Edward Ford
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Edward William Spencer Ford, GCVO
, KCB, ERD
, DL
(24 July 1910 – 19 November 2006) was a courtier
in the Royal Household
of King George VI
and Queen Elizabeth II
. He is perhaps best known for writing to the Queen's private secretary regarding the 40th year of the Queen's reign, having hoped that the Queen would experience an annus mirabilis
but instead finding it an annus horribilis
. The phrase was later used by the Queen in a speech in November 1992 to describe a year in which one of her four children was divorced, two more formally separated from their spouses, and Windsor Castle
caught fire.
, headmaster of Repton
and later of Harrow
, and Dean of York
from 1926 to 1932; his mother Mary Catherine was a daughter of the Right Reverend Edward Stuart Talbot
, Bishop of Winchester
, and wife Lavinia Lyttelton; an uncle was Neville Stuart Talbot
Bishop of Pretoria; another uncle was a royal chaplain. His brother Neville Ford
played cricket for Derbyshire
, and three of his uncles played first-class cricket, including Francis Ford
who played for England.
and was then a King's Scholar
at Eton
. He won an open scholarship to read Classics at New College, Oxford
(where he was elected an Honorary Fellow
in 1982). He obtained a first in Mods and second in Greats.
, Private Secretary
to King George VI, in 1933. He was a Harmsworth scholar at Middle Temple
, before tutoring Prince (later King) Farouk of Egypt from 1935–36. He was called to the Bar
in 1937 and briefly practised law until 1939.
in supplementary reserve of the Grenadier Guards
in 1936, and promoted to first lieutenant
in 1939. He fought in World War II
in France and Belgium, being evacuated from Dunkirk, and in Tunisia and Italy, and was mentioned in despatches twice. He was brigade major
of the 10th Infantry Brigade and later of the 24th Guards Brigade, and was an instructor at the Staff College
in Haifa
.
After the war, at the invitation of Sir Alan Lascelles, he entered Royal Service as Assistant Private Secretary to King George VI, 1946–52, and then served in the same office to Elizabeth II until 1967. Ford was telephoned by the King's Private Secretary, Sir Alan Lascelles, with news of the King's death at Sandringham
in February 1952, and Ford broke the news to the Prime Minister
, Sir Winston Churchill
, at 10 Downing Street
and then to Queen Mary
, the King's mother, at Marlborough House
. He was an Extra Equerry to the Queen from 1955 until his death. He became a close friend of Group Captain Peter Townsend, an equerry
whose love affair with Princess Margaret causes a crisis early in Queen Elizabeth's reign.
. He was secretary of the Pilgrim Trust
from 1967 to 1975, and also managed the estate of his late father-in-law, Lord Brand
, at Eydon Hall
in Northamptonshire. Later, he was Secretary and Registrar of the Order of Merit
(for which he received an honorarium
of £100) from 1975–2003.
phrase "annus horribilis
" in a sympathetic letter to the Queen in 1992, after a series of unfortunate events, including a major fire in Windsor Castle
. In a later television documentary to mark the 40th anniversary of the Queen's accession
, Ford chided himself for a grammatical error, saying that, in order to describe a horrible year, he properly should have written "annus horrendus". The Queen later used the phrase in a speech: "1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'."
in 1952, knighted as KCVO
in 1957, advanced to KCB in 1967 and promoted to the highest level in the Royal Victorian Order
, Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) in 1998. He received the Emergency Reserve Decoration
(ERD) in 1987, having long served as a reserve officer, and reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
, served as Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire and High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
. He was Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths' Company in 1979.
He was the literary executor of Sir Alan Lascelles. Despite the sensitive nature of their contents, he managed to secure permission for Sir Alan's wartime diaries to be published. King's Counsellor was launched in 2006, a few weeks before his death.
and Phyllis Langhorne, a sister of Nancy Astor. His wife died in 1995.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, KCB, ERD
Emergency Reserve Decoration
The Emergency Reserve Decoration is a British military decoration, instituted in 1952. It has a dark blue ribbon, with a yellow central stripe.Recipients may use the letters ERD after their name....
