King Richard III died fighting alongside his men, defending his crown and country. He was buried in haste without a coffin, the church that housed his grave laid waste, his resting-place unmarked for hundreds of years.

In March he is to be reburied. The City of Leicester benefits from a huge tourist attraction, the Cathedral benefits from a make-over. And where is Richard in all this? In a box in a university laboratory since 2012.

 We wanted him to lie in a chapel of rest. They refused. Now we are petitioning for the very least you would want for anyone, and especially for your war-dead: to be coffined reverently in a holy place of his own religion. Please get him out of that laboratory box NOW.

Our petition has support from concerned people of all backgrounds and faiths. It’s a simple request and there is still plenty of time. No religious objections have been raised – they just lack the will to do it.

Respect for the dead is a mark of civilised society. Please sign if you think that the mortal remains of a known person, whether Catholic, Jew or Muslim, prince or pauper, deserve to be coffined in surroundings that reflect their religious faith.

The Looking For Richard Project Team (Philippa Langley, Dr John Ashdown-Hill, Annette Carson, Dr David Johnson, Wendy Johnson, Dr Raymond Bord)

 Read our Media Release here:  http://looking-for-richard.webs.com/