|
John Philip Brook Brooke-Little,〔"John Philip Brooke-Little" The Coat of Arms. Third Series Vol II No 212, (2006) 77.〕 CVO, KStJ, FSA, FSG, FHS, FHG (Hon), FRHSC (Hon), FHSNZ, KM, GCGCO (6 April 1927 – 13 February 2006) was an influential and popular English writer on heraldic subjects, and a long-serving herald at the College of Arms in London. In 1947, while still a student, Brooke-Little founded the Society of Heraldic Antiquaries, now known as the Heraldry Society and recognised as one of the leading learned societies in its field. He served as the society's chairman for 50 years and then as its President from 1997 until his death in 2006. In addition to the foundation of this group, Brooke-Little was involved in other heraldic groups and societies and worked for many years as an officer of arms; beginning as Bluemantle Pursuivant, Brooke-Little rose to the second highest heraldic office in England: Clarenceux King of Arms. ==Early and private life== John Brooke-Little was born in Blackheath, Kent. His mother, Constance Egan, was the author of many children's stories including the ''Epaminondas'' books and the adventures of ''Jummy the Baby Elephant''. In the 1920s, Egan was the editor of ''Home Chat''. This helped to prepare her for future editorial duties with the Heraldry Society's journal, the ''Coat of Arms'' in the 1950s. She was the second wife of Raymond Brooke-Little, who worked as an electrical engineer. His paternal ancestors, the Littles, came from Wiltshire and may be traced in the parish registers of Biddestone back to the late seventeenth century. A pedigree of his family appears in the 1972 edition of ''Burke's Landed Gentry'' under the heading "Brooke-Little of Heyford House". Brooke-Little was educated at Clayesmore School, a progressive co-educational public school in Dorset. The school remained an important part of Brooke-Little's life, and he later sent his own children there. He oversaw the process of granting arms to the school while serving as chairman of its board of governors from 1971 to 1983. As a boy, Brooke-Little's first contact with the College of Arms came when he went to see Sir Algar Howard, then Garter Principal King of Arms. Howard was the head of the corporation of heralds at the College of Arms, and encouraged Brooke-Little's budding interest in the subject of heraldry. While still a student, he founded a heraldry society with his friends. Brooke-Little went to New College, Oxford in 1949 and read history. His college friends included Colin Cole, later Garter King of Arms, with whom he refounded the dormant Oxford University Heraldry Society. The two men refounded it a second time in 1958.〔Mark Elvins. "Oxford University Heraldry Society." ''The Coat of Arms'', New Series Vol IV No 119 (1981), 419.〕〔(Notes about Oxford University Heraldry Society ) from the Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society.〕 The Society was refounded in 2005 and currently holds one lecture per term.〔(The College of Arms Newsletter ). The edition of the newsletter includes mention of William Hunt's lecture for the Society on 23 February 2006.〕 Brooke-Little married Mary Pierce, daughter of John Raymond Pierce, in 1960. The couple had three sons, Philip, Leo, and Merlin, and one daughter, Clare.〔(Obituary ) (''The Independent'', 21 February 2006).〕 In 2004, after having retired from the College of Arms, Brooke-Little lived at his Heyford House in Oxfordshire with the families of both Leo and Merlin.〔Correspondence with (Old Clayesmorian Society ) found (here ).〕 Brooke-Little had a major stroke in 1994. This incident left his mobility and speech partly impaired, though his mind was still quite sharp. He continued in his heraldic duties until his retirement three years later. He also continued to guide the Heraldry Society after this. He suffered a succession of minor strokes over his last years as a herald and during his retirement. He was still able to make appearances at functions of the Heraldry Society, though his role was severely limited by debilitating arthritis.〔 It was a short series of several of these small strokes in quick succession which led to Brooke-Little's death on 13 February 2006 in Banbury, Oxfordshire, at the age of 78. He was one of the last surviving officers of arms to serve at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.〔Gordon Casely. "John Brooke-Little Last survivor of the English heralds at the 1953 Coronation." ''The Herald''. (Glasgow, UK: 17 February 2006), 37.〕 The funeral took place on 23 February 2006, and the eulogy was delivered by Sir Henry Paston-Bedingfeld, York Herald. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「John Brooke-Little」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|