Thomas Woodcock (officer of arms)

Thomas Woodcock CVO DL FSA (born 20 May 1951), Garter Principal King of Arms, is a member of the Royal Household and the senior herald and genealogist at the College of Arms in London.[1]

Thomas Woodcock

CVO DL
Woodcock, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, processing at the Garter Ceremony (2006)
(Photograph by: Philip Allfrey)
Born (1951-05-20) 20 May 1951
NationalityBritish
EducationUniversity College, Durham;
Darwin College, Cambridge
Alma materEton College
OccupationHerald and Genealogist
Years active1978–present
EmployerElizabeth II
OrganisationCollege of Arms
TitleGarter Principal King of Arms
Term2010–present
PredecessorSir Peter Gwynn-Jones
SuccessorIncumbent
Spouse(s)Lucinda Harmsworth King
Awards (CVO)
(OStJ)
Websitewww.college-of-arms.gov.uk

Personal

Woodcock was educated at Eton College before going up to University College, Durham, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then pursued further studies at Darwin College, Cambridge, becoming LLB. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple.

In 1998, Woodcock married Lucinda Harmsworth King.[2]

Career

Woodcock began his heraldic career in 1975 as a research assistant to Sir Anthony Wagner, Garter King of Arms. In 1978 he was appointed Rouge Croix Pursuivant.[3] In 1982 he was promoted to Somerset Herald,[4] becoming Norroy and Ulster in 1997,[5] then Garter Principal King of Arms on 1 April 2010.[6]

Honours

Woodcock was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) in the 1996 Birthday Honours, promoted Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2011 Birthday Honours.[7][8] Appointed Genealogist of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem in June 2017 in succession to William Hunt, Windsor Herald,[9] in July 2018 he became an Officer of the Order (OStJ).[10]

A Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Lancashire since December 2005,[11] he assists the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Shuttleworth, to represent Queen Elizabeth II throughout the county.

See also

Arms
Coat of arms of Thomas Woodcock
Adopted
20 April 1961
Crest
Out of a circlet or charged with three roses gules barbed and seeded proper a dexter arm embowed in armour also proper garnished gold, the hand grasping a scimitar likewise proper hilt and pommel gold.
Escutcheon
Or on a bend cotised gules three cross crosslets fitchy of the field.[12]
Motto
Leges Juraque Serva ("Observe the laws and ordinances")

See also

References
  1. The College of Arms Newsletter 21 June 2009
  2. www.burkespeerage.com
  3. "No. 47661". The London Gazette. 12 October 1978. p. 12091.
  4. "No. 49155". The London Gazette. 1 November 1982. p. 14201.
  5. "No. 54756". The London Gazette. 6 May 1997. p. 5349.
  6. "No. 59385". The London Gazette. 8 April 2010. p. 6033.
  7. "No. 54427". The London Gazette. 14 June 1996. p. 4.
  8. "No. 59808". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 4.
  9. The College of Arms Newsletter no. 51 (July 2017)
  10. "No. 62346". The London Gazette. 6 July 2018. p. 1.
  11. "No. 57843". The London Gazette. 16 December 2005. p. 16252.
  12. Chesshyre, Hubert (2001). Heralds of today: A biographical list of the officers of the College of Arms, London, 1987–2001. London: Illuminata. ISBN 0953784517.
Heraldic offices
Preceded by
Hubert Chesshyre		 Rouge Croix Pursuivant
1978–1982		 Succeeded by
Sir Henry Paston-Bedingfeld
Preceded by
Rodney Dennys		 Somerset Herald
1982–1997		 Succeeded by
David Vines White
Preceded by
Hubert Chesshyre		 Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
1997–2010		 Succeeded by
Patric Laurence Dickinson
Preceded by
Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones		 Garter Principal King of Arms
2010–present		 Incumbent

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