Lyon's Farewell to Australia

Farewell to Australia: the Lord Lyon viewed the painting of the "Founding of Australia with Captain Arthur Philip RN, 26th January 1788" which hangs in Parliament House, Sydney, before he began the journey home after a wonderful trip.

Biggar Crest Exhibition: The Duke of Argyll

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is the "boar’s head couped Or, armed Argent and langued Gules" of John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell 9th Duke of Argyll KG KT GCMG GCVO PC (1845-1914), a son-in-law of Queen Victoria.

Crest photo by Edward Mallinson

Bell Family Convention

The Bell Family Convention took place in Gretna today: the Supervising Officer was Snawdoun Herald.

Biggar Crest Exhibition - Viscount of Arbuthnott

In order to build up some momentum for summer visitors to Scotland, we will look each day at one of the 19 crests on display at the The Exhibition of Crests of the Order of the Thistle in the Biggar and Clydesdale Museum. It is open until August 10th, Tuesday-Saturday 10am - 5p.m. Admission Free.

Today we look at the peacock crest of the late John Campbell Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott, KT, CBE, DSC (1924-2012):

Scottish Week in Sydney continues

The Kirkin of the Tartan took place in the Hunter Baillie Memorial Church, Annandale, Sydney, part of the Australian Presbyterian Church, on the 16th June. The Lord Lyon read the Old Testament Lesson. The Australian Gaelic Singers sang several pieces.

The Australian Gaelic Singers at the Kirkin' of the Tartan with the Lord Lyon. The members of the Singers are international with members from Brazil to Perth, Scotland . They sang a moving version of the hymn "Abide with me " in Gaelic.

The Lord Lyon spoke at The Scottish Australian Clans and Families Forum on the 16th June. The other Speakers were Susan Cooke and Dr Frank Davidson who discussed how their families came to Australia. Dr Davidson illustrated the heraldry of the Davidsons of New England.

Scottish Week in Sydney begins

The Scottish Australian Heritage Council opened Scotland Week at Old Government House Parramatta. The Lord Lyon is the Honoured Guest and is photographed with the Patron, the Earl of Dunmore, who lives in Tasmania, and Malcolm Buchanan, President.

lunch on the 15th June, the Lord Lyon was given a tour of Old Government House, Parramatta. The original house known as Hunter House is named after Vice Admiral John Hunter RN, 2nd Governor who was a Scotsman who came to Australia in the First Fl

Crest Exhibition - Biggar Museum

The Exhibition of Crests of the Order of the Thistle opened at Biggar and Clydesdale Museum this afternoon. It is open until August 10th, Tuesday-Saturday 10am - 5p.m. Admission Free.

Lyon in Sydney

Lyon is now in Sydney where he will be taking part in Scottish Week, including a session on Clans.

On the 12th June the Lord Lyon was a guest at Government House Sydney. He was shown the full collection of Coats of Arms of the Governors of the State of which many of the recent achievements were designed by Richard d'Apice AM President of the Australian Heraldry Society.

In the meantime, he has been giving his lectures on the Heraldry of Aspects of Scottish Life and later visited St James's Church Sydney which was consecrated in 1824 and was originally part of the Diocese of Calcutta.

During the Lord Lyon's visit to St James's Church, Sydney, he was shown the only surviving hatchment of a Governor, Sir Robert Duff PC, AC. The heraldic treasure is well preserved and painted on felt.

Lyon in Canberra

The Lord Lyon 's  lecture in Canberra was on the Heraldry of the Orders of St John . In attendance were several Scottish Armigers and also the Honorary Historian to the Order in Australia, Ian Howie Willis K.St.J. The lecture was followed by a dinner in the Yacht Club.

The Lord Lyon on the 9th June visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra . The Memorial has very powerful symbols and images and was started in 1923 and finished in 1941. HM The Queen opened the War Memorial in 1954.

Lyon's Australian Tour continues.

Lyon's Lecture Tour of Australia is jointly sponsored by the Australian Heraldry Society and the Scottish Australian Heritage Council.

The Australian Heraldry Society has a splendid website HERE.

The Tour continues today in Melbourne, then Lyon will take part in Scottish Week in Sydney.

