The Arms of Lord Grey of Naunton
Noel Cox
first published (Winter 2001) 79 New Zealand Armorist 12-13
The Right Honourable Sir Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey, Baron Grey of Naunton, GCMG GCVO OBE GCStJ, enjoyed a long and successful career in Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service. Born 1910 in Wellington, he was the son of an accountant, and grandson of a Headmaster of Rochdale Grammar School. He was educated at Scots College and Wellington College, and at Auckland University College, and Pembroke College of the University of Cambridge.
After practising as a Law Clerk, Judge's Associate, and Barrister and Solicitor in Auckland and Wellington, in 1936 he joined the Colonial Administrative Service. In the course of a long career he was Governor of British Guiana 1959-64, the Bahamas 1964-65, and the Turks and Caicos Islands 1965-68.
Sir Ralph was the last Governor of Northern Ireland, 1968-73. After his retirement he became Chairman of the Central Council of the Royal Over-Seas League (1976-81), and was Lord Prior of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, 1988-91. He has been Chancellor of the University of Ulster since 1984.
In 1968, just prior to being appointed Governor of Northern Ireland, Sir Ralph was created Baron Grey of Naunton, in the county of Gloucester, in the peerage of the United Kingdom, for life. Lord Grey of Naunton ceased to be Governor when direct control of Northern Ireland was transferred to a Minister in the British Government in 1973, and the offices of Premier and Governor were abolished. He now lives in Naunton, Gloucestershire.
The arms of Lord Grey of Naunton, granted when he was Governor of the Bahamas, are bendy Argent and Azure two lions' faces in pale issuing from either flank of the shield a cross formy flory dimidiated Gules. They are a good example of the modern school of heraldry, with a return to relative simplicity of expression.
The supporters granted to Lord Grey of Naunton (he was a Knight Grand Cross in 1965, and so entitled to the grant of lifetime supporters) are on the dexter side a lion Or and on the sinister side a crested crane Proper each gorged with an ancient crown flowing therefrom a mantle Gules lined Vair. Vair is a species of fur, consisting of Azure and Argent cup-shaped figures, or shields, in horizontal rows, the bases of the Argent resting on the base of the Azure.
Symbolism specifically referring to New Zealand is limited to the crest, where a kiwi's head is on the quillons, or cross guards, of a sword (A sheathed sword erect Gules garnished hilt and pommel Or each quillon ending in a kiwi's head erased gold the scabbard supported by two lions' gambs erased Gules winged Azure semy of bees volant Or).
Lord Grey of Naunton's motto is Servir de bon gré. The arms were granted by the English Kings of Arms, 15 November 1965 (128/324).