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(24 July 1910 – 19 November 2006) was a courtier
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
in the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
of King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. He is perhaps best known for writing to the Queen's private secretary regarding the 40th year of the Queen's reign, having hoped that the Queen would experience an annus mirabilis
Annus mirabilis
Annus mirabilis is a Latin phrase meaning "wonderful year" or "year of wonders" . It was used originally to refer to the year 1666, but is today also used to refer to different years with events of major importance...
but instead finding it an annus horribilis
Annus horribilis
Annus horribilis is a Latin phrase meaning "horrible year", or alternatively, "year of horrors". It alludes to annus mirabilis meaning "year of wonders".-Elizabeth II:...
. The phrase was later used by the Queen in a speech in November 1992 to describe a year in which one of her four children was divorced, two more formally separated from their spouses, and Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
caught fire.
Family background
Ford was a fraternal twin. His family has strong connections with the Anglican church and with cricket. His father was the Very Reverend Lionel FordLionel Ford
Lionel George Bridges Justice Ford was an Anglican priest who served as Dean of York after two headmasterships at eminent English public schools....
, headmaster of Repton
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
and later of Harrow
Harrow College
Harrow College is the largest college in the London Borough of Harrow. It opened in 1999 following a merger of two former local colleges, Greenhill College and Weald College .Ofsted has reported the college as Outstanding for Social and Educational Inclusion...
, and Dean of York
Dean of York
The Dean of York is the member of the clergy who is responsible for the running of the York Minster cathedral.-11th–12th centuries:* 1093–c.1135: Hugh* c.1138–1143: William of Sainte-Barbe...
from 1926 to 1932; his mother Mary Catherine was a daughter of the Right Reverend Edward Stuart Talbot
Edward Stuart Talbot
Edward Stuart Talbot was an Anglican bishop in the Church of England and the first Warden of Keble College, Oxford.-Education:...
, Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, and wife Lavinia Lyttelton; an uncle was Neville Stuart Talbot
Neville Stuart Talbot
Neville Stuart Talbot was born at Keble College, Oxford on 21 August 1879 and died on 3 April 1943. He was a bishop in the Church of England.-Family:He was the third child and second son of his parents...
Bishop of Pretoria; another uncle was a royal chaplain. His brother Neville Ford
Neville Ford
Neville Montague Ford was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire, Oxford University, Middlesex and MCC between 1926 and 1934....
played cricket for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
, and three of his uncles played first-class cricket, including Francis Ford
Francis Ford (cricketer)
Francis Gilbertson Justice Ford was a cricketer.Francis Ford was educated at Repton School and King's College, Cambridge...
who played for England.
Education
Ford was at West Downs SchoolWest Downs School
West Downs School, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire, was an English independent preparatory school, which was established in 1897 and closed in 1988.-History:...
and was then a King's Scholar
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. He won an open scholarship to read Classics at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
(where he was elected an Honorary Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
in 1982). He obtained a first in Mods and second in Greats.
Career
He was tutor to John Lascelles, son of Sir Alan LascellesAlan Lascelles
Sir Alan Frederick "Tommy" Lascelles, GCB, GCVO, CMG, MC was a British courtier and civil servant who held several positions in the first half of the twentieth century, culminating in his position as Private Secretary to both King George VI and to Queen Elizabeth II...
, Private Secretary
Private Secretary to the Sovereign
The Private Secretary to the Sovereign is the senior operational member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, as distinct from the Great Officers of the Household. The Private Secretary is the principal channel of communication with Her Majesty's Government and the...
to King George VI, in 1933. He was a Harmsworth scholar at Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, before tutoring Prince (later King) Farouk of Egypt from 1935–36. He was called to the Bar
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in 1937 and briefly practised law until 1939.
Military service
Ford had been commissioned as a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in supplementary reserve of the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
in 1936, and promoted to first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in 1939. He fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in France and Belgium, being evacuated from Dunkirk, and in Tunisia and Italy, and was mentioned in despatches twice. He was brigade major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of the 10th Infantry Brigade and later of the 24th Guards Brigade, and was an instructor at the Staff College
Staff college
Staff colleges train military officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career...
in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
.
