The Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society was formed as the result of the merger in 1957 of a previous Heraldic Society (founded 1948) with the Cambridge University Society of Genealogists (founded 1954).

About

The first Cambridge University Heraldic Society was founded in 1948 from the remnants of the late nineteenth-century Monumental Brass Society. In 1954, a separate Cambridge University Society of Genealogists was formed. Not surprisingly many members of one society were members of the other and on 10 June 1957, sponsored by some vice-presidents, by agreement between the secretaries, special general meetings of both societies were held and resolutions passed abolishing both societies on condition that a new joint society was formed later in the day. Meetings held earlier in the term had led to the formal culmination of a series of discussions for the consolidation and amalgamation. The structure of the new society was to include a patron and a number of honorary vice-presidents. The committee was to consist of a president, a secretary, a senior treasurer, a junior treasurer and ordinary committee members. Four speaker meetings are held in each of the Michaelmas and Lent terms and a ninth at the beginning of the Easter term. These are in the general area of heraldry and genealogy but also include cognate subjects such as ceremonial dress, tartan, local history, customs, military medals or indeed anything of an antiquarian nature. There are generally two outings each year—one in Michaelmas and one in Lentto places of heraldic and genealogical interest. In recent years, the society has visited the College of Arms, the Society of Genealogists and various cathedrals and museums. The society also hosts one large dinner each term with the Annual Dinner (in the Lent term) attracting up to 70 diners. In March 2023 this was held at the House of Lords. There is also a garden party in the Easter term. In 2022 the society hosted the 35th International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences patronized by HRH The Earl of Wessex (now the Duke of Edinburgh), and attended by officers of arms from many different nations (including Garter King of Arms, Lord Lyon King of Arms, York Herald, Rothesay Herald, and the Deputy Chief Herald of Canada).

Patrons

Patrons of the society since 1957: Sir Arthur Cochrane KCVO, former Clarenceux King of Arms, was Patron of the original Heraldic and Genealogical Societies until his death in 1954. The position was still vacant when the amalgamation took place. The Cambridge University Society of Genealogists had had a president in the person of the late Earl Mountbatten of Burma, a keen genealogist. Therefore, Lord Mountbatten was invited to be Patron of the new (1957) society, a post which he held until his assassination in 1979. Lord Mountbatten was succeeded as Patron by Archbishop Bruno Heim, a leading authority on the heraldry of the Roman Catholic Church who designed armorial bearings for several Popes. Heim donated a copy of a number of his own publications to the society. After his death he was followed by the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England.

Presidents

The current and 59th President is Jan MacKinnon. The following people have held the office of president of the society: • 1957–1958 Mr. Boulding • 1958–1959 Mr. Somerscales • 1959–1960 Peter Spufford • 1960–1961 P.T.M. Harcourt-Vernon • 1961–1962 W. Michael T. Fowle CBE • 1962–1963 Mr. Cowell • 1963–1964 Mr. Roden • 1964–1965 Ms. Uden • 1965–1966 Mr. Brink • 1966–1967 Mr. Hooton • 1967–1968 Mr. Gooderson • 1968–1969 Mr. Ball • 1969–1970 Mr. Vie • 1970–1971 Mr. Binks • 1971–1972 Mr. Hurlstone • 1972–1973 T. Alexander-Macquiban • 1973–1974 Mr. Middleditch • 1974–1975 Mr. Brett • 1975–1976 Mr. Hand • 1976–1977 N.L. Ramsay • 1977–1979 Vacant • 1979–1981 N.J. Rogers • 1981–1982 J.E.L. Munday • 1982–1983 David White OStJ • 1983–1984 P. Whittome • 1984–1985 Dr Paul A. Fox • 1985–1986 N. Cox • 1986–1988 J.E.V. Sergeant • 1988–1989 D.A.B. Babington-Smith • 1989–1990 Toby Wilkinson • 1990–1991 A. Tomlinson • 1991–1992 N. Dent • 1992–1993 M.R. Dietz • 1993–1994 Peter O'Donoghue MStJ • 1994–1995 Capt. (Dr) Katharine Clare RN • 1995–1996 P.J. Mitcham • 1996–1997 L.A. Koczy • 1997–1998 N.J. Bell • 1998–1999 T. Thurman • 1999–2000 R.H. Stewart-MacDonald • 2000–2002 Anando Mukerjee • 2002–2003 S.J.G. Burton • 2003–2004 D. Coughlan • 2004–2005 T.M. West • 2005–2006 A.S. Matikkala • 2006–2008 M.L. Morrill • 2008–2009 A.A. Caiani • 2009–2010 J. Davis • 2010–2011 Marius L. Jøhndal • 2011–2012 P.H. Morton • 2012–2013 Alex Ronaldson • 2013–2014 P.R. Cook • 2014–2015 William Grassick • 2015–2016 Sub-Lieutenant Edmund H. Gazeley RNR • 2016–2018 Richard van der Beek • 2018–2019 Kier J. Martland • 2019–2020 Edward P. J. Herbert • 2020–2021 David E. Pearce • 2021–2023 Edward Hilary Davis MStJ • 2023–2024 Jan MacKinnon

