David Reid of Robertland

David Reid of Robertland, Carrick 1972, and Archivist to the University of Glasgow, was born on 18 April 1929. He was the editor of volume 2 of the Ordinary. Here are his arms and badge.

Kirkin of the Tartan

The Lord Lyon preached to a full house yesterday at the "Kirkin of the the Tartan" service in Washington's National Cathedral.

Thomas Dundas of Fingask ygr

Thomas Dundas of Fingask, ygr, appointed to the now defunct position of Lyon Depute, and therefore the person who did the Lyon's work, in 1744 died on 16th April 1786. Here is his grant:

Lyon in Washington

Lyon is in Washington doing a great job at the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of Tartan Day

The St Andrew's Society of Washington DC honoured the Lord Lyon by conferring on him Honorary Life Membership. It was presented to him by the Society's President at a Dinner held in the Capital Hill Club.

He also attended a Congressional Reception on Capital Hill for the Friends of Scotland Caucus.

Here he is with the Tartan Day Honour Guard with at the Congressional Reception.

International Pet Day

April 11th is also National Pet Day.

Here is the fine coat of arms granted in 1979 to Lieutenant General Sir Michael Gow, Governor of Edinburgh Castle. The crest shows his faithful pet, Frodo, holding the key to Edinburgh Castle where Frodo is buried in the pets’ cemetery.

Another two fine pet dogs can be seen as supporters to the arms of Very Rev Professor Iain Torrance Kt, Dean of the Chapel Royal. In this witty painting of the arms by Herald Painter, Yvonne Holton, the dominant dog is given the bone:

International Submarine Day

April 11th is International Submarine Day, marking the anniversary of the USA's first submarine in 1900. The first British submarine was built for James VI in 1620 by Cornelius Drebble. Here is a fine example of a nuclear submarine in a coat of arms.

John Grant, Marchmont Herald

John Grant, Marchmont Herald and father of Lyon Sir Francis Grant, died on April 11th 1888. His portrait shows lace at the collar and wrists, and English-style collar of esses and a long blue and white ribbon for the blasoun, nowadays worn as a neck-badge.

On this day in 1747......

The 11th Lord Fraser of Lovat was the last person to be beheaded in Britain, on 9 April 1747. The arms were not recorded in the Public Register until 1837 by Thomas Alexander Fraser of Lovat and Strichen, created Baron Lovat of Lovat, and restored in the Scottish title in 1857.

Happy National Unicorn Day

Happy National Unicorn Day, Scotland's glorious national beast!

Visit of the EuroDevils

Today the Euro devils visited the Lyon Office and were given a lecture on the Court of the Lord Lyon by Dr Morrow and Rothesay Herald Sir Crispin Agnew QC.

Calligraphy Class visits the Lyon Office

Clare McCrory, one of our finest artists and calligraphers, brought her Evening Class in Calligraphy  from Drummond Community High School to the Lyon Office to be shown round by Lyon Clerk.

Arms of William Roads

Congratulations to William Roads on his new matriculation of arms, which quarters his own cadet arms with those of his mother and great-aunt, both heraldic heiresses. The painting is by Yvonne Holton, Herald Painter and Dingwall Pursuivant.

For she's a jolly good Fellow ...

Congratulations to Elizabeth Roads, Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records, Snawdoun Herald, and Secretary to the Thistle on her election to Fellowship of the Heraldry Society. She adds this to her Fellowships of the Heraldry Societies of Scotland, New Zealand, and Canada.