Major David Rankin-Hunt CVO MBE TD is a British member of the Royal Household at St James's Palace in London. He has been the Norfolk Herald Extraordinary since 1994.
Major David Rankin-Hunt CVO MBE TD is a British member of the Royal Household at St James's Palace in London. He has been the Norfolk Herald Extraordinary since 1994.
Rankin-Hunt worked in the Royal Household for 33 years. His first appointment was as Registrar at the Lord Chamberlain's Office. In 1989, he transferred to the Royal Collection [1] and in 1993 became its Administrator, a position he held until his retirement in 2014.
In 1999 Rankin-Hunt was appointed Secretary of a Working Group set up by the Royal Household, and chaired by the Earl Marshal to organise and plan for future ceremonial events. Rankin-Hunt also held this appointment until his retirement.
In October 1994, Rankin-Hunt was appointed Norfolk Herald Extraordinary under a royal warrant of appointment, the ninth person to hold the office. In 1995, the Ministry of Defence appointed him Deputy Inspector of Regimental Colours. His responsibilities included providing advice and guidance on the badges, colours, standards and guidons of the British Army. He exercised his day-to-day 'responsibilities' on behalf of the Garter Principal King of Arms (Inspector of Regimental Colours). In 1996, Rankin-Hunt was appointed Deputy Inspector of Royal Air Force badges.
In 1995, Rankin-Hunt assumed partial responsibility for advising Commonwealth realms and other countries on honours and awards. over the next 15 years, he designed and instituted honours systems and individual orders, decorations and medals for Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Barbados and Albania. [2] Rankin-Hunt also provided advice on ceremonial and protocol matters along with constitutional advice to Governors-General.
Rankin-Hunt has lectured at conferences in the Middle East and the Caribbean. From 2005 to 2014, he served as the genealogist of the Orders of Chivalry for Antigua and Barbuda. In 2016, Rankin-Hunt was appointed as Honorary ADC to the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda.
As a herald [3] Rankin-Hunt regularly participates in ceremonial events such as the State Opening of Parliament and the Garter Service at Windsor Castle. [4] During the Golden and Diamond Jubilees, he and the other heralds led the Royal processions through the nave of St Paul's Cathedral for the National Thanksgiving Service.
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The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system, outranked in precedence only by the Victoria Cross and the George Cross. The Order of the Garter is dedicated to the image and arms of Saint George, England's patron saint.
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovereign and are delegated authority to act on behalf of the Crown in all matters of heraldry, the granting of new coats of arms, genealogical research and the recording of pedigrees. The College is also the official body responsible for matters relating to the flying of flags on land, and it maintains the official registers of flags and other national symbols. Though a part of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom, the College is self-financed, unsupported by any public funds.
Sir Albert William Woods was an English officer of arms, who served as Garter Principal King of Arms from 1869 to 1904. The Woods family has a strong tradition of service at the College of Arms. Albert Woods was the son of Sir William Woods, Garter King of Arms from 1838 until his death in 1842. Likewise, the grandson of Albert Woods was Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston, who also rose to the rank of Garter King of Arms and served there from 1930 until 1944.
New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary is the officer of arms responsible for the regulation of heraldry in New Zealand. Although affiliated with the College of Arms in London, the New Zealand Herald lives and works in New Zealand, and is not a member of the College Chapter. The current New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary is Phillip Patrick O’Shea.
Sir Peter Llewellyn Gwynn-Jones 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.
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Wales Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a current Officer of Arms Extraordinary under the Courts of England and Wales' jurisdiction. Wales is a Royal Herald, ie a member of the Royal Household, and whilst not being a member of chapter of the College of Arms, processes with the other heralds at ceremonial occasions. Wales Herald forms an integral part of the procession when the Queen officially opens a session of the National Assembly for Wales at Cardiff Bay.
Norfolk Herald of Arms Extraordinary is an officer of arms in England. As an officer extraordinary, Norfolk is a royal herald, though not a member of the corporation of the College of Arms in London. Beginning in 1539 this officer was a herald to the dukes of Norfolk, though the first holder, John James, was paid a salary by King Henry VIII. Subsequent Norfolk heralds have been officers extraordinary, though the office has not always been filled but rather revived when required. The badge of office, assigned in 1958, is blazoned as Two Ostrich Feathers saltirewise each charged with a Gold Chain laid along the quill. It derives from the ostrich feather badge granted by King Richard II around 1387 as a mark of special favor to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, Marshal of England. Mowbray was also the first to be styled Earl Marshal.
John Philip Brooke Brooke-Little was an English writer on heraldic subjects, and a long-serving herald at the College of Arms in London. In 1947, while still a student, Brooke-Little founded the Society of Heraldic Antiquaries, now known as the Heraldry Society and recognised as one of the leading learned societies in its field. He served as the society's chairman for 50 years and then as its President from 1997 until his death in 2006.
David Vines White, a member of the Royal Household, has since 2021 served as Garter Principal King of Arms.
David Hubert Boothby Chesshyre was a British officer of arms.
Sir Thomas Woodcock, former Garter Principal King of Arms, is a former member of the Royal Household and the senior herald and genealogist at the College of Arms in London.
Sir Conrad Marshall John Fisher Swan was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Having been first appointed to work at the College in 1962, he rose to the office of Garter Principal King of Arms in 1992, a position he held until 1995. He was the first Canadian ever to be appointed to the College of Arms.
Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Wollaston's family had a firm tradition at the College of Arms. Wollaston's great-grandfather was Sir William Woods, Garter Principal King of Arms from 1838 until his death in 1842. His grandfather was Sir Albert William Woods who held the same post from 1869 to 1904.
Sir George Rothe Bellew,, styled The Honourable after 1935, was a long-serving herald at the College of Arms in London. Educated at the University of Oxford, he was appointed Portcullis Pursuivant in 1922. Having been Somerset Herald for 24 years, he was promoted to the office of Garter Principal King of Arms in 1950, the highest heraldic office in England and Wales. He served in that capacity until his resignation in 1961. As Garter, Bellew oversaw the funeral of George VI, proclaimed the late King's daughter, Elizabeth II, as Queen and took a leading role in the organisation of her Coronation in 1953. After his retirement, Bellew was Secretary of the Order of the Garter and Knight Principal of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor. He lived for many years at Dower House in Old Windsor, Berkshire, but later moved to Farnham and died in 1993, aged 93.
Howard Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary is an officer of arms extraordinary in England; that is, a royal herald but not a member of the College of Arms in London.
The Inspector of Regimental Colours is an officer of arms responsible for the design of standards, colours and badges of the British Army and of those Commonwealth states where the College of Arms has heraldic jurisdiction. The office was created in 1806, and is currently held by David White, Garter Principal King of Arms.
The Most Exalted Order of the National Hero is an Antiguan and Barbudan order of chivalry recognising pre-eminently distinguished service to Antigua and Barbuda or to humanity at large. The present Order was established and constituted by the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda under the National Honours Act 1998. which received Royal Assent from the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda on 31 December 1998.
The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage is an order of merit of Antigua and Barbuda recognising invaluable service to Antigua and Barbuda, the Caricom region or the international community in any field of heritage and other cultural endeavours. It was established and constituted by the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda under the National Honours Act 1998. which received Royal Assent from the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda on 31 December 1998.
The Most Illustrious Order of Merit is an Antiguan and Barbudan order of merit recognising meritorious service to Antigua and Barbuda, the Caricom region or the international community. It was established and constituted by the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda under the National Honours Act 1998. which received Royal Assent from the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda on 31 December 1998.
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