New Grant of Arms

The Lord Lyon has granted arms to Ruaraidh Hilleary of Edinbane. The artist is Herald Painter, Yvonne Holton, Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms.

The blazon is: Vert on a base undy of four Argent and Azure, a galley oars in action, sail set Argent, in chief a bull's head cabossed Argent, horns tipped Sable between two thunderbolts Or.

Last RC Diocese to receive arms

Lyon and Unicorn were in Ayr today to present two grants of arms: arguably the most historic of all the Scottish dioceses, Galloway was presented with its arms in St Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr, in front of a large gathering, predominantly of schoolchildren from the four Catholic High Schools in the Diocese - St Joseph's College, Dumfries, St. Joseph's Academy, Kilmarnock, St Matthew's Academy, Saltcoats and Queen Margaret Academy, Ayr.

During the ceremony, a sixth-former from each school read a paper describing the symbolism behind the coat of arms. At the same ceremony, which was enlivened with hymns, prayers and scripture readings, Lyon also presented Bishop William Nolan with his personal grant of arms.

The photographs were taken by Paul McSherry. 

Two other items of interest in what was a most uplifting and prayerful service devised by Father Stephen McGrattan, were the heraldic stole with the Kirkmadrine Cross being worn by one of the canons and the beautiful crozier presented to the then bishop in the 1890s by St Joseph's College, Dumfries. The central figure of the crook is St Ninian holding the "Candida Casa" of Galloway, while the staff is encircled by a group of Scottish saints.

From our files 100 years ago today

From our files 100 years ago today: Harry Hyndman Balfour, Lieutenant-Colonel in the South African Medical Corps.

Argent on a chevron indented Sable between a rose in chief Gules and a saltire couped in base Azure and otter's head of the field a bordure invected of the third charged with a cross moline Silver.
Vol 23 folio 142

Lyon in the Scottish Borders

The Borders Family History Society held its February meeting in St Peter’s Church, Galashiels. The Lord Lyon gave a lecture on the Laws of Scots Heraldry.

Funeral of Lyon Sellar MVO

The funeral took place today in Edinburgh of David Sellar MVO, Islay Heraldry Extraordinary and formerly Lord Lyon King of Arms. A huge gathering attended led by David's wife, Susan, and family. Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh were represented by Dr Joseph Morrow CBE, Lord Lyon, and the Princess Royal was represented by Mrs Charles Ritchie LVO.

Almost all the current and former Scottish heralds and pursuivants attended, while the College of Arms was represented by Garter King of Arms and Somerset Herald.

Ross Herald Extraordinary, Mark Dennis, had created his own tribute to a dear and gentle man in the form of one of his famous and beautifully painted hatchments which was displayed both in the crematorium and later in the Playfair Library.

Photograph by Edward Mallinson

On this day in 1540

On this day in 1540, Marie of Guise-Lorraine, Queen Consort of James V and mother of Mary Queen of Scots was crowned. Here are her arms from the Forman-Workman manuscript.

Artists in Vellum Workshop

Herald Painter, Yvonne Holton, Dingwall Pursuivant, with court artists Clare McCrory and Maggie Spalding, gave a workshop today on vellum to the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists, at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.

Lyon at the Scottish Genealogy Society

The Scottish Genealogy Society held its AGM in Edinburgh tonight. The Lord Lyon as Honorary President was in the Chair and gave a lecture afterwards on the topic "What is a Clan?" and developed the question of whether the "Border Clans" are Clans. A lively discussion ensued.

Earl of Elgin

Congratulations to senior Knight of the Thistle, Lord Elgin, who celebrates his 95th birthday today. Ad multos annos!

From our Files 100 years ago today

Another superb matriculation from exactly 100 years ago today.

The arms of Rev. Francis Ewen Cameron.

The blazon is: Argent, three bars Gules within a bordure Azure charged with eight garbs of the first, in chief a crescent of the second for difference.