Current Honorary Vice Presidents

Publications

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the society transcribed the registers of the Cambridgeshire parishes of Shepreth and Westley Waterless and published a small number of copies. Its most ambitious project, however, was to produce The Cambridge Armorial showing the arms of all the corporate armigers in Cambridge (including town, university, colleges, theological colleges and schools) with blazons and brief histories of each. Although begun in 1966, it was to be nineteen years before it was published through the efforts of Wilfrid Scott-Giles, Heather Peak, Cecil Humphery-Smith and Dr Gordon H Wright. In 1995 the society launched a magazine, called the Escutcheon, which appears each term, edited by Derek Palgrave. It is now edited by Terence Trelawny-Gower.

Notable past speakers and guests

The society is primarily a discussion group. Notable past speakers have included: • Sir Colin Cole • Michael Maclagan • Sir Conrad Swan • Wilfrid Scott-Giles • John Brooke-Little • Hubert Chesshyre • Jonathan Riley-Smith • Cecil Humphery-Smith • Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones • Rodney Dennys • Bobby Milburn • John George • Sedley Andrus • Patric Dickinson • Sir Henry Paston-Bedingfeld • Sir Thomas Woodcock • Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia • Prince Michael of Kent • Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh • Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight • Timothy Duke • Marjorie Chibnall • Alastair Lorne Campbell of Airds • Maurice Couve de Murville • Peter O'Donoghue • Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich • Sir John Baker • Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers • Robert Balchin, Baron Lingfield • Clive Cheesman • David Sellar • Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie • Prince Idris bin Abdullah al-Senussi • Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky • Sophie Katsarava • The Hon. Richard Cubitt • Joseph Morrow • Balthazar Napoleon IV de Bourbon • Simon Isaacs, 4th Marquess of Reading • The Hon. Philip Sidney • Prince Juan de Bagration-Mukhrani • Elizabeth Roads • Kate Williams • Bruce Patterson • Mark Cubitt, 5th Baron Ashcombe • David White • Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia • Philip Mansel

The Mountbatten Commemorative Lecture

Following the Assassination of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the society wished to honour its late Patron. With the permission of his elder daughter, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, the society inaugurated the Mountbatten Commemorative Lecture. This remains the most important meeting of the year and the lecture has frequently been given by senior members of the College of Arms which have included five successive Garter Kings of Arms (as well as two Lord Lyon Kings of Arms). In 1994, the society was greatly honoured when the Lecture was given by (as he now is) Prince Michael of Kent. The lecture for the year 1984–1985 was concerned with the genealogy of Lord Mountbatten himself and was delivered in the presence of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh who was at that time an undergraduate at Jesus College.

Coat of arms