About the Author: J. Paul Murdock
Paul lives in the UK Midlands and has been interested in Royal Heraldry since he found a link between two of his favourite interests: History and Art. The combination has always fascinated him. As a child he could be found in the reference section of his local library, reverentially keeping quiet, and with his nose stuck into books on heraldry, even a French one, making notes.
Then, in the Eighties, he discovered The Heraldry Society, of which he was a Member for a number of years. Having done all this research over the years, Paul just feels that some of the old information is getting lost in these highly technical times and wants to, maybe, enlighten a new audience. His "Bible" remains The Royal Heraldry of England by J. H. & R. V. Pinches, 1974. Obviously, a lot has happened since then. In 1997 Paul arranged, through the College of Arms in London, for a Grant of Arms to his Father as a 60th Birthday present. He is grateful to Mr Robert Noel, then Blue Mantel Pursuivant of Arms, who acted as agent for the Grant. Paul was active in the design and helped to incorporate many aspects of his Father's life (especially the Bordure - such an easy result in the end!) and the Scottish heritage of the Murdock family (although the Grant is English reflecting the English spelling of his surname). The reproduction is by kind permission of Mr John W, Murdock. Paul usually differences his Father's Arms with a Label of 3 Points Azure (blue). Thankfully for his bank account due to their size, reference books on Heraldry, and especially Royal Heraldry, are few and far between, but very informative. His further interests include foreign travel, languages and detective fiction. Paul is also an award-winning amateur performer in musicals. In fact, the latest award was for playing Bill Snibson in "Me and My Girl" - the story of a Cockney barrow boy who inherits an earldom and involves dressing up in an earl's cloak and coronet. Rather appropriate... |
Bibliography
The Royal Heraldry of England by J. H. & R. V. Pinches, 1974.
Lines of Succession by Jiri Louda & Michael Maclagan, 1981.
Boutell's Manualof Heraldry by Charles Boutell, M.A. Revised and illustrated by V. Wheeler-Holohan, 1931.
Heraldry - Customs, Rules and Styles by Carl-Alexander von Volborth, 1981, 1983.
The Art of Hearldry. An Encyclopædia of Armory by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, 1904/1986.
Royal Orders by Hugo Vickers, 1994.
Heraldischer Atlas by Hugo Gerard Ströhl, Stuttgart 1899.
I am also indebted to and inspired by Users Sodacan, Greenhouse, Cheposo, Ssolbergj and Heralder on Wikimedia and also WappenWiki.
Many thanks to the College of Arms in London and to The Chapter of the Royal Danish Orders of Knighthood, The Yellow Palace, Copenhagen, both offices I pester on a regular basis.
Lines of Succession by Jiri Louda & Michael Maclagan, 1981.
Boutell's Manualof Heraldry by Charles Boutell, M.A. Revised and illustrated by V. Wheeler-Holohan, 1931.
Heraldry - Customs, Rules and Styles by Carl-Alexander von Volborth, 1981, 1983.
The Art of Hearldry. An Encyclopædia of Armory by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, 1904/1986.
Royal Orders by Hugo Vickers, 1994.
Heraldischer Atlas by Hugo Gerard Ströhl, Stuttgart 1899.
I am also indebted to and inspired by Users Sodacan, Greenhouse, Cheposo, Ssolbergj and Heralder on Wikimedia and also WappenWiki.
Many thanks to the College of Arms in London and to The Chapter of the Royal Danish Orders of Knighthood, The Yellow Palace, Copenhagen, both offices I pester on a regular basis.