Welsh Journals

FRONTISPIECE THE GRANT OF ARMORIAL BEARING TO THE POWYSLAND CLUB On 24 February 1990, a meeting was held with Mr Peter Gwynn-Jones,t Lancaster Herald, at the College of Arms, London, at which the Chairman enquired whether or not the Club was eligible to be granted Armorial bearings. Following that visit, Mr James Stirk provided the College of Arms with details of the establishment of the club so as to enable Lancaster Herald to make enquiries about this matter. In a letter dated 20 March 1990, Lancaster Herald confirmed that the Club was eligible for a grant and enclosed the relevant petition or Memorial to be subscribed by the Club's President, Lord Powis, and its Chairman, Mr Murray Chapman. The matter was laid before a meeting of the Council of the Club on 30 March 1990 at which it was resolved that the petition be submitted to the College of Arms. The cost of obtaining the grant was met by an anonymous benefactor. There was some discussion about the possible design of the armorial bearings and it was thought appropriate that they should be a combination of the arms of Brochwel Ysgeithrog, Prince of Powis (the three nags heads) and Sir Edward de Charlton, Lord of Powis (a lion rampant). Mr James Stirk proposed the motto 'Haec Olim Meminisse Iuvabit, i.e. 'One day it will be pleasurable to remember these matters'. This was agreed by Council and Miss Pat Davies of Llanidloes noted that it is a well known motif in classical literature going back to the Odyssey. She also pointed out the The Vergil Society use 'meminisse iuvabit' as the title to their proceedings. The petition or Memorial was duly subscribed by the Club's President and Chairman and submitted to the College of Arms under cover of a letter dated 30 March 1990. In a letter dated 23 April 1990, Lancaster Herald enclosed a rough coloured sketch of a design for the Arms and Crest. This was displayed at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, held at Montgomery on 12 May 1990, at which members were invited to give their comments on the proposed design. The College of Arms had followed the Seal, hitherto used by the Club, and had combined this with the three horses' heads taken from the Arms of Brochwel. As for the Crest, Lancaster Herald proposed using a Wild Man sitting astride a lion, being one of the Supporters in the original Seal. Comments received on the proposed design were largely concerned with the nakedness of the wild man sitting astride the lion and there was a feeling that the motto should be in Welsh. Council of the Club were of the view that the proposed Latin motto should be retained, since it was a neutral language, and the suggested Welsh mottoes put forward were considered not to be acceptable. In view of the concerns expressed over the nakedness of the Wild Man, Lancaster Herald proposed to gird him with a wreath of golden leaves in the hope that it would 'salve the shock' felt by the members. A certified painting of the Armorial Bearings was received by the Club on 3 September 1990, and the Letters Patent, confirming the grant of Armorial Bearings was collected from the College of Arms on Tuesday 7 May 1991. On Saturday 30 November 1991, Mr Peter Gwynn-Jones, Lancaster Herald, attended civic reception given by Welshpool Town Council, at the Town Hall, Welshpool, at v- hich occasion he presented to the Club's President, The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Powis, the etters Patent granting the armorial bearings to the Club. He then gave an address to the < sembled congregation after which tea and refreshments were made available. Members