While the territorial designation, or part of the name, "of Ballumbie Castle" might sound somewhat grand, it just points to Mark Lindley-Highfield's ownership of the ruins of Ballumbie Castle.  It officially became part of his name when granted a Coat of Arms by the late David Sellar, Lord Lyon King of Arms, who recognised this ownership.  It is an historic tradition in Scotland for landowners to take the designation of their estates as part of their name.  In everyday life, however, he prefers to go much more simply just by his forename "Mark".  Owing to its dilapidated condition, Ballumbie Castle is not inhabitable, so Mark can be found living in a much more modestly-sized modern detached cottage in Scotland.

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Within his Coat of Arms is a representation of Ballumbie Castle, in a castle of two towers Argent masoned sable with its ports and windows Azure.  The reference is to the two original remaining towers of the castle.  Also of note is a Yorkshire rose, which has its leaves in black (Sable) so as not to clash with the green (Vert) background on which it sits.  This rose on the Coat of Arms alludes to the armiger's connection with Yorkshire, where his four times great grandfather was a gentleman.

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His family has an entry in Burke's Peerage and Gentry, which is available online.

 

Mark also has a strong connection with Warwickshire.  His father was born in Edgbaston and his mother in Coleshill, Warwickshire.  His parents married at St Mary Magdalene Church, Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire, and his brother lives in Kenilworth.  Mark was born in Edgbaston, formerly part of Warwickshire, and experienced some of his primary education at Tanworth-in-Arden Church of England Primary School.  Both sets of Mark's grandparents at one time lived in Tanworth-in-Arden.   His mother lived at Quaint Ways, on Broad Lane.  Her great aunt married into the Truslove family of Manor Farm, Napton-on-the-Hill.  Mark's maternal grandfather was born in Grandborough, Warwickshire, and his great aunt on his maternal grandmother's side of the family lived in Hampton-in-Arden.

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There are also family connections with surrounding localities, such as Drakes Broughton, Badsey and Pershore in Worcestershire, and Enstone, Chipping Norton, Sandford St Martin and Sibford Gower in Oxfordshire.  Mark is the Lord of the Manor of Pillerton Priors, Warwickshire.

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