John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir PC GCMG GCVO CH (1875 – 1940)

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1940 of the novelist, John Buchan. Born in Perth, Buchan grew up in Glasgow where he attended Hutchesons' Grammar School and Glasgow University, before reading Law at Oxford and going into politics and the Civil Service. He died in office as Governor General of Canada for which post King George V had created him 1st Baron Tweedsmuir.

His arms were recorded in 1935 (volume 31, folio 60):

The blazon reads:
Azure a fess between three lions erased Argent.
Crest: a sunflower proper.
Supporters: (dexter) A stag proper attired Or collared Gules and (sinister) a falcon proper jessed belled and beaked Or armed and collared Gules.

Lyon in Aberdeen

The Aberdeen Association of Civil Engineers held its Annual Dinner on the 9th February and the President was presented with Letters Patent by the Lord Lyon who proposed the Toast to the Association. The top table was piped in by the well known North-East armiger, Gordon Casely.

The blazon is:  Per fess Argent and Gules a roundel counterchanged and chief enarched of the second.

Snawdoun in Stirling

Snawdoun Herald gave the Vote of Thanks at the Dean's Dinner of the Merchant Guildry of Stirling at the start of its Nonacentenary year.

The blazon for the arms, granted in 2016, is:

Vert, an enarched bridge of seven arches Argent, in chief the reversed numeral 4 in baroque style.
Crest: a tower Argent masoned Sable port Gules issuant from the parapet a unicorn's head Or.

Snawdoun Herald's badge was registered in 2010:

Lyon in Broughty Ferry

At the 48th Annual Lunch of the Abertay Probus Club in Broughty Ferry the Lord Lyon was the guest speaker on the subject of “Heraldry and a Sense of National Identity".

Lyon in Barrhead

The Lord Lyon gave the after-dinner lecture to Lodge Randolph No 1434 in Barrhead on the subject of “Three Centuries of the Usage of Masonic Symbols in Scottish Heraldry". Lodge Randolph is part of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire East which recorded arms in 1928.

From our files 100 years ago

100 years ago today, the High School of Glasgow was granted arms:

Blazon: Argent, on a mount in base an oak tree, the stem at the base surmounted of a salmon on its back with a signet ring in its mouth, on the top of the tree a redbreast and in the sinister fess point an ancient handbell proper, on a chief Gules an open book also proper leaved Or between two wreaths of laurel Gold.

Snawdoun in Perth

Snawdoun Herald visited the Black Watch Museum in Perth to be shown the collection and see the new archive premises both of which are impressive.

https://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/

Falkland at the Glasgow Highland Club

Last night at the Glasgow Highland Club's Dinner (in the Glasgow Art Club), its President, Roderick Alexander Macpherson, Falkland Pursuivant, gave a rare rendition of the original words of "Macpherson's Rant" (to its own proper tune), as found in the c.1700 broadside in the National Library of Scotland.

The photograph shows Falkland beside the statue of James Macpherson at Holyroodhouse.

Funeral of Lyon Sellar

A cremation service for the late David Sellar, former Lord Lyon, will be held at the Lorimer Chapel, Warriston Crematorium, Edinburgh at 12 noon on Saturday 23 February 2019; followed by a Memorial Reception at 2pm at the Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh.

All are welcome to attend

Carrick in Dubai

Carrick Pursuivant presented the new registered tartan of the Royal House of Braganza Portugal to Don Alfonso Prince of Beira in Dubai at a Royal Conference in Dubai. It was reported in the Dubai press.

https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=12263

Scottish Rugby

Congratulations to Scotland's Rugby Squad on their victory against Italy at Murrayfield yesterday.

Here are the arms of the SRU:

Blazon: Per saltire Azure and Argent, in chief and in base a thistle slipped of the Second on in each flank a garland of laurel proper ribonned Murrey, all within a bordure counter-compony of the First and Second. 

New Grant of Arms

The Lord Lyon has granted arms to John Stewart Comrie. Painted by Clare McCrory, the Letters Patent were presented to Mr Comrie by Lyon Clerk, Mr Russell Hunter.