Hubert Chesshyre

{{Short description|British officer of arms (1940–2020)}} {{redirect|Chesshyre|other uses|Chesshyre (disambiguation)}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Hubert Chesshyre | honorific_prefix = | honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|size=100%|country=GBR|FSA|FHS}} | image = Hubert Chesshyre.jpg | image_size = 140px | alt = | caption = Chesshyre taking part in the [[Garter Day]] procession at [[Windsor Castle]] on 19 June 2006. | office = [[Clarenceux King of Arms]] | term = 1997–2010 | predecessor = [[John Brooke-Little]] | successor = [[Patric Dickinson (genealogist)|Patric Dickinson]] | birth_name = David Hubert Boothby Chesshyre | birth_date = {{birth date|1940|6|22|df=y}} | death_date = {{death-date and age|24 December 2020|22 June 1940}} | resting_place_coordinates =  | education = [[The King's School, Canterbury]] | alma_mater = {{plainlist| *[[Trinity College, Cambridge]] *[[Christ Church, Oxford]]}} | awards = {{plainlist| *[[File:Ord.Victoriano.jpg|40px]] [[Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order]] 1988–2003 *[[File:Ord.Victoriano.jpg|40px]] [[Commander of the Royal Victorian Order]] 2003–2018}} | occupation = [[Officer of Arms]] | module = {{Infobox criminal | embed = yes | criminal_charge = Non-recent child sexual abuse | criminal_penalty = Absolute discharge | criminal_status = Allegations proven in a trial of the facts }} }}

'''David Hubert Boothby Chesshyre''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|FSA|FHS}} (22 June 1940 – 24 December 2020) was a British [[Officer of arms#England|officer of arms]].

Chesshyre served for more than forty years as an [[officer of arms|officer of arms in ordinary]] to [[Queen Elizabeth II]] and as a member of [[Household of Queen Elizabeth II|Her Majesty's Household]]. He was [[Clarenceux King of Arms]], the second most senior member of the [[College of Arms]] and the second most senior heraldic position in [[England]], [[Wales]], [[Northern Ireland]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], and several other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth countries]].<ref>[https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk College of Arms Home Page]. Accessed 23 November 2019.</ref> His other appointments included those of Registrar of the College of Arms, Secretary of the [[Order of the Garter]], and Honorary Genealogist to the [[Royal Victorian Order]]. Chesshyre undertook heraldic and genealogical work for high-profile clients such as the former [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]] [[Sir Edward Heath]]. He wrote seven books, including the official history of the Order of the Garter.

In October 2015, a jury sitting at [[Snaresbrook Crown Court]] found by a unanimous verdict that Chesshyre had committed [[child sexual abuse]] offences in the 1990s. He was found to be [[Fitness to plead|unfit to plead]], and his trial was therefore a [[trial of the facts]]. This means that no formal conviction is recorded and Chesshyre was therefore given an [[Discharge (sentence)#England and Wales|absolute discharge]].

==Early life and family== David Hubert Boothby Chesshyre was born on 22 June 1940, the son of [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] (later [[Colonel]]) Hubert Layard Chesshyre (d. 1981), an officer in the [[Royal Engineers]], and his wife Katharine Anne (d. 1995), daughter of [[Major (rank)|Major]] Basil Tanfield Beridge Boothby.<ref>Charles Mosley (ed.), ''Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage'', 107th ed., vol. 1 (2003), p. 430.</ref><ref>''Musicians of the Millennium: A Biographical Guide to Members of the Worship Company of Musicians'' (The Worshipful Company of Musicians), p. 49.</ref> Hubert had adopted the surname Chesshyre in 1938, renouncing his previous surname Isacke;<ref>[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34532/page/4651 ''The London Gazette''], 15 July 1938 (issue 34532), p. 4651.</ref> he was the son of [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Hubert Isacke]] and maternal grandson of Sir [[Charles Layard]], the Chief Justice of [[Ceylon]]. Among Chesshyre's other ancestors were the [[Earls of Dundee]] and [[Earl of Lauderdale|Lauderdale]],<ref>[http://www.middlesex-heraldry.org.uk/publications/seaxe/Seaxe35-200102.pdf?LMCL=iLTEVT "Royal Standards"], ''The Seaxe: Newsletter of the Middlesex Heraldry Society'', no. 25 (February 2001), p. 4.</ref> the [[Boothby baronets]]<ref>Mosley, p. 430.</ref> and the lawyer Sir [[John Chesshyre]].<ref>[http://www.haltonparish.org.uk/history.htm "The History of St Mary's"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724185500/http://haltonparish.org.uk/history.htm |date=24 July 2013 }}, ''Halton Parish, Runcorn''. Retrieved 4 February 2020.</ref>

== Education and early career == [[File:Trinity_College_-_Great_Court_02.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|The Great Court at [[Trinity College, Cambridge]], where Chesshyre studied. Its chapel is behind the covered fountain.]]

