Thomas Woodcock (officer of arms)

Sir Thomas Woodcock KCVO DL FSA FHS FRHSC (born 20 May 1951) is a genealogist who served as Garter Principal King of Arms at the College of Arms from 2010 to 2021.[1][2][3]

Sir Thomas Woodcock
KCVO DL
Woodcock, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, processing at the Garter Ceremony (2006)
(Photograph by: Philip Allfrey)
Garter Principal King of Arms
In office
1 April 2010 – 1 July 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded bySir Peter Gwynn-Jones
Succeeded byDavid White
Personal details
Born (1951-05-20) 20 May 1951
NationalityBritish
Spouse
Lucinda Harmsworth King
​
​
(m. 1998)​
EducationUniversity College, Durham;
Darwin College, Cambridge
Alma materEton College
AwardsKnight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (2021)
Officer of the Order of Saint John (2018)

Early life

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.

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.[4] In 1982 he was promoted to Somerset Herald,[5] becoming Norroy and Ulster in 1997,[6] then Garter Principal King of Arms on 1 April 2010.[7] On 1 July 2021, Woodcock retired as Garter as well as his other heraldic and genealogical offices.[8]

Personal life

In 1998, Woodcock married Lucinda Harmsworth King.[9]

Honours

Woodcock was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) in the 1996 Birthday Honours,[10] promoted Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2011 Birthday Honours[11] and Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2021 Birthday Honours.[12]

In 2017, he succeeded William Hunt, Windsor Herald, as Genealogist of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem serving until 2021,[13] having been appointed in July 2018 an Officer of the Order (OStJ).[14]

A Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Lancashire since December 2005,[15] he assists the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Shuttleworth, to represent King Charles III throughout the county.

Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA) on 3 March 1990,[16] he was awarded the SAL's Society Medal in 2015.[17] He was also elected a Fellow of The Heraldry Society (FHS) on 26 June 1996.[18]

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.[19]
Motto
Leges Juraque Serva ("Observe the laws and ordinances")
Orders
the circlet of the Royal Victorian Order as KCVO.

See also

References
  1. The College of Arms Newsletter No. 21 (June 2009)
  2. "RHSC Honorary Fellows". www.heraldry.ca. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  3. "Garter King of Arms, 02 July 2021". College of Arms. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  4. "No. 47661". The London Gazette. 12 October 1978. p. 12091.
  5. "No. 49155". The London Gazette. 1 November 1982. p. 14201.
  6. "No. 54756". The London Gazette. 6 May 1997. p. 5349.
  7. "No. 59385". The London Gazette. 8 April 2010. p. 6033.
  8. "No. 63408". The London Gazette. 5 July 2021. p. 77.
  9. "Thomas Woodcock". www. burkespeerage.com. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  10. "No. 54427". The London Gazette. 14 June 1996. p. 4.
  11. "No. 59808". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 4.
  12. "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B4.
  13. The College of Arms Newsletter no. 51 (July 2017)
  14. "No. 62346". The London Gazette. 6 July 2018. p. 1.
  15. "No. 57843". The London Gazette. 16 December 2005. p. 16252.
  16. "Mr Thomas Woodcock". The Society of Antiquaries of London. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  17. "About the Fellowship". The Society of Antiquaries of London. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  18. "Fellows and Honorary Fellows of The Heraldry Society". The Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  19. Chesshyre, Hubert (2001). Heralds of today: A biographical list of the officers of the College of Arms, London, 1987–2001. London: Illuminata. ISBN 0953784517.

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