The Lord Lyon is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Julie Smith. Julie joins the Court of the Lord Lyon as Ceremonial and Development Officer after several years in frontline politics at the Scottish Parliament. With a degree in Corporate Communication she has a background in event and stakeholder management, public relations, and business administration.
On 10th October, the Lord Lyon and Lyon Clerk attended the Memorial Service at St Giles Cathedral for Sir Geoff Palmer KT OBE, Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University. The Styles and titles of Sir Geoff were read by the Lord Lyon.
The Lord Lyon has appointed Susan Flintoff VR to be Kintyre Pursuivant Extraordinary.
She is the Chief Executive and Keeper of the Rolls at the Scottish National War Memorial, and the first woman and ex-Naval officer to hold the post. Susan served for 27 years as a reservist in the Royal Naval Reserve at HMS DALRIADA, including five years full-time service at HMNB Clyde working for FOSNNI and the Naval Base Commander. Her RNR specialisation was Maritime Trade Operations, and she deployed on exercise to the Falklands, Poland, Persian Gulf and France. Whilst serving as a reservist she has also had a civilian career working mainly in banking and was a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. Keen to support the development of the next generation, Susan is a Trustee and Treasurer at her local Sea Cadet Unit. She holds the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal.
The Honourable Andrew Lockhart McLachlan, granted arms in 2020:
The Lord Lyon has granted arms to Dr Brady Thomas McNulty. The artist was Gayle Page.
Blazon: Azure on a bend Argent three dog paw prints Sable between two wolves' heads erased Argent langued Gules.
Crest: a demi beagle hound howling Proper gorged of an antique crown
As part of its 850th anniversary celebrations, the City of Glasgow, in association with the Trades House, Merchants House and Dean of Guild Trust has commissioned stones carved in Caithness stone to mark the four ancient ports or gates into the City.
The Lord Lyon has matriculated the arms of Christopher Edward Chapman. The artist was Sarah Coomer.
We are delighted to announce that Falkland Pursuivant Extraordinary, Major Neil Kilpatrick Cargill MVO has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel: we send our well-deserved congratulations to Lt Col Cargill.
The Ayrshire town of Girvan unveiled the winning community flag designed by local primary schoolgirl, Winter Ingram, as part of the town's Harbour Gala weekend. Bute and March Pursuivants took part in the ceremony and were then honoured with a tour of the RNLI lifeboat.
The Lord Lyon took part in the opening procession of Aboyne Highland Games today, accompanied by Rothesay Herald and Falkland Pursuivant. Lyon presented a signed recognition of 60 years of service to Aboyne Highland Games to James Malcolm Marcus Humphrey of Dinnet CBE OStJ DL.
On the 1st August the Lord Lyon attended the unveiling at Crail Museum by Willie Rennie MSP of the restored painting "Crail Harbour and Village from the Sea " by David Owen Martin (1865-1936). The painting was donated by Miss Jones of Crail in 1981.
Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). In the 1680s James VII invited the Jesuits to open one of their colleges in Edinburgh at Holyroodhouse. Despite the ecumenical intentions, the "Colledge", like the Thistle Chapel, did not survive the mob.
The American Scottish Foundation has today announced the 2025 Wallace Award winner, namely Dr Joe Morrow, the Lord Lyon King of Arms, for his leadership of the Court of the Lord Lyon. Previous recipients include Sir Sean Connery, Sir Tom Farmer and Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.