Chesshyre was educated at [[St Michael's Preparatory School, Otford]], where he was a contemporary of [[John Hurt]].<ref name="autogenerated3">'News of OKS', in ''For the Record'' [published by the OKS Association], No. 15 (May 2012), p. 1.</ref> He went on to [[The King's School, Canterbury]] (1954–59).<ref name="autogenerated5">[http://www.oks.org.uk/assets/documents/May%20Offcuts%202010.pdf 'The Legacy Club', ''<nowiki>O[ld] K[ing's] S[cholars] Offcuts</nowiki>'', no. 29 (May 2010) (scroll to page 5).] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827104519/http://www.oks.org.uk/assets/documents/May%20Offcuts%202010.pdf |date=27 August 2010 }}</ref>

Chesshyre studied at [[Trinity College, Cambridge]], graduating with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in 1962, and proceeding by convention to [[Master of Arts (Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin)|Master of Arts]] in 1966.<ref>''The Cambridge University List of Members up to 31 December 1991'' (Cambridge University Press, 1992), p. 242.</ref> After graduating from [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] Chesshyre worked for [[Moët et Chandon]] and [[John Harvey & Sons]] between 1962 and 1965. He then studied at [[Christ Church, Oxford]], where he was awarded a Diploma in Education in 1967.<ref name=":0">[https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-10758 "Chesshyre, (David) Hubert (Boothby)"], ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (online ed., [[Oxford University Press]], December 2019). Retrieved 4 February 2020.</ref>

Chesshyre very briefly served in the [[Honourable Artillery Company]] from 1964 until 1965.<ref name="autogenerated1">''Debrett's People of Today'', ''s.v.'' Chesshyre, David Hubert Boothy.</ref>

==Heraldic career==

=== College of Arms === [[File:College of Arms, London 19 June 2013.JPG|left|thumb|upright=1.3|Chesshyre worked at the [[College of Arms]] in the [[City of London]] from 1967 until 2010]]

Having received his Diploma in Education from [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], Chesshyre did not enter the teaching profession, but instead was appointed in 1967 to a position as an assistant at the [[College of Arms]].<ref>''[http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/newsletter/item/27-september-2010 College of Arms Newsletter]'', no. 26 (September 2010). As archived at the [[Internet Archive]] on [https://web.archive.org/web/20150315024126/https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/newsletter/item/27-september-2010 15 March 2015].</ref> He was a Green Staff Officer at the [[Investiture of the Prince of Wales]] in 1969.<ref name=":0" /> Appointed a member of the Chapter of the College of Arms the following year, he served as [[Rouge Croix Pursuivant]] (1970–78),<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45066 |date=24 March 1970|page=3415}}</ref> [[Chester Herald]] (1978–95),<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=47659 |date=9 October 1978|page=11997}}</ref> [[Norroy and Ulster King of Arms|Norroy and Ulster King of Arms and Principal Herald of the North part of England and of Northern Ireland]] (1995–97),<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=54085 |date=27 June 1995|page=8847}}</ref> and [[Clarenceux King of Arms|Clarenceux King of Arms and Principal Herald for the South, East and West parts of England]] (1997–2010).<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=54755 |date=2 May 1997 |page=5289}}</ref> From 1971 until 1978 he also served on the staff of [[Anthony Wagner]]. He was Registrar of the College of Arms from 1992 until 2000 and was the Founder Secretary of the College of Arms Uniform Fund in 1980, serving in that capacity until 1999.<ref>''Heralds of Today'' (2nd edn.), p. 11.</ref> From early in his career Chesshyre from time to time served as a deputy to [[Garter Principal King of Arms]] for the purpose of introducing [[Peerage of the United Kingdom|peers]] into the [[House of Lords]]. For example, in 1975 he introduced [[Baroness Vickers]].<ref>Antony Hodgson, 'The College of Arms', ''Hand in Hand: International Journal of the Commercial Union Assurance Company'', vol. 3, no. 5 (June 1980), 16–23 (20, with illustration).</ref>

As a herald, Chesshyre designed the coats of arms of a number of notable people, including the former Prime Minister Sir [[Edward Heath]],<ref>''The Heraldry Gazette'', NS 51 (March 1994), p. 3</ref> two [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speakers of the House of Commons]] ([[Baroness Boothroyd]] and [[John Bercow]]),<ref name="autogenerated3" /><ref name="autogenerated6">''The Heraldry Gazette'', NS 53 (September 1994), p. 6</ref> the [[Archbishop of York]] [[David Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes|David Hope]],<ref>''The Heraldry Gazette'', NS 48 (June 1993), p. 6</ref> the businessman [[Alan Sugar|Lord Sugar]],<ref name="autogenerated3" /> the musician Sir [[Paul McCartney]],<ref>[http://gswd.co.uk/documents/Newsletter7.pdf Robert Lampitt, 'College of Arms Visit', ''Wyre Drawer: Newsletter of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers'', edition 7 (Autumn 2004), pp. 6–7.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817133122/http://gswd.co.uk/documents/Newsletter7.pdf|date=17 August 2011}}</ref> the author Sir [[Terry Pratchett]] and the actor Sir [[John Hurt]].<ref name="autogenerated3" />

