New Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff appointed
After a vacancy lasting the better part of five years, a new Mascot has been named for the Order of the Bullmastiff. Penny, a bullmastiff born in April 2020 who is owned by a family friend of the Imperial Family, was named to the position by Emperor Jonathan I earlier today. The Order of the Bullmastiff is an Austenasian order of chivalry, and the only one to have a Mascot. The bullmastiff is the national animal of Austenasia, and as such the Mascot serves almost as the ceremonial embodiment of such. When the Order was founded by Emperor Terry I in January 2009, the Imperial Family had a pet bullmastiff, Rose, who was named Mascot of the Order. After Rose’s death in 2014, she was succeeded as Mascot by the Imperial Family’s other pet bullmastiff, Edd, and after his death in 2017, the position was taken by Rose’s daughter Lily (who did not live with the Imperial Family). However, upon Lily’s death the following year, the position fell vacant. Provision had been made for this, with a dog of another breed able to be appointed Honorary Mascot to fill the vacancy. The first Honorary Mascot was Cleo, family pet of the Emperor’s fiancee Princess Hannah. After Cleo’s death last year, a second Honorary Mascot was named as Ralph, family pet of former Prime Minister Lord John Gordon. Now that a new Mascot has been found in Penny, the two shall serve concurrently. Ralph shall continue to hold the position of Honorary Mascot for the rest of his life, but no replacement will be appointed while a Mascot proper remains in office. Although born in Cheshire, Penny was exported over to in Spain, where her owners currently live. She comes from a prestigious showing pedigree, with her father having won Best in Breed at Crufts in 2018. Penny also has familial connections to each of the Imperial Family’s two pet bullmastiffs, being the great-x3 niece both of Rose and of Edd.
Lily dies aged 7
Lily, Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff, has died aged 7. Lily was born in 2010 to Rose, a pet bullmastiff of the Imperial Family who also served as Mascot. She was sold to a family living in the British county of Surrey, and was visited by members of the Imperial Family in 2010 and 2011. Upon the death of Edd in April last year, Lily was appointed the Order of the Bullmastiff’s new Mascot. Lily’s death was announced earlier this evening by her owners. She had been experiencing health issues since late last year. Lily was the last surviving member of the Carothan kennel of bullmastiffs, and her death has left the position of Mascot vacant for the first time since its creation by Terry I in January 2009. If no bullmastiff can be found, there is provision for a dog of another breed to be appointed Honorary Mascot. Jonathan I has sent a message of condolence to Lily’s owners, expressing sympathy at her death and thanking them for giving her a loving home.
Edd dies aged 8
Edd, beloved pet bullmastiff of the Imperial Family, has died aged 8 years old. Edd passed away yesterday in the Imperial Residence after having a stroke. Born in December 2008 and bought as a pet by the then Emperor Terry I in March 2009, Edd lived in the Imperial Residence with his distant relative Rose, whom he succeeded as Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff – practically the ceremonial embodiment of Austenasia’s national animal – upon her death in April 2014. With a superb showing pedigree, Edd was shown at ten dog shows between 2009 and 2012, and qualified to be shown at Crufts in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Edd has been succeeded as Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff by Lily, Rose’s daughter who lives with a family in Surrey. Edd will be cremated, and his ashes buried in Wrythe Pet Cemetery in the coming weeks.
New pet expected for the Imperial Family
The immediate Imperial Family have announced that they plan to acquire a pet kitten, to arrive in Wrythe on Saturday 10th December. The family have decided that the kitten will be named Rosie, in honour of the late Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff, Rose, who passed away in April 2014. Rosie will join Rose’s successor as Mascot, Edd, who – being of a very gentle temperament – is expected to get along well with the new arrival. This will be the first time that the immediate Imperial Family have owned a pet cat, having previously only owned dogs, fish, and hamsters. Rosie was born on 18 October to a cat owned by a friend of the family.
Rose’s ashes buried in Wrythe
An urn containing the ashes of Rose has been buried in Wrythe Pet Cemetery after a short ceremony. Rose, Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff and pet of the immediate Imperial Family, died in late April after being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. After being cremated, her ashes were brought back to Wrythe on 13 May, where the urn containing them was placed in Bullmastiff Hall for the rest of the month. This afternoon, the immediate Imperial Family held a ceremony in Wrythe Public Park during which the urn containing Rose’s ashes was buried in the pet cemetery. The Emperor Father said a few words and placed the urn in the grave which had been dug, after which he, the Emperor, and the Crown Princess each placed some soil on the urn in the grave. The Emperor Mother was also in attendance together with Edd, the surviving pet bullmastiff of the Imperial Family. After the urn had been buried, a plaque was placed over the grave to mark the place of burial, and a rose was fittingly placed on the grave. The ashes were buried close to the grave of Alpha Primus, a puppy of Rose’s who was still-born during her pregnancy in June 2010. In other news, the Emperor announced today to be the first day of Summer 2014 in the Austenasian calendar.
