James Arnold Frere FSA (20 April 1920 – 26 November 1994)[1] was an English herald who was officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.

James Arnold Frere
Born(1920-04-20)20 April 1920
Died26 November 1994(1994-11-26) (aged 74)
OccupationHerald
Parents
  • John Geoffrey Frere (father)
  • Violet Ivy Sparks (mother)
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
UnitIntelligence Corps

Biography

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He was the only son of John Geoffrey Frere of Hartley and Violet Ivy Sparks. Following military service in the Intelligence Corps,[2] he began his heraldic career on 24 February 1948 when he was appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary.[3] Interested in costume, he took part in the ceremonies for the funeral of King George VI and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. He held this post until his appointment as Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary on 23 January 1956 to replace John Heaton-Armstrong.[4] Frere would hold this post until his retirement in 1960 to work in the Law Courts in the Strand.[5] He was author of The British Monarchy at Home (1963) and co-author with the Duchess of Bedford of Now...the Duchess (1964). He inherited a coat of arms from his father. The blazon was Or two Leopards Faces in pale between Flaunches Gules.

Arms

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Coat of arms of James Arnold Frere
 
Adopted
1948
Crest
Out of a ducal coronet gules an heraldic antelope's head argent, armed, crined & tufted gules.
Escutcheon
Or, 2 leopard's faces between 2 flanches gules.[6]
Motto
Traditum Ab Antiquis Servare. Frère Ayme Frère.
Badge
Badge granted 1948: On a mount vert an heraldic antelope lodged argent, armed, crined, tufted & unguled & gorged with a 'ducal' coronet therefrom a chain over the back gules.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Obituary in The Times 10 Dec 1994
  2. ^ "No. 37678". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 August 1946. p. 4016.
  3. ^ "No. 40695". The London Gazette. 27 January 1956. p. 566.
  4. ^ "No. 38221". The London Gazette. 27 February 1948. p. 1492.
  5. ^ "No. 42185". The London Gazette. 4 November 1960. p. 7463.
  6. ^ "Chester Herald | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
Heraldic offices
Preceded by
 
Bluemantle Pursuivant

1948 – 1956
Succeeded by
Preceded by
 
Chester Herald

1956 – 1960
Succeeded by