Chesshyre was Secretary of the [[Order of the Garter]] from 1988 until 2003, having been trained for the role by his predecessor [[Walter Verco]] and by Verco's predecessor-but-one, [[Anthony Wagner]]. Upon his resignation Chesshyre had an audience with [[Queen Elizabeth II]] at [[Buckingham Palace]], during which he surrendered his badge of office.<ref>{{Cite web |title=College of Arms - College of Arms |url=https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Newsletter/001.htm |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.college-of-arms.gov.uk}}</ref> Following the [[1992 Windsor Castle fire]] Chesshyre was, together with Peter Begent, appointed heraldic consultant for the reconstruction of St George's Hall.<ref>Peter J. Begent and Hubert Chesshyre, ''The most noble [[Order of the Garter]] 650 years'', with a foreword by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh KG]] and a chapter on the statutes of the Order by Lisa Jefferson (London: Spink, 1999), p. 300.</ref> Chesshyre was also Honorary Genealogist of [[The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter]].<ref name="autogenerated2">''Heralds of Today'' (2nd edn.), p. 12.</ref> He also served for twenty-three years as Honorary Genealogist to the [[Royal Victorian Order]] (1987–2010), again, succeeding [[Walter Verco]].<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/51108/pages/13495 ''The London Gazette'' no. 51108 (2 November 1987), 13495.]</ref> As [[Ulster King of Arms]] (merged with [[Norroy and Ulster King of Arms|Norroy]]) Chesshyre also held the technically extant position of King of Arms, Registrar, and Knight Attendant of the [[Order of St Patrick]]. He was therefore briefly one of just two members of the Order of St Patrick, the other member being [[Queen Elizabeth II]], who remained Sovereign of the Order.<ref>Ronald Allison and Sarah Riddell, ''The Royal Encyclopedia'' (London: Macmillan, 1991), p. 356.</ref><ref>Peter Galloway, ''The Most Illustrious Order: The Order of St Patrick and its Knights'' (2nd edn., Unicorn, 1999), p. 211.</ref><ref>Brian Hoey, ''At Home with the Queen: Life Through the Keyhole of the Royal Household'' (London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 2003), p. 268.</ref>

Chesshyre retired from the College of Arms on 31 August 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/WhatsNew.htm |title=Clarenceux King of Arms, What's New, College of Arms website. Accessed 3 September 2010. |access-date=2 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224150658/http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/WhatsNew.htm |archive-date=24 December 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> His last public duties took place at the [[State Opening of Parliament]] on 25 May 2010 and at the [[Garter Day]] ceremony on 14 June 2010. Commentating on the State Opening for the [[BBC]], [[Huw Edwards]] remarked upon Chesshyre's forty years of service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC One - The State Opening of Parliament, 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sjm6j |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |quote=Huw Edwards presents live coverage of the 2010 State Opening of Parliament. HM The Queen attends the ceremony for the 59th time, as a combination of pageantry and politics launches the first session of the new Parliament. 25 May 2010. Chesshyre is mentioned 47 minutes into the broadcast. }}</ref>

===Other work=== [[File:Henry7Chapel 01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=A photograph of the Henry VII Lady Chapel of Westminster Abbey, showing the heraldic west window.|Chesshyre advised on the design for this heraldic window in the [[Henry VII Lady Chapel]], [[Westminster Abbey]].]]

