Honorary Vexillologist's Skye Tour continues

Continuing his tour of Skye the Honorary Vexillologist spoke to Knockbreck Primary, Portree Primary and Bun-Sgoil Ghaidhlig Phort Righ. He was pleased to have been applauded for opening and ending his talk in Gaelic! The students came up with great ideas for a Skye flag.

Lyon to deliver Armitstead Lecture

The Lord Lyon will deliver one of the 132nd  Armitstead Series of Lectures on Friday the 8th November in the Dundee University Dalhousie Building at 7.30pm .The lecture is entitled “Discovering Heraldry - Exploring the Treasures of Arms Associated with Dundee". All welcome.

Lyon Sir Francis Grant

Mrs Jacqui McKay, the great-grand-daughter of Sir Francis Grant, Lord Lyon from 1929-1945 and Lyon Clerk from 1898- 1929, attended at the Lyon Office on the 6th November to present a collection of memorabilia relating to Lyon Grant.

Vexillologist at large

Phillip Tibbetts, Honorary Vexillologist to the Lyon Court, is on the road again in his mission to promote community flags, chosen by local competitions. He has started a tour of Skye primary schools for the Skye Flag Competition speaking at Edinbane, Kilmuir and Elgol where the children all had lots of questions on heraldry. He used the Caithness flag as an example.

Ms Lorna Irving RIP

It is with great sadness that we note the untimely death on holiday of our dear secretary, Lorna Irving. In a few years at the Lyon Office, Lorna established herself as a warm and friendly presence, prepared to go to immense lengths to help all enquirers and visitors. We send our sincere condolences to her family. May her sweet soul rest in peace.

Lorna's Funeral service will be held at West Lothian Crematorium, Livingston, on Friday, November 8, at 10am. Family flowers only, please.

Robert Pichette RIP

We record with sadness the death of Robert Pichette, Dauphin Herald Extraordinary at the Canadian Heraldic Authority, who recorded arms at the Lyon Court in 1970.

Blazon: Gules three water pitchers Ermine two addorsed in chief and the third in base, a bordure engrailed Or. 

Crest: a demi-lion Sable enflamed Or sustaining with his dexter paw a milestone of the Second enumerated XIV.

Sir Conrad Swan RIP -Hatchment

The Toronto Branch of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada of which he was patron, has commissioned a hatchment for Sir Conrad Swan, late Garter King of Arms from Ilona Jurkiewicz. It will be dedicated next month at Sir Conrad's former parish church of Our Lady of Assumption, Toronto.

Unicorn at Westminster Abbey

Unicorn yesterday attended the 750th Anniversary Service of the re-founding of Westminster Abbey by King Henry III of England.

Robert Bruce

Master Robert Bruce, son of Marchmont Herald, was on duty today as a Page of Honour to Her Majesty the Queen at the Opening of Parliament.

St John Henry Newman

This morning in Rome, John Henry Cardinal Newman is raised to the altars of the Church. A differenced version of his arms was recorded by Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill. The tapestries bearing the portraits of the five new saints bear the arms of Pope Francis.

Lyon Decisions now posted on website

On 4th December 2018, the Lord Lyon found in favour of Sir William St Clair Inglis of Nether-Cramond Baronet, represented by Sir Crispin Agnew Bt. QC, Rothesay Herald, with Confirmation of Coat of Arms.. http://www.courtofthelordlyon.scot/index_htm_files/NetherCramond.pdf


On 19/9/2019 the Lord Lyon found Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains, represented by Sir Crispin Agnew Bt. QC, Rothesay Herald, entitled to be recognised as Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers, a chiefship dormant since 1809. https://courtofthelordlyon.scot/index_htm_files/CarruthersDecision.pdf

Falkland Pursuivant Extraordinary

At the 137th annual business meeting of the Glasgow Highland Club, in retiring from the presidency, Roderick MacPherson, Falkland Pursuivant, donated the illustrated gold brooch, to serve in all time coming as the badge of office of the current president.

It was once the property of his uncle, Sheriff A. C. Macpherson (1939-99), who joined in 1958 and was a very distinguished president. At the 1886 annual meeting, the Club decided to adopt this design of badge and the motto “Dìleas d’a chèile” (Faithful to each other).

Botanical Artists

The Herald Painter, Yvonne Holton Dingwall Pursuivant, along with Court Artists, Maggie Spalding and Clare McCrory, hosted two visits to the Lyon Office by the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists and others interested in that aspect of art.