Peter Gwynn-Jones

Peter Llewellyn Gwynn-Jones, CVO (born 1940) is a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He is the current Garter Principal King of Arms, the senior English officer of arms.

Life and career

Gwynn-Jones was born in 1940, the son of Major 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, and in 1973 was appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary. [LondonGazette|issue=45947|startpage=4481|date=6 April 1973|accessdate=2007-12-21] In 1982 he was promoted to herald, [LondonGazette|issue=48932|startpage=4121|date=25 March 1982|accessdate=2007-12-21] and served until 1995 as Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary and as House Comptroller of the College of Arms. In 1995 he was appointed Garter Principal King of Arms. [LondonGazette|issue=48932|startpage=4121|date=25 March 1982|accessdate=2007-12-21]

Honours and appointments

Gwynn-Jones was Inspector of Regimental Colours from 2 October 1995, and Inspector of Royal Air Force Badges from 1996. [LondonGazette|issue=54442|startpage=8321|date=19 June 1996|accessdate=2007-12-21] As Garter Principal King of Arms he was also appointed in 1995 Genealogist to the Order of the Bath, [LondonGazette|issue=54193|startpage=14335|date=24 October 1995|accessdate=2007-12-21] 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 Secretary of the Harleian Society from 1981 until 1994, and non-executive Vice-President of The Heraldry Society from 1996. Gwynn-Jones was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 1994, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1998, Officer Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1976 and Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1995. [LondonGazette|issue=54309|startpage=1807|date=6 February 1996|accessdate=2007-12-21]

Coat of arms

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, Gwynn-Jones was granted the crest of "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. This allusion is apt because Gwynn-Jones also had a particular liking for the animal.

ee also

*Heraldry
*Officer of Arms
*Pursuivant
*King of Arms

Bibliography

*Gwynn-Jones, P. Ll. (1998) "The Art of Heraldry : origins, symbols, designs", London : Parkgate, ISBN 1-85585-560-7

References

* [http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk The College of Arms]
* [http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/info/o_of_a/intro.htm CUHAGS Officer of Arms Index]