In 1973, Chesshyre completed a report into the missing collar on the tomb of [[Elizabeth I]] in [[Westminster Abbey]].<ref>[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=118-sal_2&cid=277#277 The National Archives: Manuscripts in the Society of Antiquaries of London. Regalia of Queen Elizabeth. "The Restoration of the Regalia to the Tomb of Queen Elizabeth the First in Westminster Abbey: Research into the Identity of the Collar Missing from the Queen's Marble Effigy", by David Hubert Boothby Chesshyre, FSA, Rouge Croix Pursuivant. SAL/MS/852 1973. Paper; ff. 69. 1973. Cloth, red. Presented by Brian Court-Mappin, May 1974. Giftbook entry, 9 May 1974. Accessed 27 October 2011.]</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chesshyre |first=David Hubert Boothby |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WQ3gGwAACAAJ |title=The Restoration of the Regalia to the Tomb of Queen Elizabeth the First in Westminster Abbey: Research Report and Copy Letters Into the Identity of the Collar Missing from the Queen's Effigy ... |date=1975 |language=en |access-date=27 October 2011}}</ref> He was a member of the Abbey's Architectural Advisory Panel from 1985 until 1998, and then of its Fabric Commission from 1998 until 2003. He was also heraldic advisor for the west window of the [[Henry VII Lady Chapel]], donated by [[John Templeton]] and devised by [[Donald Buttress (architect)|Donald Buttress]], which [[Elizabeth II]] unveiled in 1995.<ref>Donald Buttress, "Restoring the chapel, 1991–6", in Tim Tatton-Brown and Richard Mortimer, eds., ''Westminster Abbey: The Lady Chapel of Henry VII'' (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2003), pp. 343ff. (354).</ref><ref>[http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cuhags/escutcheon/09.2.pdf Susan Matthews, "Stained glass history and technique", ''The Escutcheon: The Journal of the Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society'', vol. 9, no. 2 (Lent Term 2004), 19–20 (19)]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Chesshyre served as heraldic advisor to the committee that organised the re-enactment of the funeral of [[Arthur, Prince of Wales]] in [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] on 3 May 2002. On the day of the re-enactment, Chesshyre processed through the streets of Worcester bearing Arthur's [[Crest (heraldry)|crested]] [[Helmet (heraldry)|helm]], followed by other heralds bearing his sword, tabard, gauntlets, and spurs.<ref>Steven Gunn and Linda Monckto, eds, ''Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales: Life, Death and Commemoration'' (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2009), pp. 168, 171, colour plate IX).</ref>

Chesshyre worked as a freelance lecturer in the United Kingdom and abroad. For many years he lectured for the [[The Arts Society|National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies]] and Speaker Finders.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

Chesshyre has been credited with establishing the probable origins of the common error of using the term ''[[Crest (heraldry)|crest]]'' to refer to the whole [[Achievement (heraldry)|achievement]]. He explains that in the 18th century it was common for smaller items, such as spoons and forks, to be engraved with the crest alone, while the full achievement was reserved for larger items such as salvers. For this reason a number of publications appeared from the late 18th century through to the early 20th century which recorded only crests. Chesshyre later successfully lobbied the chief revise editor of ''[[The Times]]'' to include an explanation of the precise meaning of the term ''crest'' in a new edition of the newspaper's staff manual.<ref>[http://www.middlesex-heraldry.org.uk/publications/seaxe/Seaxe07-199509.pdf 'Up in arms' and 'And about time too', in ''The Seaxe: Newsletter of the Middlesex Heraldry Society'', no. 7 (September 1995), p. 4.]</ref>

Chesshyre was a [[Choral scholar|choral clerk]] of [[Trinity College, Cambridge]] during his time as an undergraduate at the college.<ref name="autogenerated418">''Who's Who 2010'' (162nd year of issue) (London: A. & C. Black, 2009), s.v. 'Chesshyre, David Hubert Boothby' (p. 418).</ref> From 1979 until 1993 Chesshyre was a member of [[The Bach Choir]].<ref>List of Associate Members published in all Bach Choir concert programmes, e.g. Verdi, ''Requiem'' and Glazunov ''Violin Concerto'', performed by The Bach Choir and Chetham's Chamber Choir and Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Hill, at Chester Cathedral on 27 February and at the Royal Festival Hall on 2 March 2010, with an introduction by HRH The Earl of Wessex and notes by Katharine Richman and Molly Cockburn (printed by the Brunswick Press).</ref> Chesshyre sang for the London Docklands Singers, which he joined in 2002. He was, from 1980, a member of the Madrigal Society, the oldest musical society in Europe (see [[Madrigal (poetry)|Madrigal]]). He became a Freeman of the [[Worshipful Company of Musicians]] in 1994 and a Liveryman of the Company in 1995.<ref name="autogenerated1" />

==Scholarly publications== ''The Most Noble Order of the Garter'', which Chesshyre co-authored with Peter Begent and Lisa Jefferson, included a foreword by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]. One of the book's reviewers, [[John Goodall (author)|John Goodall]], wrote that it was the "most comprehensive" study of the subject since that of [[Elias Ashmole]], and "unlikely to be superseded".<ref>[[John Goodall (author)|John A. Goodall]], review, in ''The Antiquaries Journal'', vol. 80, issue 1 (September 2000), 362–3.</ref> Another reviewer, [[Maurice Keen]], wrote that it was "invaluable to scholars whose interests touch on the history of the order, from the widest variety of points of view and period specialisation", and that "Altogether, Peter Begent and Hubert Chesshyre have put together a volume that for its thoroughness, its interest and its physical attraction is a worthy tribute to the longevity of England's highest order of chivalry."<ref>Maurice Keen, review, in ''Journal of Ecclesiastical History'', vol. 52, no. 2 (April 2001), pp. 366–7.</ref>

