Simon Barker was welcomed to the society once again in April for his talk to coincide with Shakespeare’s 4OOth anniversary. He was born on 23rd April 1564 and died on his birthday 522 years later (1616).
Down the centuries disputes have continued – did he write the plays or were there several authors? Over the years several names have been put forward – the Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere, Francis Bacon, even Queen Elizabeth I.
Very little is known about Shakespeare after he left Stratford to seek fame and fortune in London and he remains very much a mystery man. Down the years much has been written about him but whoever wrote the plays, they live on.
Excitement now centres on Shakespeare’s tomb in Holy triinity church in Stratford-on-Avon. A warning is inscibed on his tombstone cursing anyone who moved his bones. However, Simon said that a recent scan showed that his skull is missing but no one knows where it is.
In a very short time, Simon brought Shakespeare and his colourful times into focus and gave much food for thought.