Dr Joseph Morrow has been appointed as the new Lord Lyon King of Arms

The armorial Bearings of Dr. Joseph Morrow, the new Lord Lyon, by artist Romilly Squire

Friday, January 17, 2014 14:03

Advocate and student of heraldry takes up ancient position.

Dr Joseph Morrow has been appointed as the new Lord Lyon King of Arms.

The Lord Lyon office dates from the 14th-Century. Duties include the granting of armorial bearings and judicial rulings on who has the right to bear an existing coat of arms.

Dr Morrow succeeds David Sellar MVO, FSAScot, FRHistS who has held the office of Lord Lyon since 2008.

An advocate, with degrees in Theology and Law, Dr Morrow has been a student of heraldry for more than 30 years.

The appointment was made by the Queen on the recommendation of the First Minister, Alex Salmond.

At present, Dr Morrow is the President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland, and President of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals and a First-Tier Tribunal Judge dealing with asylum and immigration issues.

He has held a number of professional positions outwith the legal field including Convener of the Development Department of Dundee City Council, Board Member of Scottish Enterprise Tayside, Board Member of the Angus and Dundee Tourist Board, Chair of the Dundee Waterfront Development Board, Chair of the Trustees of the Tayside Superannuation Fund and Vice Chair of the Court of the University of Abertay.

In 2009 he was appointed as a Vice Lord Lieutenant for the City of Dundee and in that capacity has regularly received members of the Royal Family to the City. He is an Incumbent of the Chapel of Glamis Castle.

Dr Morrow has a special interest in ecclesiastical history and 35 years’ experience of the practical application of ceremonial within a variety of settings including State, Civil, Military and Ecclesiastical areas of Scottish life.

The part-time appointment, made under section 3 of the Lyon King of Arms (Scotland) Act 1867, is based at Edinburgh’s New Register House. It was made following advertisement, interview of a short-list of candidates by a selection board followed by recommendation to the First Minister.

http://scottishgovernment.presscentre.com/News/New-Lord-Lyon-King-of-Arms-appointed-856.aspx