M. K. Ridgway, reviewing ''The Identification of Coats of Arms on British Silver'', wrote that Chesshyre "has the undoubted gift of making a difficult and complicated subject both exciting and interesting".<ref>M. K. Ridgway, review, in ''The Antiquaries Journal'', vol. 59, issue 1 (March 1979), 178.</ref>

In the early 1970s Chesshyre met the architect Thomas Saunders when Chesshyre and one of his brothers unsuccessfully competed with Saunders to bid for a property in [[Bethnal Green]], 17 Old Ford Road. Four years after he had purchased the property, Saunders contacted Chesshyre with a commission to write a history of [[Bethnal Green]], with particular reference to the legend of [[the Blind Beggar]].<ref>Thomas Saunders, ''Getting a Life: An Autobiography'' (Bristol: SilverWood Books, 2014), ch. 6.</ref> This resulted in ''The Green'', co-authored with A. J. Robinson, which was later described by [[Victor E. Neuburg]] as "The best—indeed only—comprehensive account of the subject".<ref>Victor E. Neuburg, ''The Popular Press Companion to Popular Literature'' (Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1983) p. 34.</ref>

==Honours== [[File:Medal, order (AM 2001.25.358-1).jpg|thumb|The neck badge of a Commander of the [[Royal Victorian Order]]. Chesshyre held this honour from 2003 until 2018.]]

Chesshyre was appointed a [[Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order]] (LVO) in the [[1988 Birthday Honours]]<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/51365/supplements/4/page.pdf ''Supplement to the London Gazette'' 11 June 1988, B4]</ref> and was promoted to be a [[Royal Victorian Order|Commander of the Order]] (CVO) in the [[2004 New Year Honours]].<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/57155/supplements/3 ''The London Gazette'' Wednesday 31 December 2003 Supplement No. 1, S3.]</ref> Chesshyre's appointment to be a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order was cancelled and annulled with effect from Tuesday 15 May 2018.<ref name="forfeit"/>

Chesshyre became a [[Freeman of the City of London]] in 1975.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> He was elected a fellow of the [[Society of Antiquaries of London]] in 1977 and was a member of its heraldry committee, known as the Croft Lyons Committee.<ref>[http://www.sal.org.uk/history/committees/croftlyonscommittee/ Croft Lyons Committee. Accessed 29 April 2010.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515182744/http://www.sal.org.uk/history/committees/croftlyonscommittee/ |date=15 May 2011 }}</ref> Since 1983 he has been a member of the Cocked Hat Club, the senior dining club of the Society of Antiquaries, serving as ''praeses'' (president) in 1986.<ref name="autogenerated2" /> Chesshyre was also a member of the Council of [[the Heraldry Society]] from 1973 until 1985,<ref>''The Heraldry Gazette'', NS 113 (September 2009), p. 15.</ref> and he was elected a fellow of the Society in 1990.<ref name="The Heraldry Society 2013">{{Cite web |url=http://www.theheraldrysociety.com/fellowsandhonouryfellows.htm |title=The Heraldry Society: The Society: Fellows and Honorary Fellows. Accessed 4 September 2013. |access-date=15 March 2011 |archive-date=17 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717002543/http://www.theheraldrysociety.com/fellowsandhonouryfellows.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was vice-president of the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS)<ref>[http://www.genuki.org.uk/org/awards/bickersteth/recipients.pdf The Julian Bickersteth Memorial Medal.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506021323/http://www.genuki.org.uk/org/awards/bickersteth/recipients.pdf |date=6 May 2010 }}</ref> and was a Director of the IHGS until 31 December 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Hubert Boothby CHESSHYRE personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/hW3vNSB8RvMVPVh-ysi4-iGlDfQ/appointments |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> However, after his sexual offences and the forfeiture of his main honour came to light, ''[[The Observer]]'' reported that the "trustees promptly removed him as vice-president".<ref name="Antiquaries in turmoil">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/nov/23/society-antiquaries-turmoil-vote-to-back-sex-abuser |title=Society of Antiquaries in turmoil after vote to back sex abuser |newspaper=The Observer |date=23 November 2019 |first=Jamie |last=Doward |access-date= 23 November 2019}}</ref> Chesshyre has been honoured with the titles of associate member of the Society of Heraldic Arts<ref>[http://www.heraldic-arts.com/MembersOnly/Members_Assoc_inline.htm Society of Heraldic Arts. Accessed 19 May 2010.][http://www.heraldic-arts.com/MembersOnly/Members_Assoc_Confidential.htm Society of Heraldic Arts. Accessed 19 May 2010.]</ref> and honorary member of the [[White Lion Society]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Armorial - Honorary Members |url=https://www.whitelionsociety.org.uk/armorial/60-honorary-members |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.whitelionsociety.org.uk}}</ref> He was also the patron of the now defunct Middlesex Heraldry Society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Middlesex Heraldry Society - Who's Who |url=http://www.middlesex-heraldry.org.uk/contacts.htm |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.middlesex-heraldry.org.uk}}</ref>

