Following the very successful networking event held in September 2022, the First Lady of the Company Honorary Liveryman Una Riley and William Hunt agreed that a visit to the College of Arms could take place as a follow up to William Hunt’s presentation to that meeting to learn more about the work done by the College of Arms.

On the 13th of January 2023, a group of Apprentices and Apprentice Masters had the privilege of discovering the official heraldic authority inner workings and lasting legacy through a journey of the College of Arms by William Hunt TD BA FCA, former Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary from 1999 to 2017 and current Research Assistant to the Windsor Herald and Mark Scott Bluemantle Pursuivant, the College of Arms Librarian.

The tour started off with a brief history of the heraldic system. When it came into being in medieval times, the chief responsibilities of heralds were to proclaim and organise tournaments. Coats of arms were principally used as means of distinguishing knights through the arms on their shields or crests on their helmets. Besides their medieval activities, the functions of heralds have kept core traditions of armoury expertise and organising ceremonials.

The most striking function that has been upheld is the genealogical practices through which heralds have recorded for the past centuries the evolution, end and beginning, of families and various organisations. We were astonished by not only the extensive repertoires of grants and changes of arms, royal licences, and pedigrees that have been carefully and rigorously kept for the past 600 years but also the artistic reflection behind this craft. Looking through the records dedicated to Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, we were able to observe the evolution of our Company from a Guild to a Worshipful Company through its coats of arms and crests.

At the end of the tour, we were invited to share a glass of wine and a wonderful buffet supper, provided by the Porters, for which the visiting guests were most grateful with William Hunt and Mark Scott. During which we had the opportunity to further discuss the modern practices of the current thirteen officers of arms with William Hunt and Mark Scott.

We would like to thank William Hunt and Mark Scott for enabling us to discover an expertise that has been maintained for centuries. Thank you also to AMG Chair Andrew Knights for organising such a thoroughly enlightening visit.

Camille Dabas

Apprentice