ep-06 Issue - The Heraldry Society

feathered gold and resting its sinister paw upon a
book its spine uppermost proper bound gules and
garnished or.
Motto: 'Caeruleus candidus vincet' (loosely
translated, I believe to be: 'Let the light blues
conquer’).
Garter King of Arms reading from the letters patent,
and in the background this year’s President, Monica
Morrill, to whom the grant of arms was presented.
The use of the book, cross, lion's faces and the
demi lion reflect the university's arms in some respect;
whilst the use of the fur pean acts as a remembrance
to the fact that this particular fur has been used as the
Society's 'colour' for many a long year. The use of
both or and sable also alludes to the home of the
society for its meetings: Clare College. The crane's leg
in the crest refers to the genealogical aspect of the
Society: from the French 'pied de grue', the origin of
the word pedigree. The light blue as mentioned in the
motto is the traditional 'colour' of the university as
opposed to the dark blue of the other place (ie:
Oxford).
BIRMINGHAM
CONFERENCE
by Melvyn Jeremiah
Enthusiastic expert heraldists from the Midlands
and further afield gathered in the magnificent setting
of the Birmingham City Council chamber on Monday
and Tuesday 6th- 7th August for the second
conference arranged by Adrian de Redman HonFHS,
Birmingham City Armorist. The topic was
contemporary grants of arms, in practice grants over
the last forty years or so. A number of speakers
explained the process and significance of grants either
to themselves or with which they had been associated
in some way. The President of the Conference, Robert
Noel Lancaster Herald, enthralled his audience with
examples of modern grants by the College of Arms. In
subsequent discussion it was emphasised to him that
the listing of grantees in the regular College
newsletter was not much good in the absence of both
blazon and illustration of the arms that had been
granted to them. This led on to a plea for the College
to make available in some way its records of grants,
particularly those since the last general armories were
published. These grants were matters of public record
and it was not good enough to have them squirreled
away in the College’s Records with no public
availability. Mr Lancaster promised to take that
message back to the College.
On the Monday evening a Conference Dinner was
held in the St Paul’s Club, with the Deputy Lord Mayor
and Mayoress as Guests of Honour. All present
enjoyed a most convivial evening. In his after dinner
remarks the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor John
Sharpe, repeated the warm welcome he had extended
to the Conference in opening the proceedings earlier
in the day. In closing the Conference on Tuesday he
emphasised that the City would welcome a further
such gathering in the future. The hospitality extended
by the City was excellent and the assistance given by
the Corporation’s staff was much appreciated. The
participants were united in hoping that there would
indeed be another opportunity to meet in such
rewarding circumstances.
E-mail the editor at heraldry.gazette@mac.com 5