After the war, at the invitation of Sir Alan Lascelles, he entered Royal Service as Assistant Private Secretary to King George VI, 1946–52, and then served in the same office to Elizabeth II until 1967. Ford was telephoned by the King's Private Secretary, Sir Alan Lascelles, with news of the King's death at Sandringham
Sandringham
Sandringham can refer to:Places*Sandringham, Johannesburg, a suburb of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa*Sandringham, Norfolk, a village in Norfolk, England*Sandringham House in the aforementioned village, owned by the British Royal Family...
in February 1952, and Ford broke the news to the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, at 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
and then to Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
, the King's mother, at Marlborough House
Marlborough House
Marlborough House is a mansion in Westminster, London, in Pall Mall just east of St James's Palace. It was built for Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, the favourite and confidante of Queen Anne. The Duchess wanted her new house to be "strong, plain and convenient and good"...
. He was an Extra Equerry to the Queen from 1955 until his death. He became a close friend of Group Captain Peter Townsend, an equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
whose love affair with Princess Margaret causes a crisis early in Queen Elizabeth's reign.
Resignation
Ford resigned from the Royal Household in 1967, after Sir Michael Adeane, Lascelles' successor, asked him to move to the household of the Prince of Wales to make way for the younger Philip MoorePhilip Moore, Baron Moore of Wolvercote
Philip Brian Cecil Moore, Baron Moore of Wolvercote, GCB, GCVO, CMG, QSO, PC was educated at the Dragon School, Cheltenham College and Brasenose College, Oxford and fought as a Bomber during World War II....
. He was secretary of the Pilgrim Trust
Pilgrim Trust
The Pilgrim Trust is a London-based charitable trust. It was founded in 1930 by a two million pound grant by Edward Harkness, an American philanthropist. The trust's first secretary was former civil servant, Thomas Jones....
from 1967 to 1975, and also managed the estate of his late father-in-law, Lord Brand
Robert Henry Brand, 1st Baron Brand
Robert Henry Brand, 1st Baron Brand CMG was a British civil servant, businessman, and Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.-Background and education:...
, at Eydon Hall
Eydon Hall
Eydon Hall is a Palladian stately home near the village of Eydon, in Northamptonshire. It is a Grade I listed building, and is currently in use as a private residence.-Architecture:...
in Northamptonshire. Later, he was Secretary and Registrar of the Order of Merit
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
(for which he received an honorarium
Honorarium
An honorarium is an ex gratia payment made to a person for their services in a volunteer capacity or for services for which fees are not traditionally required. This is used by groups such as schools or sporting clubs to pay coaches for their costs...
of £100) from 1975–2003.
Annus Horribilis
Ford used the LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
phrase "annus horribilis
Annus horribilis
Annus horribilis is a Latin phrase meaning "horrible year", or alternatively, "year of horrors". It alludes to annus mirabilis meaning "year of wonders".-Elizabeth II:...
" in a sympathetic letter to the Queen in 1992, after a series of unfortunate events, including a major fire in Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. In a later television documentary to mark the 40th anniversary of the Queen's accession
Accession
Accession has different definitions depending upon its application. In Property law, it is a mode of acquiring property that involves the addition of value to property through labor or the addition of new materials. In English Common law, the added value belonged to the original property's owner,...
, Ford chided himself for a grammatical error, saying that, in order to describe a horrible year, he properly should have written "annus horrendus". The Queen later used the phrase in a speech: "1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'."
Honors
For his service to the Crown, Edward Ford was appointed MVO in 1949, Companion of the Order of the BathOrder of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1952, knighted as KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1957, advanced to KCB in 1967 and promoted to the highest level in the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) in 1998. He received the Emergency Reserve Decoration
Emergency Reserve Decoration
The Emergency Reserve Decoration is a British military decoration, instituted in 1952. It has a dark blue ribbon, with a yellow central stripe.Recipients may use the letters ERD after their name....
(ERD) in 1987, having long served as a reserve officer, and reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
, served as Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire and High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of Northamptonshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been...
. He was Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths' Company in 1979.
He was the literary executor of Sir Alan Lascelles. Despite the sensitive nature of their contents, he managed to secure permission for Sir Alan's wartime diaries to be published. King's Counsellor was launched in 2006, a few weeks before his death.
Personal life
He married his wife, Virginia, in 1949, the widow of John Metcalfe Polk. She was the daughter of the banker Robert Henry Brand, 1st Baron BrandRobert Henry Brand, 1st Baron Brand
Robert Henry Brand, 1st Baron Brand CMG was a British civil servant, businessman, and Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.-Background and education:...
and Phyllis Langhorne, a sister of Nancy Astor. His wife died in 1995.