In 1998 the [[Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society]] appointed Chesshyre to deliver its annual Mountbatten Memorial Lecture.<ref>[http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cuhags/events/past_yrs.htm Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society past events.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105081512/http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cuhags/events/past_yrs.htm |date=5 November 2010 }}</ref> Two years later, Chesshyre was a guest of honour at the [[Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society|CUHAGS]] Fiftieth Annual Dinner held in the Great Hall of [[Clare College, Cambridge|Clare College]] on 25 March 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cuhags/events/50th_ad/50th_ad.htm |title=C.U.H.&G.S. – 50th Annual Dinner |access-date=19 April 2010 |archive-date=29 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229125715/http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cuhags/events/50th_ad/50th_ad.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>''The Daily Telegraph'' (27 March 2000), p. 22.</ref>

==Child sexual abuse and honours forfeiture== Chesshyre was charged with offences of [[child sexual abuse]] and in October 2015 stood trial before a jury sitting at [[Snaresbrook Crown Court]]. The offences pertained to a teenage male, and took place during the 1990s.<ref name="iicsa14Mar">{{citation |url=https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/9870/view/public-hearing-transcript-14-march-2019.pdf |title=Public Hearing Transcript 14 March 2019 |publisher=Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse |date=14 March 2019 |pages=93–94 |access-date=3 April 2019 }}</ref> Chesshyre was determined to be [[Fitness to plead|unfit to plead]] due to a [[stroke]] and [[dementia]]. The trial therefore went ahead as a [[trial of the facts]].<ref name="System under scrutiny">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/30/sex-offender-retains-queen-honour-reform |title=Honours system under scrutiny after sex abuser kept title for years |newspaper=The Observer |date=30 March 2019 |first=Jamie |last=Doward |access-date=30 March 2019}}</ref> The jury found unanimously that he had committed two of the offences charged against him on the indictment. However, no conviction is formally recorded and the court consequently granted him an [[Discharge (sentence)#England and Wales|absolute discharge]]. The Honours and Appointments Secretariat, which is part of the [[Cabinet Office]], said in evidence to the [[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse]] that it "takes the view that the outcome of the trial holds equivalent weight to a full criminal investigation [and hence a criminal conviction]."<ref name="iicsa14Mar"/>

Despite a criminal finding of fact having been made, [[Alan Reid (courtier)|Sir Alan Reid]], Secretary of the Royal Victorian Order, refused to recommend the forfeiture of Chesshyre's appointment to the order, stating that Chesshyre had not technically been convicted and that he had been given an absolute discharge.<ref name="System under scrutiny" /> Following an appeal by the victim's [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]], which led to the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[Theresa May]], seeking to have the original decision reviewed by an independent committee, Reid's decision was overturned and Chesshyre's award was forfeited with effect from 15 May 2018.<ref name="forfeit">{{citation |url=https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/9860/view/CAB000159_001.pdf |title=Table of recipients who have forfeited honours |publisher=Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse |date=March 2019 |access-date=3 April 2019 }}</ref> Unusually, however, the forfeiture was not notified in the ''[[London Gazette]]'', normally the standard procedure in such cases. At the time of his death, Chesshyre still held almost all the many other honours conferred upon him throughout his career, despite calls for these, too, to be revoked. The case avoided wide public knowledge, in part because Chesshyre's name was misspelled in court documents throughout his legal process, until March 2019, when it was mentioned at a public hearing of the [[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse]], which led in turn to an article in ''[[The Observer]]'' newspaper.<ref name="iicsa14Mar"/><ref name="System under scrutiny"/> According to journalist Jamie Doward, "When approached by the ''Observer'', the various societies of which he [Chesshyre] is a member confirmed that they would not be dissociating themselves from him."<ref name="System under scrutiny"/>

In response to calls by a number of its fellows, the Council of the [[Society of Antiquaries of London]] subsequently proposed a resolution to revoke Chesshyre's Fellowship. However, the Fellows present at the meeting on 24 October 2019 (109 out of a total of over 3,000) voted by 76 votes to 33 to reject the resolution, and to allow Chesshyre to remain a Fellow. In a statement the Council said that it "regrets that a majority of those present did not see fit to support the resolution", and was said to be "dismayed" by the outcome.<ref name="Antiquaries in turmoil"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/dec/01/demand-reform-education-charity-vote-sex-abuser |first=Jamie |last=Doward |title=Anger at antiquaries' charity after sex abuser wins members' vote |work=The Observer |date=1 December 2019 |access-date=10 December 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/01/baby-boomers-give-young-a-chance-observer-letters |first1=Sue |last1=Anderson |first2=Grahame |last2=Appleby |first3=Jo |last3=Appleby |display-authors=etal |title=Vote was not in our name |work=The Observer |date=1 December 2019 |access-date=10 December 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=Mike |last=Pitts |author-link=Mike Pitts (archaeologist) |title=Changing times at the Society of Antiquaries |journal=Salon |volume=439 |publisher=Society of Antiquaries |date=27 November 2019 |url=https://us6.campaign-archive.com/?u=5557bc147d34993782f185bde&id=42a44de361 }}</ref>

