2003 was a busy year for the Court of the Lord Lyon. 78 new grants of Arms were made, of which 55 were to individuals, 14 to corporate bodies and 9 to local authorities. In addition there were 43 matriculations from existing grants.
There was a busy programme of ceremonial.
The Ceremony of Installation of Major General Nicholas Parker CBE, General Officer Commanding Second Division and The Army in Scotland, as Governor of Edinburgh Castle took place on 9 May at Edinburgh Castle. The ceremony was attended by the Lord Lyon accompanied by Rothesay and Ross Heralds and Unicorn and Carrick Pursuivants.
On 16 May the Ceremony of the Keys took place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse when the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Baron Steel of Aikwood, received the Keys of the City of Edinburgh from the Rt. Hon. the Lord Provost. The ceremony was attended by the Lord Lyon, Ross Herald and Carrick Pursuivant.
On 17 May the Opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland took place at the Assembly Hall. In attendance on the Lord High Commissioner were the Lord Lyon, Rothesay and Ross Heralds, Carrick Pursuivant, the Earl of Dundee, Hereditary Bearer of the Royal Banner of Scotland and the Master of Lauderdale, representing the Earl of Lauderdale, Hereditary Bearer of the National Flag of Scotland. The Lord High Constable of Scotland (the Earl of Erroll) and the Hereditary Master of the Household in Scotland (the Duke of Argyll) were also present.
The Church Service of the General Assembly was held on 18 May at St Giles Cathedral. It was attended by the Lord High Commissioner. Also in attendance were the Lord Lyon, Albany, Rothesay and Ross Heralds and Unicorn and Carrick Pursuivants. The Lord High Constable of Scotland and the Hereditary Master of the Household in Scotland were also present.
The Annual Service of Commemoration at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle took place on 29 May and was attended by the Lord Lyon, accompanied by Albany Herald and Carrick Pursuivant.
The Annual Festival of the Order of St John took place on 23 June at Wellington Church, Glasgow and was attended by the Lord Lyon and Ross Herald.
On 2 July an Installation Ceremony of the Order of the Thistle took place in the Thistle Chapel at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh. Her Majesty The Queen accompanied by His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, attended the service when Lord Sutherland of Houndwood and Sir Eric Anderson were installed as Knights of the Thistle.The Chancellor and Members of the Order, the Dean of the Thistle, the Secretary and the Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod were present, together with Rothesay and Ross Heralds and Unicorn, Carrick and Bute Pursuivants.
The Lord Lyon accompanied by Carrick Pursuivant attended a Service in St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow on 26 October when the Lord Lyon presented Archbishop Mario Conti with Letters Patent granting Arms to the Archdiocese of Glasgow.
The Annual Service of the Order of the Thistle took place on 30 November in the Thistle Chapel. It was attended by the Chancellor and Members of the Order and by the Dean, the Secretary, Green Rod, Albany, Rothesay and Ross Heralds and Carrick and Bute Pursuivants.
The Lord Lyon also undertook a number of overseas engagements during the year. On 13 October he gave a lecture to the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society. From 16-18 October he attended the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
On 16 December the Lord Lyon gave a lecture to Heraldry Australia at the Parliament House, Sydney, Australia. On 18 December he spoke to Sydney Society for Scottish History. On 19 December he visited and spoke at Scottish House Clan Centre, Hornsby, New Soth Wales. He also attended the Annual Dinner on 20 December of the Society of Armigers, Australia Chapter at the Union Club, Sydney.
