Johann Sebastian Bach

Wednesday of this week, 21st March, is the 327th anniversary of the birth of J.S. Bach. Here is the coat of arms of his birthplace, Eisenach, in Thuringia.

100 renewals!

Now passed 100 renewals for 2012-2013, not counting Standing Orders. Many thanks, keep them coming!

Ten days in Rome - Colonna

From: Margaret Sainte Claire

After enjoying a ten day holiday to Rome in November 2011, I have lots of photos to share. There are many fine examples of the arms of the Colonna family, this one is in the cloister of The Basilica of St John the Lateran.

Scots Heraldist made a Canon of St Peter's

Arms of the Pontifical Scots College, Rome.
The first Scots-born prelate was made a Canon of St Peter's Basilica in February. A former pupil of St Aloysius' College, Glasgow, Monsignor Charlie Burns OBE, was ordained priest for the Diocese of Paisley and worked for 35 years at the Vatican Secret Archives. He was also Professor of the History of Papal Diplomacy at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy (the Holy See’s diplomatic academy) for nearly 25 years. He is a noted heraldist, having designed, among others, the arms of Bishop Tartaglia of Paisley. Whether or not Mons Burns is the first SCOTTISH canon of St Peter's depends on your definition of Scottishness as the Rome-born Cardinal Erskine of Cambo, a kinsman of the Earl of Mar and Kellie, was a canon of the Basilica as was, of course, His Majesty King Henry I and IX (quondam Henry, Cardinal Duke of York), who was also born in Rome.

New Early-Bird Total

2012-2013 subscriptions have now passed 70 (+ Standing Order people). Well done and thank you. Keep them coming.

For your interest, I recently had my Arms painted by a very talented Greek artist called Ioannis Vlazakis. He paints in a very florid style and the image does not do justice to the beauty of the final result.

Earlybirds

Many thanks to the 50 members who have renewed early, either by Paypal, Standing Order or cheque. In the last case, I have been advised by the auditors to retain the cheques until April so that they appear in the accounts for the correct financial year. I hope this will not cause any inconvenience to members.

Members by Country

I thought it might interest members, as we approach annual renewal, to see how membership of the Society breaks down by country.