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Although earlier generations of Glenisters may have used coats of arms, no official grant was made until 1991, when Tony Glenister received Letters Patent from the Kings of Arms.

We know that Glenisters have used coats of arms, but investigations have revealed no trace of an official grant of arms (see the modern herald's view). When Tony Glenister finished his service as master of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, a city livery company, he wanted to follow the custom of the society for past masters to provide some record of their service which included a representation of their arms. When Tony found that none had ever been granted to a Glenister he made an application for his own Grant of Arms.

The official process of consultation with the heralds and officers of the College of Arms, including Garter King of Arms and Clarenceux King of Arms resulted in the issues of Letters Patent of armorial bearing, with the grant inscribed on a sheet of vellum, and sealed with the seal of the Kings of Arms. The grant uses the special flowery language of heraldry:

Per fess dancetty Gules and Or a Goat salient horned and hooved Argent all countercharged And for the Crest upon a Helm with a wreath Or and Gules A Boar Sable tusked and hooved Or mouth Gules supporting with the dexter foreleg a banner of the Arms fringed Or and Gules the staff Or and lancehead Sable Mounted Gules doubled Or

This blazon, a mixture of English and Norman-French, can be translated as:

The shield is divided horizontally down the middle (per fess) with a zig-zag line (dancetty) and is coloured red (gules) and yellow (or). In the centre is a goat leaping (salient) with horns and hooves of white (argent) and a body the alternative colour to the background (countercharged). The crest, which sits on a helmet (helm) with a wreath of yellow (or) and red (gules), is a black (sable) boar with yellow (or) tusks and hooves and a red (gules) mouth, holding with the right (dexter) foreleg a fringed banner depicting the arms on a yellow (or) staff with a black (sable) point. The crest has a flowing attachment (mounted) of red (gules) which shows a yellow (or) reverse side (doubled).

The arms have been "embellished" with a depiction of two honours previously granted to Tony: the badge and motto of the Order of the British Empire, and the Territorial Decoration. Another addition is a motto, which is a matter of personal choice, rather than an integral part of the arms. Tony has chosen a motto derived from a play on the images in the arms. The latin word for boar is aper which suggests another latin word aperte meaning openly. This links with further latin to form the alliterative motto Aperte atque Aeque meaning openly and fairly.

Thanks to Tony for providing a transcript of the Letters Patent and a copy of the coat of arms.

Continue with other heraldic matters