News

Azincourt wind turbines

28 February 2006

‘The Second Battle of Agincourt’ is won - THE DAY IS OURS, writes Don Baggs, who first alerted the Battlefields Trust and others to this threat to the historic battlefield.

Thierry Yverneau of Azincourt, who initiated and led the intervention in France against the construction of a Wind Farm very close to the Battlefield of Agincourt, advises as follows :-

“On Tuesday 20th December 2005 the senior official of S.I.I.F. Energy responsible for the project visited my home to officially announce the final withdrawal of plans to install Wind Turbines at Azincourt.

He advised the reasons for his company’s decision were twofold; firstly the close proximity of the Turbines to a very important Historic Site and secondly to preserve good relations with the English people and Associations who were against the project.

S.I.I.F. Energy also advised that M. Boulet, the Mayor of Azincourt, regretfully accepts the withdrawal of the project in his commune.

We celebrate our victory with our English friends, the more so because this victory in ‘The Second Battle of Agincourt’ was gained together, as friends !”

Grateful thanks for this victory must of course go to Thierry Yverneau and Patrick Fenet in Azincourt but also to those on this side of the Channel who have freely given their name, time, energy, and in several notable cases put their reputation on the line, in support of this worthy cause. Particular thanks to my colleague David Williams, to Robert Hardy for his unbridled enthusiasm and inexhaustible energy, Professor Anne Curry, Professor Ralph Griffiths, Professor Richard Holmes, Michael Rayner of The Battlefields Trust, Sue White Ex-Mayor of Monmouth, Barbara Wright, Andrew Helm, Tom Foy Champion Archer, Sue Millward and the countless numbers who signed or emailed their support from 14 countries spread throughout all 5 continents.

May the next generations continue to enjoy the peace, tranquillity and serenity of this important ‘untouched’ historical site and learn more of this important era in Anglo / French / Welsh heritage at The Centre Medieval Historique in the village of Azincourt.

The above was submitted as a press release and 'thank-you' from Don Baggs.