Peter Gwynn-Jones
Encyclopedia
Sir Peter Llewellyn Gwynn-Jones, KCVO
(1940 – 21 August 2010) was a long-serving officer of arms
at the College of Arms
in London
. He was Garter Principal King of Arms
, the senior English
officer of arms, from 1995 to 2010.
Jack Gwynn-Jones, of Cape Town
. He was educated at Wellington College, and Trinity College
, Cambridge
, where he obtained an MA
. In 1970 he joined the College of Arms
and became assistant to Sir Anthony Richard Wagner
, who was the Garter Principal King of Arms. In 1973 Gwynn-Jones was appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
. In 1982 he was promoted to herald
, and served until 1995 as Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary
and became House Comptroller of the College of Arms
. In 1995 he was appointed Garter Principal King of Arms
,. He retired in 2010. He died on 21 August 2010.
from 1981 until 1994, Inspector of Regimental Colours from 2 October 1995, and Inspector of Royal Air Force
Badges from 1996. He was also appointed in 1995 Genealogist to the Order of the Bath
, Genealogist of the Order of St Michael and St George
, and Genealogist of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
. He was non-executive Vice-President of The Heraldry Society
from 1996.
Gwynn-Jones was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 1994, promoted Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1998, and appointed Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
in 1995. In anticipation of his retirement HM The Queen
promoted Gwynn-Jones Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2010 New Year Honours
.
Gwynn-Jones's coat of arms
was granted on 8 May 1971. The blazon
for the shield is Argent goutté Gules a Fret engrailed and molined at the mascle point Sable. At the same time he was granted the crest A Coati
sejant Sable collared and lined Or. This coat of arms represents the first effort at heraldic design by Gwynn-Jones. "Gwynn" is Welsh
for "white" and his ancestors bettered themselves through careers in the army. Thus, the red drops on a white field are an allusion to both his name and his ancestry. The crest is derived from the fact that his paternal ancestors came from Coity, Glamorganshire. This allusion is apt because Gwynn-Jones also had a particular liking for the animal.
in 2010, coinciding with his retirement as Garter The title is a reference to the coati (a type of American raccoon) that featured on Gwynn-Jones's own coat of arms and served as a punning allusion to Coity, Glamorganshire.
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...
(1940 – 21 August 2010) was a long-serving officer of arms
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
at the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was Garter Principal King of Arms
Garter Principal King of Arms
The Garter Principal King of Arms is the senior King of Arms, and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms. He is therefore the most powerful herald within the jurisdiction of the College – primarily England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and so arguably the most powerful in the world...
, the senior English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
officer of arms, from 1995 to 2010.
Life and career
Gwynn-Jones was born in 1940, the son of MajorMajor
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Jack Gwynn-Jones, of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. He was educated at Wellington College, and Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he obtained an MA
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
. In 1970 he joined the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
and became assistant to Sir Anthony Richard Wagner
Anthony Wagner
Sir Anthony Richard Wagner, KCB, KCVO, FSA was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He served as Garter Principal King of Arms before retiring to the post of Clarenceux King of Arms...
, who was the Garter Principal King of Arms. In 1973 Gwynn-Jones was appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
Bluemantle Pursuivant
Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms in London. The office is reputed to have been created by King Henry V to serve the Order of the Garter, but there is no documentary evidence of this. There is, however, mention of an officer styled...
. In 1982 he was promoted to herald
Herald
A herald, or, more correctly, a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms....
, and served until 1995 as Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Lancaster Herald
Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The title of Lancaster Herald first occurs in 1347 at Calais, and to begin with this officer was a servant to the noble house of Lancaster...
and became House Comptroller of the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. In 1995 he was appointed Garter Principal King of Arms
Garter Principal King of Arms
The Garter Principal King of Arms is the senior King of Arms, and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms. He is therefore the most powerful herald within the jurisdiction of the College – primarily England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and so arguably the most powerful in the world...
,. He retired in 2010. He died on 21 August 2010.
Appointments and honours
Gwynn-Jones was Secretary of the Harleian SocietyHarleian Society
The Harleian Society was founded in 1869 for the purpose of publishing manuscripts of the heraldic visitations of the counties of England and Wales, and other unpublished manuscripts relating to genealogy, armory, and heraldry in its widest sense...
from 1981 until 1994, Inspector of Regimental Colours from 2 October 1995, and Inspector of Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Badges from 1996. He was also appointed in 1995 Genealogist to the Order of the Bath
Order 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...
, Genealogist of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, and Genealogist of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
. He was non-executive Vice-President of The Heraldry Society
The Heraldry Society
The Heraldry Society is one of the leading organizations in the world devoted to studying heraldry. In 1947, a twenty year old John Brooke-Little founded the Society of Heraldic Antiquaries. This title was changed to The Heraldry Society in 1950. It was incorporated in 1956 and is now a registered...
from 1996.
Gwynn-Jones was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 1994, promoted Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1998, and appointed Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
in 1995. In anticipation of his retirement HM The Queen
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,...
promoted Gwynn-Jones Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2010 New Year Honours
2010 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 2010, principally for the United Kingdom but also the Commonwealth Realms, were announced on 31 December 2009 to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2010....
.
Coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was granted on 8 May 1971. The blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
for the shield is Argent goutté Gules a Fret engrailed and molined at the mascle point Sable. At the same time he was granted the crest A Coati
Coati
Coatis, genera Nasua and Nasuella, also known as the Brazilian aardvark, Mexican tejón, hog-nosed coon, pizotes, crackoons and snookum bears, are members of the raccoon family . They are diurnal mammals native to South America, Central America, and south-western North America...
sejant Sable collared and lined Or. This coat of arms represents the first effort at heraldic design by Gwynn-Jones. "Gwynn" is Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
for "white" and his ancestors bettered themselves through careers in the army. Thus, the red drops on a white field are an allusion to both his name and his ancestry. The crest is derived from the fact that his paternal ancestors came from Coity, Glamorganshire. This allusion is apt because Gwynn-Jones also had a particular liking for the animal.
The Coati Sable
Gwynn-Jones's autobiography, The Coati Sable: The Story of a Herald, was published by The Memoir ClubThe Memoir Club
The Memoir Club is an independent publishing company based in Langley Park near Durham. It specialises in the production of memoirs, biographies and company histories.-Notable Authors:Founded in 1997, the company has published over 170 books...
in 2010, coinciding with his retirement as Garter The title is a reference to the coati (a type of American raccoon) that featured on Gwynn-Jones's own coat of arms and served as a punning allusion to Coity, Glamorganshire.