Robert Burns again

  Professor Gillian Black of the Department of Law at Edinburgh University, has been conducting an informal study of some of the heraldry to be encountered in Scottish cemeteries: she has written this post for us.

 Robert Burns and Jean Lorimer

 Perhaps the most famous “faux” arms in Scotland are those designed by Robert Burns – and I was surprised and delighted to find them on a memorial in East Preston Street cemetery, in Newington, Edinburgh:

The stone was erected in 1901 by the Ninety Burns Club, to mark the grave of Jean Lorimer, or “Chloris”. She lived from 1775 – 1831, and inspired at least 24 of Burns’ songs, including (as noted on the gravestone) “The Lassie wi’ the Lintwhite hair”.

 

More information about Jean’s eventful life can be found here:

http://www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/LorimerJean17751511831.541.shtml

 And as for the arms on the stone: 

 These show the arms which Burns sketched out for himself in a letter to Alexander Cunningham in 1794, although they were only registered in 1988 by the Burns Federation. The blazon is:             “Argent, a holly bush and in chief a club and stock-and-horn saltireways all Proper."

and for crest: "A woodlark perching on a sprig of bay tree Proper."

 A final note is that this stone is also a very rare example (in fact, to date, the solitary example) of arms on a Celtic cross. I am not sure why this should be, but my graveyard ramblings so far have never yet yielded a Celtic cross displaying arms.

Editor's note: here is the painting done in 18th century style by former Ross Herald Extraordinary, Mark Dennis, of the Bard's assumed arms:

HRH The Princess Royal

 Warmest birthday greetings to HRH The Princess Royal.

Schools go back

 In the week Scottish schools go back for the fist time in nearly five months, we celebrate the heraldry of some of our primary schools:

Badge for the Honorary Vexillologist

The Lord Lyon has today granted a badge to the Honorary Vexillogist. The painting is by the current holder of the post, Philip Tibbetts, pending the re-opening of the Lyon Office.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Warmest greetings to His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on this his 99th birthday. 

Orkney

Warmest birthday greetings to Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight KCVO WS, Orkney Herald Extraordinary, Lord Lyon from 1981-2001 and an Officer of Arms since 1957.

Heraldry for the Self-Isolator continues....

Week 9: Week beginning May 25th 2020

1. Community Councils I and Crossword Solution

2. Community Councils II

3. Community Councils III

4. Community Councils IV

5. Community Councils V with Blazoning Practice.

Thursday's featured Community Council arms is Lauderdale, painted by artist Clare McClory.

Chief Herald of Canada

The Lord Lyon and the Officers of Arms send their warmest greetings to Dr Claire Boudreau as she demits office today as Chief Herald of Canada and Director of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.. We note with pleasure that the Governor General has appointed her Margaree-Chéticamp Herald Emeritus.

The Lord Lyon and the Officers of Arms congratulate Dr Samy Khalid on his appointment as Chief Herald of Canada and Director of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. The Lord Lyon looks forward to working with him at an international level.

V.E.Day 2020

We mark the 75th Anniversary of V.E. Day with some of the heraldry from the Scottish National War Memorial, a glorious shrine at Edinburgh Castle to the fallen:

 Australia

Canada

India

Newfoundland

New Zealand

South Africa

United Kingdom 

Photographs courtesy of the SNWM Trustees.

Week 6 of the Lock-down

Today's heraldic shout-out from the Lyon Office goes to another representative armiger of our vital food industry goes to Campbell of Callander, Bakers, who recorded arms in 1988.

Heraldry for the Self-Isolator continues with a leisurely stroll through the Incorporated Trades of Stornoway, Edinburgh, Dundee and Linlithgow.

http://courtofthelordlyon.scot/IsolationHeraldryWeek6C.pdf

Tuesday of week 6 of the Lock-Down

Today's heraldic shout-out to a representative of our vital food industry goes to Ramsay of Carluke Ltd., bacon-curers, granted arms in 1998.

Heraldry for the Self-Isolator continues its look at the arms of Incorporated Trades - today it is the turn of Aberdeen.

http://courtofthelordlyon.scot/IsolationHeraldryWeek6B.pdf

Monday of Week 6 of the Lock-down

Today we thank the thousands of workers in our supermarkets and food shops who are working so hard to keep us all fed. As a form of synecdoche, here are the arms of Tesco, as matriculated for use in Scotland, to represent all the supermarkets and their suppliers.

Heraldry for Self-Isolators continues with a visit to the Incorporated Trades of Glasgow:

http://courtofthelordlyon.scot/IsolationHeraldryWeek6A.pdf

Friday of Week 5 of the Lock-Down

We remember with great gratitude the heroic work being down by carers everywhere looking after our friends and family. Here is the coat of arms granted to Aberdeen Old People's Welfare Council in 1968. The saint is St Nicholas.

Heraldry for Self-Isolators continues with a look at the District Councils of the quondam Highland Regional Council. Also more blasoning practice and the weekend quiz. 

http://courtofthelordlyon.scot/IsolationHeraldryWeek5E.pdf