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With a Rose in its Paw It’s very easy to walk past Bournemouth’s coat of arms carved in stone on the front of the BIC and hardly notice it - but the complicated heraldic shield there is really well worth a second look. Actually, it’s better if you can find a coloured version, because that’s even more full of meaning. The fact is, when Bournemouth was ‘born’ and given its charter, specially signed by Queen Victoria herself in 1890, someone had the job of thinking up a really posh coat of arms – making it somehow relevant to this brand-new seaside resort of ours. ‘Puchritudo et Salubritas’ is the Latin motto: ‘Beauty and Health’! But what about the rest? Fascinatingly, every item tells a story. There are four quarters, with a lion in the top right and bottom left. He is there to remind us of Bournemouth’s links with royalty (Lillie Langtry?!). He is ‘rampant’ to tell us he is very watchful – like all coastal towns have to be, in case of attack. Then the birds are ‘martlets’ – sand martins, reminding us of cliff and beach - they also featured on the arms of King Edward the Confessor, who once owned this area. The fish are salmon, to suggest our links with Christchurch and the sea there. At the top there is a pine tree and four roses underneath it (health and beauty again). And the whole thing, in colour, is
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done in blue and gold, telling us again how blue skies and golden sun and sand are to be found here. But what are those two lions are holding in their paws? This is something hardly anyone notices – but look carefully, and you’ll find each lion is proudly holding a rose. Once more, the message is clear – Bournemouth is beautiful! David Hilliam -----------------------------David is a local writer and lecturer, and is also the Secretary of the Southbourne Literary Society. David Hilliam can be contacted on 01202 251356 or by email at davidhilliam@ntlworld.com.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 04:44 Black Magenta Yellow Cyan