Join the Friends of Lancashire Archives for a free talk by Sir Thomas Woodcock about his his life and career as a herald at the College of Arms, where he was Garter Principal King of Arms from 2010-21. Book tickets here.
Sir Thomas was born in Preston, where his family have been Burgesses recorded on the Guild rolls since 1622. The Woodcock family were longstanding solicitors in Haslingden and Bury, and their papers are now at Lancashire Archives. He has been a vice president of the Friends of Lancashire Archives for several years and is a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire.
The College of Arms is the heraldic authority for England Wales and Northern Ireland, responsible for maintaining genealogical and heraldic records. The heralds are part of the Royal Household and take ceremonial roles on state occasions.
Sir Thomas began his career as a herald in 1975 and worked his way up to the top job at the College of Arms. In that role he could be seen at the late Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral reading out his titles and honours. He is a genealogist and has written several books on heraldry. And naturally has a coat of arms himself.
The venue is the newly restored and refurbished Stocks Massey Music Library, a beautiful art deco space housing a collection of sheet music and musical instruments. The room is accessible by lift.
This talk is one of the events celebrating the Friends of Lancashire Archives‘s 40th anniversary. The Friends support the work of the Archives in preserving and sharing Lancashire’s heritage. They helped to fund the Clarets Collected project based at Burnley Central Library and the Keeping East Lancashire in the Picture project digitising old photos of Burnley and Pendle.
The talk will last about an hour, followed by refreshments by Café Archive, serving coffee or tea and homemade cake for £3.50.
Burnley Library is on Grimshaw Street, close to the town centre and bus station. Burnley Manchester Road railway station is a 10 minute walk away. There is a large pay and display car park with disabled parking – William Thompson car park – opposite the library on Red Lion Street, BB11 2AE.
