We went through a lot of bad ideas before we landed on the crest. Wolves, obviously. A bear at one point. Everything strong and enormous, which was exactly the problem. We did not want a symbol about being the biggest thing in the room.
The honey badger came up because of a nature documentary and a fairly long pub conversation. It is roughly the size of a spaniel. It will still stand its ground against animals many times its weight, not out of aggression but out of a flat refusal to be pushed around. That felt closer to the truth of it. Most of the courage we admire in the men around us is not heroic. It is stubborn.
The wren earned its place for a different reason. It is one of the smallest birds in Britain and one of the loudest. If you have ever heard one at close range you will know it is genuinely startling. We liked the idea that a small voice can carry, and that speaking up does not require you to be a big presence.
The terrier is the one people recognise straight away. Anyone who has owned one knows the look: total commitment, zero interest in giving up. That is the part of the ethos about sticking with people. Turning up again the following week, checking in a second time when the first answer was fine.
So the crest is three small animals rather than one large one. Together they say something we believe: pluck is not size, and it is not noise. It is holding your ground, using your voice, and not letting go of the people around you.
It is also a bit funny, which matters. A honey badger on your chest is hard to take too seriously, and men who take themselves too seriously tend not to say very much that is true.
If you are reading this and the holding your ground bit is currently the hard part, the organisations below are worth a look. Asking for help is the terrier move, not the opposite.