Rose’s ashes return to Wrythe
An urn containing Rose’s ashes was brought to the Imperial Residence this morning. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor himself escorted the urn to Wrythe from the veterinary clinic where Rose, pet bullmastiff of the Imperial Family, was put to sleep on 24 April after suffering from lung cancer. The urn has been placed on a table in Bullmastiff Hall, along with a small vase of flowers and some plush toys which were affectionately termed Rose’s “babies” during her lifetime. The urn will remain in Bullmastiff Hall – almost a sort of lying in state – until Emperor Father Terry returns on Monday 19th from a trip to northern England visiting friends. It is planned for the urn to be buried in Wrythe Pet Cemetery at some point next week after a short ceremony.
IGS Expedition to Woldingham
The Imperial Geographical Society has conducted an expedition through woods and farmland to the south-west of the British town of Woldingham. The expedition, which was led by John of Zephyria (Officer of the Austenasian Order and father of Lord Marshal William), consisted of ten people. These included Emperor Jonathan I and Emperor Mother Margaret. The rest of the expedition’s members were from Carshalton Methodist Church, which organises a ramble on the first Monday of May to coincide with the annual IGS expedition. The expedition encountered several farm animals – chickens, ducks, horses, cows and goats – in fields adjacent to the paths followed, and walked through some areas of beautiful bluebell woodland. It also had a look inside St. Agatha’s Church, a tiny High Anglican church close to the route being followed. A footpath which the expedition travelled along for part of the way has been named Paloma Path in memory of Rose (whose pedigree name was Bramarley Paloma of Carothan), who sadly died last month. Photographs and video clips were taken, and a short film of the expedition can be seen here.
Rose dies aged 7
Rose, beloved pet bullmastiff of the Imperial Family, has died aged 7 years old. Condolences have been pouring in after the news was announced on Facebook earlier today. Rose, whose pedigree name was Bramarley Paloma of Carothan, was Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff – effectively the embodiment of the Empire’s national animal. She has been succeeded by Edd, the other pet bullmastiff owned by the Imperial Family. Rose outlived all her siblings by over ten months, and is thought to have been the last surviving member of the Bramarley kennel. She was born on 17 June 2006 and bought by the future Imperial Family a few months later. Descended from the prestigious Oldwell and Graecia kennels, Rose began to attend dog shows in January 2007 and qualified for Crufts both in 2008 and 2010. In April 2008, Rose qualified to become a Pets As Therapy dog, and over the following year made trips to a residential home for the elderly to provide friendly company to those there. Despite having a naturally gentle temperament, bullmastiffs rarely qualify for PAT dogs, and so this achievement was such that an article welcoming her to the institution was published in Dog World magazine. Rose gave birth on 27 June 2010 to her only daughter, Lilly, who currently lives in Surrey. It is planned for Rose to be cremated and her ashes to be buried in Wrythe Pet Cemetery after a ceremony next month.
Sebastian Linden visits Wrythe and Orly
Sebastian Linden, a leader of the Federal Republic of Francisville, today visited Carshalton. Linden, who is a member of Francisville’s Federal Council (a body which serves as the country’s collective head of state) and governor of the Francillian canton of Rudno, was met by Emperor Jonathan I at Carshalton station. The Emperor then gave Linden a guided tour of Orly, which is situated very close to the station, before the two walked to the house of Queen Emma I of Copan, where they were served drinks and engaged in discussion with the Queen and some of her friends. Jonathan I and Linden then walked to Wrythe, speaking to Countess Eritoshi (Chief Ambassador and candidate for Austenasian Prime Minister in next month’s elections) via mobile phone on the way. At Wrythe, Linden was introduced to Emperor Father Terry, Emperor Mother Margaret, Crown Princess Caroline and the Imperial Family’s two pet bullmastiffs Rose and Edd. After being shown Wrythe Public Park and its various monuments, Linden had his photograph taken with the Emperor before the two had some food and discussed several matters. Jonathan I then accompanied Linden back to Carshalton station. Austenasia has recognised Francisville – founded in November 2008 – as a sovereign state since 13 August 2012. Francisville does not formally recognise the Empire in return due to its complete lack of any official foreign relations, but has granted tacit recognition to Austenasia several times besides today’s visit, including a letter sent in December 2012 stating the wish of the Francillian government to eventually pursue formal diplomacy with the Empire.
Rose’s swelling not a tumour
There was relief today in the Imperial Residence as a swelling found on pet bullmastiff Rose was confirmed not to be a tumour. There had been fears that the swelling, found last week, was a mammary tumour – the equivalent to breast cancer in dogs. However, the swelling has gone down in size after Rose, Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff, took antibiotics over the past week. This, along with a formal diagnosis from a local vet, has confirmed that the swelling is only an infection, from which Rose should have recovered within a few weeks.
