The Lion Next to the Heart: 120th Anniversary of the PGS Lion

by John Sadden 

 

With the recent headlines announcing Tate and Lyle’s decision to drop the dead lion logo from their golden syrup tins, it is perhaps timely to look at the history of the very-much alive-and-kicking PGS lion, especially so as this year marks the 120th anniversary of its first use.   

Since the 19th century, the School has used a variety of coats of arms, but it was not until the Senior Science Master, H. T. Lilley discovered the arms of the founder, Dr William Smith, that the lion first appeared in association with the School. Mr Lilley came across the arms while doing some research for the Boer War Memorial window in St Thomas’s Church (now Cathedral), which was unveiled in 1904. The lion appears on a metal cap badge dating from this time. 

William Smith was a man very conscious of status. He bought an honorary degree of doctor of medicine from the University of Oxford, purchased one of the best houses in the High Street (Buckingham House) and bought a coat of arms from the Garter King of Arms which featured the now familiar golden lion upon a red and black shield. 

Up until the 1950s the lion was proudly used by the School, but without authority from the College of Arms. He is neither rampant nor dormant but couchant (lying down with raised head, alert but not aggressive). He appeared in various shapes and sizes but, perhaps, like the rest of the population, looked his worst during the Second World War when, at a time of “make do and mend”, he appeared crudely embroidered on items of uniform and was barely recognisable as the noble king of the jungle. With victory came restored majesty and, in 1957, the School was officially granted its arms, with William Smith’s lion, head held high, sitting above two choughs (from the arms of Christ Church College) and the Portsmouth badge of a star and crescent moon, symbolising the close association between the School, the College and the City. 

Come the 1970s, the Portmuthian editors were happy to publish a pupil's satirical Mickey-take of the coat of arms, featuring Mickey Mouse, with Pluto replacing the lion and multiple Donald Ducks as the choughs. In more recent years a friendlier, cartoon lion has been officially adopted for younger pupils, but, whatever changes and modifications are made to the design, the PGS lion continues to remains immediately identificable on the blazers of all PGS pupils. It is firmly established as THE symbol of PGS.