th June 1932 William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley [aged 65] died. He was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map]. His son William [aged 38] succeeded 3rd Earl of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire, 13th Baron Ward of Birmingham.
On 25th April 1952 Gertrude "Gertie" Millar Countess of Dudley [aged 73] died. She was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map].
On 26th December 1969 William Humble Eric Ward 3rd Earl of Dudley [aged 75] died. He was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map]. His son William [aged 49] succeeded 4th Earl of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire, 14th Baron Ward of Birmingham. Maureen Swanson Countess of Dudley [aged 37] by marriage Countess of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire.
On 16th November 2011 Maureen Swanson Countess of Dudley [aged 78] died. She was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map].
On 16th November 2013 William Ward 4th Earl of Dudley [aged 93] died. He was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map]. His son William [aged 66] succeeded 5th Earl of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire, 15th Baron Ward of Birmingham.