Resignation of Sir Conrad Swan
Patrick Cracroft-Brennan
Conrad's forthcoming resignation. Apparantly there is more to this
resignation than meets the eye.
As readers of this newsgroup outside the UK probably will not
have easy access to copies of The Sunday Times, I will quote Sebastian
Hamilton's article in full:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Head of the College of Arms, which runs state ceremonies and grants
coats of arms, has resigned amid accusations of forgery and deception.
Sir Conrad Swan, garter king of arms, who approves every new peer's
title and coat of arms, announced his retirement on medical grounds
after fellow heralds challenged the authenticity of historical
documents that enabled his son-in-law to claim a title.
This weekend Swan, 71, a member of the royal household appointed by the
Queen, confirmed that the official pedigree he researched and signed
for John Jeremy Walters, who is married to his daughter, Catherine, was
incorrect. He accepted responsibility, but blamed a "clerical" error.
Swan also maintained that a supporting document, which fellow heralds
suspected was a forgery, was genuine. He insisted he had resigned
solely because of poor health.
Yesterday, senior royal sources said the Duke of Norfolk, who
recommended Swan for the post of garter, hjad investigated the
accusations and cleared him of impropriety.
The row has divided the officers of the college. Some fear the scandal
could end its centuries-old battle to remain outside government control.
Swan will stay until October and will officiate at next month's garter
ceremony when Baroness Thatcher receives the Order of Merit from the
Queen.
his departure comes during a growing financial crisis at the college
that threatens 511 years of ceremonial tradition and follows the death
last week of Sir Anthony Wagner, one of its morst distinguished former
garters. It could also prove an embarassment for Norfolk, England's
premier duke, who recommended Swab's appointment three years ago and is
answerable to the Queen for the college's conduct.
Norfolk was informed of the allegations against Swan in January. In
March he told Swan he had found the complaints groundless. Last month,
however, after the heralds of the college requested an independent
examination of the documents, he proffered Swan's resignation to the
Queen.
The row began last June when Walters was made a knight of grace and
devotion - a title bestowed by the Sovereign Order of Malta, a
religious order, which can be held only by someone whose family has had
a coat of arms for 100 years.
To back up Walters claim, Swan sent to the Order of Malta a pedigree he
had researched, claiming a grant of arms was made to the Walters family
by letters patent in 1886 and was recorded at the college.
Officers of the college, however, found only a grant of arms, signed by
Swan, made to the Walters family in 1986.
Swan admitted the error but said he had other proof that the Walters
arms were in use 100 years ago. Later Swan showed the full chapter
meetingof the college a letter dated 1886, which he claimed proved the
family's case, but he would not allow the heralds to have it
independently checked.
At a private meeting the heralds agreed the draft of a letter to Swan,
saying they felt his 1886 letter was "probably a forgery" and asking
him to hand it over for independent authentication. Swan stunned the
next chapter meeting, 10 days ago, with his resignation.
Swan said of the initial "technical" error on Walter's pedigree: "I
must accept responsibility for it because it was over my signature, but
when you have a large number of documents coming over your desk you
have to rely on your staff to a considerable extent."
Swan, who said he was diagnosed as having cancer in February, insisted
he would now make the 1886 letter available for examination.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Even allowing for the obvious errors by a journalist not used to
heraldic matters (why, for example, did he insist on spelling Garter
with a small "g"?), there does appear to be a story here....I would be
interested to hear people's comments!
For my part, before anyone gets on his or her moral high horse, I would
remind them that the history of the College is full of good heralds,
mediocre heralds and positively bad heralds....accusations of forgery
and deception against inidividual heralds is not new and it could be
said that Sir Condrad, if these accusations are true, I might add,
is only continuing a colourful tradition at the College!
--
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| Patrick Cracroft-Brennan EMail in...@londwill.demon.co.uk |
| The London Will Company Specialist Will Writers Tel:0181 563 2500 |
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Louis Epstein
: There was an article in The Sunday Times today (14 May) about Sir
: resignation than meets the eye.
Curious...this does throw the College into turmoil,and I *hope* it is
not used as another excuse for politicians' insubordination...
Spurrier's quick in-and-out as York Herald was bad enough...now...
Chesshyre or Brooke-Little for Garter?
Chesshyre or Mathew for Clarenceux...other being Norroy and Ulster if
Brooke-Little takes Garter?
Duke and Noel become Heralds,meaning all the Pursuivants will have been
there very little time...
