Clive Cheesman


Clive Edwin Alexander Cheesman is a British officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He is currently Richmond Herald, having been appointed to that position on 7 April 2010. Cheesman was formerly a curator in the Department of Coins and Medals in the British Museum. He served as Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary from 17 November 1998 to 7 April 2010.

Background

Son of architect Wilfrid Henry Cheesman and his wife Elizabeth Amelia, a biochemist, Cheesman has a degree in Literae Humaniores from Oxford University, where he was at Oriel. In 1993, he was awarded the degree of PhD from the Scuola Superiore di Studi Storici di San Marino, with a doctoral thesis on Roman history.
He is co-editor of The Heraldry Society's journal, The Coat of Arms, and from 2008 to 2013 was Chairman of The Friends of The National Archives. He received a Diploma in Law in 1995 from City University, London, and was called to the Bar of England and Wales as a member of Middle Temple in October 1996.
Cheesman's coat of arms was granted by the College of Arms shortly after his appointment as Rouge Dragon. On 31 December 1999, arms were granted with the blazon Per pale and per pall Argent and Sable. These were granted along with a crest blazoned A Crow Sable gorged with an ancient British Torque Or alighting on a man's Skull resting on its side Argent.
Cheeseman became Richmond Herald of Arms in Ordinary in 2010, vacating the position of Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary, which remained vacant until Adam Tuck took the position in 2019.

Publications