NS Vol 6 No 2 (New Year 2000-2001)

Editorial[1]

THIS issue of Arma is late. However there will be another issue by July 2001. Sadly, this issue has to announce three deaths. The first is that of Douglas John Penwill (1918-2000), who died on his farm Grey Mists at Haenertsburg, near Pietersburg in the Northern Province. Doug was born in Devon on 10 February 1918 and died on 4 October 2000. He went up to Oxford, where he was a member of St John’s College – graduating with a “first”. Like so many of his generation he served in the Second World War, before coming out to Africa serving in the civil service. He was a tea planter in Kenya before coming to South Africa to establish the industry here. He was a member of the Heraldry Society of Southern Africa when your current Editor took over the reins in 1995. They never met but had corresponded over the years. We featured his bookplate on the cover of Arma NS Vol 2 No 1.

Two other members of the heraldic scene have also died, viz. Sir A Colin Cole, Garter Principal King of Arms and Chevalier vitéz Dr Béla de Kézdy Vásárhelyi de Kézd. Your editor met both these gentleman at the International Heraldry and Genealogy Congress in London in 1976. Their obituaries appear here as a memorial to these interesting characters.

It is always the intention that each edition of Arma has a theme. This one is the international character of heraldry. No contribution was received for the Ex Libris column and as a result we feature the bookplate of Colin Cole. An article is featured by Dr Béla de Kézdy Vásárhelyi de Kézd. His arms are featured from the Liber Amicorum of Archbishop Bruno Heim (whom your editor also met in 1976).

An interesting article is reprinted from The Armorial on the ex libris designed and engraved by George Taylor Friend. The issue is completed by a list of all the grants by the SA Heraldry Bureau in the last year.

The editor still has a major problem in the contributions coming in from members. It is difficult to work in isolation. We received two letters – one from S W Pienaar appears here – the other unfortunately is currently misfiled. Please let us know whether you are happy or not – send brickbats or bouquets but please do not ignore us.