Grant of Arms: Lt Col Sir Henry Dennis Readett-Bayley, 1919

Auctioneers Mellors & Kirk of Nottingham are offering for sale the 1919 Grant of Arms to Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Dennis Readett-Bayley, KBE, DL, JP (1878-1940) of Lenton Abbey in respect of the surname Readett when he assumed and adopted the surname Readett-Bayley in lieu of Bayley.

The live auction will be held on the 14th & 15th April. The auctioneer’s estimate is £100-£150.

Arms: Quarterly 1st & 4th Gules fretty Or on a chief Argent three bears gambs erect Sable (Bayley) 2nd & 3rd Azure in chief two mullets and in base a trefoil slipped Or (Readett).
Crest: 1. A gryphon ejant Sable resting the dexter claw on a fret Or (Bayley)
Crest: 2. Upon a mount Vert in front of park pales proper a horse passant Gules bridled Or (Readett).
Motto: Swift and True
Dated: 25th February 1919

Garter: Henry Farnham Burke
Clarenceux: Charles Harold Athill

Fox-Davies’ Armorial Families

Kings of Arms: Changes ahead?

At a recent Zoom AGM of the White Lion Society it was mentioned that two Kings of Arms at the College of Arms are due to retire in the next year or so.  The College has a retirement age of 70.  Patric Dickinson, Clarenceux, (I think) reached that age in November last year and Thomas Woodcock, Garter, will do so in May of this year.

I understand that promotion from Herald to King of Arms is based on seniority but straight seniority does not necessarily apply to the appointment of Garter.  Looking at Kings of Arms over the past 70 years, the only Norroy & Ulster King of Arms to become Garter is the present incumbent, Thomas Woodcock.  Both John Brooke-Little and David Chesshyre, who were in their late 60s, went from Norroy to Clarenceux and were in office for two or three years before retiring.  My guess is that the current Norroy, Timothy Duke, who is aged 67 will follow suit when Patric Dickinson stands down.

The two most senior Heralds in line for advancement are Robert Noel, Lancaster, and David White, Somerset.  Which will become the next Garter and Norroy & Ulster is anybody’s guess.  I doubt PaddyPower or Ladbrokes will give you any odds.  All I do know is that the new Kings of Arms will be younger than me.

Grant of Arms: John Evelyn Ansell 1919

Auctioneers Cheffins of Cambridge are offering for sale the 1919 Grant of Arms to John Evelyn Ansell (b.1860 d.1936) of Glenloch Road.  The auction is due to be held 21st February.  There is no auctioneer’s estimate.

Arms: Gules on a saltire Argent between four bezants two swords in saltire proper pommelled and hilted Or.
Crest: A torteau charged with two swords as in the Arms.
Motto: Fais Ce Que Dois

Dated: 23rd January 1919

Garter: Henry Farnham Burke
Clarenceax: William Henry Weldon

Fox-Davies’ Armorial Families 1929

John Evelyn Ansell and his wife, Ada Maria, had two children, Enid (b.1897) and Evelyn (b.1898 d.1970).  Evelyn married Mary L S Eaton in 1928 and lived in Cambridge.  They had two daughters, Meryll Carinthia (b.1930) and Rosemary (b.1934).

Jo Cox MP

On the 24th June 2017 the Arms of the late Jo Cox MP were unveiled in the Houses of Parliament by her two children.  It was reported that the children were instrumental in the design of the Arms.

The Arms of Jo Cox MP – courtesy Baz Manning

 

Arms: Barry wavy Vert and Purpure a Chevronel Argent between in chief a White Rose and a Red Rose proper both barbed seeded and slipped the stalks conjoined Or and in base a Red Rose and a White Rose proper both barbed seeded and slipped the stalks conjoined Or.

Motto: More in Common.

College of Arms Grant 10/17. Agent Garter

The Arms were painted by Baz Manning, who is the heraldic artist to both the Palace of Westminster and The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.  Baz advised that the tinctures green, purple and white are those of the Suffragettes and the the roses were blazoned as “proper” to avoid breaking the “colour on colour” rule.