==Death== Chesshyre died on 24 December 2020, aged 80.<ref>[http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/246663/chesshyre "Announcements: Chesshyre, Hubert (online reference 590424)"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. Retrieved 19 February 2021. "Hubert, former Clarenceux King of Arms and Secretary of the Order of the Garter, much loved brother, uncle and godfather, died peacefully aged 80 on 24th December."</ref>

==Coat of arms== {{Infobox coat of arms wide | name = Hubert Chesshyre | image = Arms of David Hubert Boothby Chesshyre.svg | notes = Although Chesshyre's family coat of arms has been in use since the seventeenth century, it was only formally granted in 1970, when Chesshyre was himself first appointed a member of the College of Arms.<ref>Chesshyre and Ailes, ''Heralds of today 1963–86'' (1986), p. 26.</ref><ref>See here for an image of Chesshyre's coat of arms: [http://cheshire-heraldry.org.uk/heralds/ The Armorial Bearings of the Chester Heralds. Copyright Martin Goldstraw. Accessed 30 April 2010.]</ref> | year_adopted = 25 August 1970 | crest = ''In front of a lure Or stringed & feathered Gules a lure Gules stringed & feathered Or'' | escutcheon = ''Gules, two lions' gambs erased in chevron between three hawks lures Or'' | motto = | orders = | bannerimage = | banner = | badgeimage = | badge = | symbolism = | previous_versions = }}

==List of publications==

===Books===

* [[Carl-Alexander von Volborth|Carl Alexander von Volborth]], ''Heraldry of the World'', ed. D. H. B. Chesshyre, translated into English by Bob and Inge Gosney (London: Blandford Press, 1973) * D. H. B. Chesshyre, ''The Identification of Coats of Arms on British Silver'', drawings by Margaret J. Clark (London: Hawkslure Publications, 1978) * A. J. Robinson and D. H. B. Chesshyre, ''The Green: A History of the Heart of [[Bethnal Green]] and the Legend of [[the Blind Beggar]]'' (1st edn., London: Borough of Tower Hamlets, 1978; 2nd edn., London: London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Central Library, 1986) * D. H. B. Chesshyre and Adrian Ailes, ''Heralds of Today: A Biographical List of the Officers of the College of Arms, London, 1963–86'', with a foreword by [[Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk|the Duke of Norfolk, KG]], [[Earl Marshal of England]] (Gerrards Cross: Van Duren, 1986) * D. H. B. Chesshyre and [[Thomas Woodcock (officer of arms)|Thomas Woodcock]], eds., ''[[Ordinary of arms#Dictionary of British Arms|Dictionary of British Arms: Medieval Ordinary]]'' vol. 1 (London: [[Society of Antiquaries of London]], 1992) * D. H. B. Chesshyre, ''Garter Banners of the Nineties'' (Windsor: College of Arms, 1998) * Peter J. Begent and D. H. B. Chesshyre, ''The Most Noble [[Order of the Garter]]: 650 years'', with a foreword by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh KG]] and a chapter on the statutes of the Order by Lisa Jefferson (London: Spink, 1999) * D. H. B. Chesshyre and Adrian Ailes, ''Heralds of Today: A Biographical List of the Officers of the College of Arms, London, 1987–2001'', with a foreword by [[Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk|the Earl of Arundel]] (London: Illuminata, 2001)

===Book chapters===

* D. H. B. Chesshyre, "The Most Noble Order of the Garter", in ''The Orders of the Thistle and the Garter'' (Kinross, 1989), pp. 27–46 * Anthony Harvey and Richard Mortimer, eds., ''The Funeral Effigies of Westminster Abbey'' (Woodbridge: Boydell, 1994; rev. edn. 2003) [contribution] * D. H. B. Chesshyre, "The Modern Herald", in [[Patricia Lovett]], ''The [[British Library]] Companion to Calligraphy, Illumination and Heraldry: A History and Practical Guide'' (London: [[British Library]], 2000), pp. 257–268 * Peter Begent, Hubert Chesshyre, and Robert Harrison, "The Heraldic Windows of St George's Chapel", in ''A History of the Stained Glass of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle'', ed. Sarah Brown ([[Historical monographs relating to St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle]], vol. 18; Windsor: Dean and Canons of Windsor, 2005)