Friday 14 June
* 12 for 12:30pm - about 2:30pm, 18 Footer sailing Club, Bay Street, Double Bay
Formal welcome lunch for our Honoured Guest, Dr Joseph J Morrow, The Right Honourable Lord Lyon King of Arms, Scotland, hosted by Rosemary Samios OAM (a Patron of the Scottish Australian Heritage Council) and Richard d’Apice AM (Chairman of the Australian Heraldry Society). 

Saturday 15 June
* 10:00am - about 2:30pm, Lachlan’s Restaurant, Old Government House, Parramatta Park, Parramatta
Luncheon and Historic Tour of Old Government House, Parramatta.
Luncheon address by Dr Morrow about the role of the Lord Lyon and Lyon Office and Scottish heraldry, upcoming family conventions. 

Sunday 16 June
* 11:30am - 2:30pm, Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church hall, Cnr Johnston & Collins Streets, Annandale
Clans and Families Forum (main theme: stories of our families emigration to Australia).
Susan Cooke, High Commissioner for Clan Lindsay & Secretary SAHC, will talk about her family, Dr Frank Davidson, High Commissioner Clan Davidson, VP SAHC & Armiger, will talk about his Davidson family.
Talk by Dr Morrow about "What is a clan? – Scottish heraldry and the Clans" 

Monday 17 June
* 11:30am - 2:00pm
Annual Inspection of the Scotland Australian Cairn by Dr Joseph Morrow. Mosman Council hosts the annual inspection of the cairn, which was a 1988 Bi-Centennial gift from Scotland`s people to Australia, and it commemorates the landing of Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788.

The Scottish Australian Heritage Council's website is HERE.

The Lord Lyon in South Australia

The Lord Lyon's lecture tour of Australia continues with a lecture in Adelaide on the Heraldry of the Orders of St John.

Lyon's second lecture in Adelaide was given in the Grand Lodge Hall which has a grant from the College of Arms. The lecture was on Masonic Heraldry in the Public Register of Arms and Armorial Bearings in Scotland.

Arms of the Grand Lodge

On the 6th June, the Governor of South Australia His Excellency The Hon Hieu Van Le and Mrs Le welcomed the Lord Lyon to Governor's House, Adelaide, along with others of Scottish heritage including John McNeil, President of the Scottish Association of South Australia.

The funeral hatchments which were hung on the gates of Governor's House Adelaide on the deaths of HM Queen Victoria and HM King Edward VII were on display for the Lord Lyon's visit to Governor's House .

Lyon was hosted in Adelaide by a former Vice President of the Australian Heraldry Society, Dr Richard Num who is a Scottish armiger.

Arms of Dr Richard Num

The final lecture by the Lord Lyon in Adelaide was given in the Grand Lodge Hall of South Australia with the title "Illustrated by Symbols " and explored  the use of Heraldry by Scottish Freemasons. There was a large audience who actively asked questions.

Lyon is now in Melbourne for the next leg of his Lecture Tour.

The Lord Lyon in Brisbane

The Lord Lyon is engaged in a lengthy Lecture Tour of Australia, as the guest of the Australian Heraldry Society to give a series of three lectures in four cities. The lecture titles are: “The Eight-Pointed Cross" (on the Heraldry of the various Orders of St John), “Signs of Faith" (on church Heraldry) and “Illustrated by Symbols” (on Masonic Heraldry).

Arms of the Australian Heraldry Society

On the 3rd June, Lyon gave the first lecture of his Australian tour in the Maritime Museum Brisbane on the “Eight Pointed Star- the Heraldry of the Orders of St John “ It was attended by a number of Australian Heraldry Society members, Members of the Order of St John and members of the Scottish Community in Brisbane. After the lecture there was a lively questions and answer time.

Lyon with Michael Bryce AM AE, husband of the former Governor-General, Dame Quentin Bryce

 Lyon visited the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Brisbane Queensland on the 4th June and interviewed a new mascot for the Lyon Court or a potential new Crest subject. He later gave his second lecture of his trip on the" Heraldry of the Scottish Masonic Orders".

Lyon was hosted in Brisbane by Lesley and Peter Huxley. Peter is a former Vice President of the Heraldry Society of Australia, and is known to many in the heraldry world but especially in Scotland .He one of many Scottish Armigers in Brisbane. Here are two fine paintings of his arms.

Flag for incoming Governor of Edinburgh Castle

The Lord Lyon has approved the design of the flag for Major-General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich who will become Governor of Edinburgh Castle on June 24th, with a formal installation in the autumn.