Neil Thompson
| Neil Thompson | |
|---|---|
| GreiiN:277 | |
 Emblazoned by Gecktron | |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
| Tradition | British heraldry |
| Issuing Authority | Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, Dublin (July 2018) |
| External Links | https://sites.google.com/view/thompsonarmorial/home |
| Aliases | Taiwaneil |
- Escutcheon
- Per fess arched and enhanced Gules and Or in chief a cross double parted and fretted of the second and in base a Chinese dragon globular of the first.
- Crest
- A Dragon's foot Gules armed Gold grasping an oak erased Proper acorned Or.
- Motto
- "Adapt or Perish"
Symbolism
The Chinese dragon represents the armiger's strong association with the island of Taiwan. He worked for a number of years on the Taiwan high speed railway project and his wife and daughter were both born on the island. The armiger was born in the year of the Wood dragon in the Chinese Zodiac. The parallel lines at the top of the shield represent railway tracks, the armiger has worked in the railway industry for many years. The oak tree in the crest represents the armiger's Bachelor's degree in environmental science and his many years as a conservation volunteer.
Adapt or Perish is part of a longer quote by HG Wells the Victorian science fiction writer famous for War of the Worlds who lived for a time in the armiger's home town of Woking. The full text is "Adapt or Perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative". It underlines the importance of moving with the times, embracing new technology and staying relevant in this fast-moving world.
It is the Irish tradition for the mantling to be Gules doubled Argent regardless of the colours on the shield.
Badge
| Badge of Neil Thompson | |
|---|---|
 |
Blazon: From a grassy mound a tree parted per pale of an oak fructed proper and plum proper blossomed Carnation, and in front of the trunk a spade Or.
Symbolism: The English oak tree represents the armiger, who based in England. The oak is the national tree of England. The plum blossom tree represents his spouse who was born in Taiwan. The plum blossom is the national flower of Taiwan. The spade symbolises honest labour and the many gardeners in the family.
Grant of Arms
| Grant of Arms issued by Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland on 17 July 2018 |
| Now I, the said Chief Herald of Ireland, having taken this matter into consideration I am pleased to comply with the said petition and by virtue of the power invested in me in that behalf do by these presents grant and assign unto the said Neil Christian Thompson the arms following, that is to say Per fess arched and enhanced Gules and Or in chief a cross double parted and fretted of the second and in base a Chinese dragon globular of the first and on a wreath of the colours the Crest a Dragon's foot Gules armed Gold grasping an oak tree erased proper acorned Or on a helmet mantled Gules doubled Argent the whole depicted in the margin hereof with the Motto: Adapt or Perish.
To have and to hold the said arms unto the said Neil Christian Thompson and to his descendants forever and the same to bear, use, shew, set forth and advance in shield or banner or otherwise each observing and using their due and proper differences according to the laws of arms and the practice of this office and without the let, hindrance, molestation, interruption, controlment or challenge of any manner of person or persons whatsoever, excepting always the authority of this office. In witness where of I Subscribe my Name and Title and the Seal of my Office this 17th day of July 2018, Volume Aa, Folio 91 Colette O'Flaherty, Chief Herald of Ireland. Chief Herald of Ireland |
