Elizabeth Roads
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Ann Roads, MVO
(born 1951) is Snawdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary
and Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records
for the Court of the Lord Lyon
.
James Bruce MC
and his wife Mary Hope Sinclair. As evidenced by her coat of arms, Roads is an indeterminate cadet
of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland. She was born in 1951 and educated at Lansdowne House, Edinburgh, Cambridgeshire College of Technology, and the Study Centre for Fine Art in London
. She married Christopher Roads in 1983, and they have two sons Timothy and William and a daughter Emily.
. She was appointed Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary
in 1987 and became the first woman to be appointed a royal officer of arms
. This was a temporary appointment, when she represented the Lord Lyon in Canada
in the discussions that led to the establishment of the Canadian Heraldic Authority
. Roads was appointed Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
in 1992 and promoted to Snawdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary
in 2010.
As Elizabeth Bruce, Roads was a founder member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland
in 1977. She was Chairman of that Society in the late 1990s and is now a Fellow of the Heraldry Society of Scotland and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. She has published many articles on heraldic and genealogical subjects.
1987-Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary,
1992-Carrick Pursuivant of Arms,
2008-Assistant Secretary, Order of the Thistle
2010-Snawdoun Herald of Arms.
1977 HM Silver Jubilee Medal,
1990 Member of the Royal Victorian Order,
1999 Officer of the Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem,
2002 HM Golden Jubilee Medal.
1986 Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland,
1996 Fellow of the Heraldry Society of Scotland (Founding Member 1977, Chairman 1997-2000, Chairman of Heraldic Exhibition “Lions and Thistles” 1995),
1998 – date Hon. Treasurer Scottish Record Society,
2003 Associate Member L’Academie Internationale d’Heraldique,
2004 Honorary Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada,
2007 Council Member Scottish Records Association,
2008 Academician, L'Academie Internationale d'Heraldique
2010 Chairman Scottish Records Association
the hand proper grasping a broken Sceptre Gules. The motto is shown on a scroll over the crest and is “SIC FUIMUS”.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(born 1951) is Snawdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Snowdoun Herald
Snawdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish herald of arms in Ordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon.The office was first mentioned in 1443 and the title is derived from a part of Stirling Castle which bore the same name...
and Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records
Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records
Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records is an heraldic office in Scotland. The holder of this office is appointed by the Crown, and like the Lord Lyon King of Arms receives an annual salary...
for the Court of the Lord Lyon
Court of the Lord Lyon
The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of...
.
Personal life and education
Elizabeth Roads is the daughter of Lt. ColLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
James Bruce MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and his wife Mary Hope Sinclair. As evidenced by her coat of arms, Roads is an indeterminate cadet
Cadency
In heraldry, cadency is any systematic way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same family. Cadency is necessary in heraldic systems in which a given design may be owned by only one person at once...
of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland. She was born in 1951 and educated at Lansdowne House, Edinburgh, Cambridgeshire College of Technology, and the Study Centre for Fine Art in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She married Christopher Roads in 1983, and they have two sons Timothy and William and a daughter Emily.
Heraldic career
Elizabeth Roads joined the staff of the Court of the Lord Lyon in 1975 and was appointed Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records in 1986 . In this position, she maintains, among other things, the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in ScotlandPublic Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland
The Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland was established by Act of the Scottish Parliament in 1672. The register is held at the Court of the Lord Lyon and contains every grant of arms since that date. Bearings that are not matriculated in the Register may not be used in Scotland...
. She was appointed Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary
Linlithgow Pursuivant Extraordinary
Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms was a Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.This title is locative in origin, and is derived from the name of a royal burgh of Linlithgow and palace of the same name...
in 1987 and became the first woman to be appointed a royal officer of arms
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
. This was a temporary appointment, when she represented the Lord Lyon in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the discussions that led to the establishment of the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
. Roads was appointed Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
Carrick Pursuivant
Carrick Pursuivant of Arms was a Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.The title is derived from the Earl of Carrick, one of the titles borne by Robert the Bruce before his succession to the crown...
in 1992 and promoted to Snawdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Snowdoun Herald
Snawdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish herald of arms in Ordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon.The office was first mentioned in 1443 and the title is derived from a part of Stirling Castle which bore the same name...
in 2010.
As Elizabeth Bruce, Roads was a founder member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland
Heraldry Society of Scotland
The Heraldry Society of Scotland was founded in 1977 with the objective of promoting the study of heraldry and encouraging its correct use in Scotland and overseas....
in 1977. She was Chairman of that Society in the late 1990s and is now a Fellow of the Heraldry Society of Scotland and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. She has published many articles on heraldic and genealogical subjects.
Honours and appointments
1986-Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records,1987-Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary,
1992-Carrick Pursuivant of Arms,
2008-Assistant Secretary, Order of the Thistle
2010-Snawdoun Herald of Arms.
1977 HM Silver Jubilee Medal,
1990 Member of the Royal Victorian Order,
1999 Officer of the Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem,
2002 HM Golden Jubilee Medal.
1986 Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland,
1996 Fellow of the Heraldry Society of Scotland (Founding Member 1977, Chairman 1997-2000, Chairman of Heraldic Exhibition “Lions and Thistles” 1995),
1998 – date Hon. Treasurer Scottish Record Society,
2003 Associate Member L’Academie Internationale d’Heraldique,
2004 Honorary Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada,
2007 Council Member Scottish Records Association,
2008 Academician, L'Academie Internationale d'Heraldique
2010 Chairman Scottish Records Association
Coat of arms
Elizabeth Roads bears Arms appropriate to her maiden name of Bruce. The blazon of the arms is: Or a Saltire Gules on a Chief Gules a Pale Argent charged of a Cross engrailed Sable. . Above the shield is placed a crest which is blazoned: From a Wreath of Or and Gules a dexter Arm in armour embowedEmbowed
Embowed is a term in heraldry and architecture which means:*curved like a bow *bent , or...
the hand proper grasping a broken Sceptre Gules. The motto is shown on a scroll over the crest and is “SIC FUIMUS”.
See also
- HeraldryHeraldryHeraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
- PursuivantPursuivantA pursuivant or, more correctly, pursuivant of arms, is a junior officer of arms. Most pursuivants are attached to official heraldic authorities, such as the College of Arms in London or the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. In the mediaeval era, many great nobles employed their own officers of...
- HeraldHeraldA herald, or, more correctly, a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms....
- The Court of the Lord LyonCourt of the Lord LyonThe Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of...
- The Heraldry Society of ScotlandHeraldry Society of ScotlandThe Heraldry Society of Scotland was founded in 1977 with the objective of promoting the study of heraldry and encouraging its correct use in Scotland and overseas....