Our School Badge was adopted in 1933, the main element in the Badge being a tower with underneath it the motto “Ope et Concilio” (By help and advice). The Badge has certain similarities to the coat-of-arms granted to Portobello when it became an independent burgh in 1833, but is by no means a mere copy.

The Portobello coat of arms depicted two sailing ships and two cannon under a battlemented castle or tower. Above this was inscribed the familiar motto “Ope et Concilio” The reason for the adoption by the burgh of this coat-of-arms and motto were quite interesting. Portobello was in fact named after the Spanish seaport of Puerto Bello in Central America, which was captured by a British fleet under Admiral Vernon in the mid 18th century. One of the seamen who served under Vernon, a man named George Hamilton, returned after the war and built a dwelling for himself between Edinburgh and Musselburgh which he called “Portobello House” in memory of the victory. This was the beginning of our Portobello. The original Puerto Bello had been guarded by three fortresses and the tower on the Portobello coat-of-arms was a representation of these. The ships and cannon recalled the fighting.

In the attack on the seaport Admiral Vernon had had the assistance of Commodore Charles Brown in the drawing up and execution of the battle plans, and it was the “help and advice” of the Commodore which was commemorated in the motto. Thus our School Motto and up to a point our School Badge recall events which happened in Central America more than two hundred years ago. In our Badge of course the ships and cannon have disappeared, but the tower remains. The circles with wavy lines represent two mineral springs which existed in the area. The motto presumably now refers to the help and advice which the fortunate pupils receive from their teachers.

With credit to Ian Small.