Patrick Cracroft-Brennan
> Patrick Cracroft-Brennan (in...@londwill.demon.co.uk) wrote:
> : There was an article in The Sunday Times today (14 May) about Sir
> : resignation than meets the eye.
>
> not used as another excuse for politicians' insubordination...
>
> Spurrier's quick in-and-out as York Herald was bad enough...now...
>
> Chesshyre or Brooke-Little for Garter?
>
> Chesshyre or Mathew for Clarenceux...other being Norroy and Ulster if
> Brooke-Little takes Garter?
>
> Duke and Noel become Heralds,meaning all the Pursuivants will have been
> there very little time...
>
accept the post of Garter, much as he would like it...dear old John is a delightful
chap but not really in the best of health....I am sure he would enjoy the fun of being
Garter (and the knighthood!) but I m not sure his health is up to it....
How about Henry Bedingfield as the new Clarenceaux? He's a nice chap and will
become a baronet after his father dies.....
I've always wanted to be an officer-of-arms so perhaps this is my chance...<grin>!!!!!
Louis Epstein
: In article: <3p5dcb$n...@tzlink.j51.com> lep...@j51.com (Louis Epstein) writes:
: > Patrick Cracroft-Brennan (in...@londwill.demon.co.uk) wrote:
: > : resignation than meets the eye.
: > Curious...this does throw the College into turmoil,and I *hope* it is
: > not used as another excuse for politicians' insubordination...
: >
: > Spurrier's quick in-and-out as York Herald was bad enough...now...
: >
: > Chesshyre or Brooke-Little for Garter?
: >
: > Chesshyre or Mathew for Clarenceux...other being Norroy and Ulster if
: > Brooke-Little takes Garter?
: >
: > Duke and Noel become Heralds,meaning all the Pursuivants will have been
: > there very little time...
:
: As you say, this really will throw the College into turmoil....I don't think
: JBL would accept the post of Garter, much as he would like it...dear old
: John is a delightful chap but not really in the best of health....I am sure
: he would enjoy the fun of being Garter (and the knighthood!) but I m not
: sure his health is up to it....
He would get a knighthood on retiring anyway,I expect?He is needed to stay
on now for continuity,as Garter or in his present post...
: How about Henry Bedingfield as the new Clarenceaux? He's a nice chap and will
: become a baronet after his father dies.....
Aren't the King of Arms posts offered to Heralds in order of seniority?
That means Chesshyre and Mathew get the two vacancies(would there be a point
in giving Clarenceux now if he was to move to,or be bypassed for,Garter
in October?)...Paston-Bedingfield would have to wait for Gwynn-Jones,
Woodcock,and Dickinson to move up or out,and the latter two are years younger
than he is.
: I've always wanted to be an officer-of-arms so perhaps this is my chance...
: <grin>!!!!!
Don't they have lesser staff likelier to become Pursuivants?
Louis Epstein
: In article: <3p5nlv$n...@tzlink.j51.com> lep...@j51.com (Louis Epstein) writes:
: > Patrick Cracroft-Brennan (in...@londwill.demon.co.uk) wrote:
: > :
: > : JBL would accept the post of Garter, much as he would like it...dear old
: > : John is a delightful chap but not really in the best of health....I am sure
: > : he would enjoy the fun of being Garter (and the knighthood!) but I m not
: > : sure his health is up to it....
: >
: > He would get a knighthood on retiring anyway,I expect?He is needed to stay
: > on now for continuity,as Garter or in his present post...
: >
: Society he has done more than anyone to bring an awareness of heraldry to the man in the
: street.....for many years now I have been scanning the Honours List expecting to
: see John's name in the RVO list.....but in these more egalitarian days automatic
: knighthoods appear to be a thing of the past....Lord Lyon had to wait for his KCVO
: and the Lord Mayor of London is no longer automatically given the GCB on
: election.
The KCVO is not one of the PM's baubles...had past Lords Lyon gotten it on
taking office?The one they gave the Lord Mayor after the baronetcies were
halted was GBE,not GCB...I think there *is* a place for automatic honours,
it is not as if anyone unworthy of a KCB would qualify to be a General,
after all...
Patrick Cracroft-Brennan
>
> The KCVO is not one of the PM's baubles...had past Lords Lyon gotten it on
> taking office?The one they gave the Lord Mayor after the baronetcies were
> halted was GBE,not GCB...I think there *is* a place for automatic honours,
> it is not as if anyone unworthy of a KCB would qualify to be a General,
> after all...
>
aware most Lord Lyons have been knighted on taking office...please excuse my
typing error over GBE/GCB!!!!!