===Reference work articles===

* Stephen Friar, ed., ''A Dictionary of Heraldry'' (New York: Harmony Books, 1987) (author of articles on "Garter, Order of", pp. 160–2; "Grant of Arms", pp. 171–2; "Pedigrees, Proof and Registration of", pp. 264–5) * D. H. B. Chesshyre, "[[Edward Walker (officer of arms)|Sir Edward Walker (1612–1677)]]", ''[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography#Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004)

===Journal articles===

* P. J. Begent and D. H. B. Chesshyre, "The Fitzwilliam Armorial Plate in [[St George's Chapel, Windsor]]", ''The Coat of Arms'', NS 4 (1980–82), no. 114, pp. 269–74 * P. J. Begent and D. H. B. Chesshyre, "The [[:Category:Spencer family|Spencer-Churchill]] [[Augmentation of honour|Augmentations]]", ''The Coat of Arms'', NS 6 (1984–86), no. 134, pp. 151–5 * D. H. B. Chesshyre, "[[Canting arms|Canting Heraldry]]", ''The Coat of Arms'', NS 7 (1987–89), no. 138, pp. 29–31 * Hubert Chesshyre, "The Heraldry of the Garter Banners", ''Report of the Society of the Friends of St George's and the Descendants of the Knights of the Garter'', vol. VII, no. 6 (1994/5), pp. 245–55 * In addition to the above, Chesshyre was also formerly a regular contributor to the journal ''British History Illustrated''

===Book reviews===

* D. H. B. Chesshyre, review of Richard Marks and Ann Payne, eds., ''British Heraldry from its Origins to ''c''. 1800'' (London: British Museum Publications, 1978), ''The Antiquaries Journal'', vol. 59, issue 2 (1979), pp. 460–461 * D. H. B. Chesshyre, review of [[George Drewry Squibb|G. D. Squibb]], ''Precedence in England and Wales'' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981), ''The Antiquaries Journal'', vol. 62, issue 2 (1982), pp. 435–436

===Unpublished MSS===

* D. H. B. Chesshyre, "Number Seventeen, or the History of 17 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green and the Natt Family" (Unpublished MS, ''c''. 1970–80; Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives L.6160 (class 040)) * D. H. B. Chesshyre, "The Restoration of the Regalia to the Tomb of Queen Elizabeth the First in Westminster Abbey: Research into the Identity of the Collar Missing from the Queen's Marble Effigy" (Unpublished MS, 1973; The National Archives SAL/MS/852)

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}} {{s-herald}} {{s-bef|before=[[Rodney Dennys]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[File:Badge of the Rouge Croix Pursuivant.svg|25px|center]] [[Rouge Croix Pursuivant]]|years=1970 – 1978}} {{s-aft|after=[[Thomas Woodcock (officer of arms)|Sir Thomas Woodcock]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Walter Verco|Sir Walter Verco]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[File:Badge of the Chester Herald.svg|25px|center]] [[Chester Herald]]|years=1978 – 1995}} {{s-aft|after=[[Timothy Duke]]}} {{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[John Brooke-Little]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[File:Coat of Arms of the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms.svg|25px|center]] [[Norroy and Ulster King of Arms]]|years=1995 – 1997}} {{s-aft|after=[[Thomas Woodcock (officer of arms)|Sir Thomas Woodcock]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[File:Coat of Arms of the Clarenceux King of Arms.svg|25px|center]] [[Clarenceux King of Arms]]|years=1997 – 2010}} {{s-aft|after=[[Patric Dickinson (genealogist)|Patric Dickinson]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Conrad Swan|Sir Conrad Swan]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[File:Coat of Arms of the College of Arms.svg|25px|center]] [[College of Arms|Registrar of the College of Arms]]|years=1992 – 2000}} {{s-aft|after=[[Timothy Duke]]}} {{s-hon}} {{s-bef|before=n/a}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Investiture of the Prince of Wales#Investiture of Charles|Green Staff Officer at the Investiture of the Prince of Wales]]|years=1 July 1969}} {{s-aft|after=n/a}} {{s-bef|before=[[Walter Verco|Sir Walter Verco]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Royal Victorian Order|Honorary Genealogist to the Royal Victorian Order]]|years=1987 – 2010}} {{s-aft|after=[[David Vines White|David White]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Walter Verco|Sir Walter Verco]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Order of the Garter|Secretary of the Order of the Garter]]|years=1988 – 2004}} {{s-aft|after=[[Patric Dickinson (genealogist)|Patric Dickinson]]}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chesshyre, Hubert}} [[Category:People stripped of a British Commonwealth honour]] [[Category:English officers of arms]] [[Category:1940 births]] [[Category:2020 deaths]] [[Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge]] [[Category:Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford]] [[Category:People educated at The King's School, Canterbury]] [[Category:Local historians of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:British medievalists]] [[Category:Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London]] [[Category:English folklorists]] [[Category:English genealogists]] [[Category:English biographers]] [[Category:British people convicted of child sexual abuse]]