One of my favourite design projects

 A recent review of the designs I have completed for clients reminded me of one of my very favourites, that of Peter Ffrench, completed back in 2020. 

https://armorialregister.com/arms-au/ffrench-pb-arms.html

It was a pure pleasure to work with Peter and the arms really do reflect his persona.

Arms: Per bend bevelled Or and Azure, within an orle three fleurs-de-lis errect in bend all counterchanged.

Crest:  A demi-man habited and bonneted Azure, the collar, cuffs and bonnet band Or holding in the dexter hand an annulet per fess Or and Azure.

Motto:  Whatever.

Do check out the link to find out about the rationale behind the design.

Another new heraldry talk

I have just finished preparing another talk, this one will be presented to the Wrekin U3A next year (I'm well ahead of myself).

Shropshire’s Civic Heraldry

The origins and design rationale behind the coats of arms used by the Boroughs, Districts, Towns and Parishes of Shropshire.   

This one does pretty well what it says on the tin but in our explorations, there are some arms where I have provided a hitherto unexplained rationale and I have created new images for all of the relevant authorities.

Oakengates Urban District Council, Granted 15th September 1960. 

Obsolete 1974

Two new talks

 I now have two new talks all ready to go (well, one brand new one and one I presented to the Yorkshire Heraldry Society last year).

The first talk, the one presented to the Yorkshire Heraldry Society, is called A Miscellany of Mistakes .... or, the musings (and confessions) of a heraldry addict.  This talk is a meandering one, wandering through some of the things that I’ve seen or done, or simply had happen to me. I always enjoy my heraldic journeys, and I hope that in sharing some of them with you, you will too.

My second, recently prepared, talk is called "All is not as it seems!" It is a study of the mysterious case of the arms of a 19th century Staffordshire gentleman whose pedigree, commemorated in his arms of many quarters, speaks of a descent of great antiquity and nobility. It is an interesting example of someone who, though undoubtedly well respected in his own right, laid claims to a great and venerable bloodline to which he was not entitled.

I am available to present talks to groups and societies (within reasonable distance) and via webinar; do let me know if you would like to hear more. 

Playing catchup

 I have been playing catch up recently having been busy with matter Armorial Register. Having recently completed a newly designed coat of arms for a client, it brought to mind a recent post by The Lyon Court on X where, upon seeing the design, it elicited an OUCH.

QUOTE (Lyon Court):

From our files 200 years ago this week, the arms of Archibald Fletcher, advocate, of Auchendinny House near Penicuik, a prominent abolitionist and enthusiastic supporter of the French Revolution. END QUOTE

To be filed in my "far too busy to be easily identified when flown as a flag from the battlements of a castle" file.

Remember Remember the 5th of November

 It's that time of year again. It's quite a long video but you can of course pause it at any time to make a cuppa.

Burke's Peerage Foundation struck off the charity register.

 Burke's Peerage Foundation has been struck off the charity register. A GOV.UK statutory inquiry, launched in March 2022, found serious misconduct and mismanagement, including conflicts of interest, poor financial management, and misapplied funds, which led to the disqualification of the former trustees. 

Burke’s Peerage Foundation (‘the charity’) was registered with the Charity Commission (‘the Commission’) on 5 February 2014 and was governed by a Declaration of Trust dated 5 January 2014.

The charity was removed from the Commission’s register of charities on 2 August 2023.

The charity’s objectives were: To advance the education of the public in the United Kingdom in the subject of genealogy and personal heritage.

William Bortrick (‘Mr Bortrick’) and Mark Ayre (‘Mr Ayre’) were trustees of the charity from the 5 February 2014.Trustee minutes obtained by the Inquiry record the appointment of a third trustee (‘trustee C’) on 16 July 2022 and their resignation on 14 September 2022. Trustee C was primarily appointed to conduct a viability review of the charity’s future, and they have informed the Inquiry that they were not involved in any decision making.  The Commission did not consider that trustee C was responsible for any of the findings of the inquiry and the reference to ‘the trustees’ throughout the report refers to Mr Bortrick and Mr Ayre only.

William Bortrick - Times Newspaper

Mayoral Chain Leek Staffordshire

 As a Leekensian and a heraldry addict I have a double interest in any news that touches upon both interests.

The Leek Town Council website informs us that Cllr. Derek Hilyer was elected as The Mayor of Leek at the Leek Town Council Annual Meeting held in May 2025 and provided us with not only a photo of the Mayor proudly wearing his Chain of Office but also provides a close up of the heraldic pendant upon the Chain. Belated congratulations to Derek (I'm a bit late with this report) and many thanks to Belinda Hargreaves of Our Leek & Moorlands publication for providing the photos (especially of the Chain).

Cllr. Derek Hilyer resplendant in his Chain of Office

The Arms of Leek Town Council as featured on the Mayoral Chain

(The moorcock seems to have become a bit faded but hey, it is blazoned as Proper so perhaps, like me it has grayed with age!)

Arms : Azure a Saltire patonce between in chief a Stafford Knot in fesse two Suns and in base a Garb all Or. Crest : Out of a Mural Crown Or charged with three Mulberry Leaves proper a Mount of Heather thereon a Moorcock also proper resting the dexter claw on a Leek small-weave Shuttle Gold threaded Gules.  Motto: 'ARTE FAVENTE NIL DESPERANDUM'- Our skill assisting us, we have no cause for despair.

The arms were officially granted on May 7, 1956 to Leek Urban District Council but are now used by Leek Town Council.

For an explanation of the rationale behind the design, see: 

https://weblog.heraldryaddict.uk/2020/07/leeks-civic-heraldry-and-finest-garden.html