Ralph Grey, Baron Grey of Naunton

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
In office
17 September 1968 – 17 October 1999
Life Peerage
Personal details
Born(1910-04-15)15 April 1910
Wellington, New Zealand
Died17 October 1999(1999-10-17) (aged 89)
Naunton, Gloucestershire, UK

Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey, Baron Grey of Naunton,

Life Peer as Baron Grey of Naunton on 17 September 1968.[1]

Early life and education

Ralph Grey was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 15 April 1910 the only son of Francis Arthur Grey and Mary Wilks Spencer.

He attended both

called to the Bar
.

Career

Early career

Grey began his legal career as a clerk before practising as a barrister. He was appointed a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand in 1932.

He joined the

Colonial Administrative Service
in 1936, as a probationer.

Nigeria

The following year he was an administrative

Nigeria
.

After World War II, he was promoted Assistant Financial Secretary in 1949. Two years later, he was an Administrative Officer First Class, quickly moving up to Deputy Secretary.

He was Secretary to the Governor-General and General Council of Ministers in 1954, and Chief Secretary of the Federation the following year. Two years later he was raised up as Deputy Governor-General until just before independence in 1959.

banner

West Indies

Grey was transferred to

the Bahamas in the identical post for two years. Then he transferred to the Turks and Caicos Islands
until 1968.

Northern Ireland

That year Grey became

Direct Rule from Westminster, and Lord Grey of Naunton was recalled. During the same period he was President of the Scout Council of Northern Ireland.[4]
From 1970 Grey was appointed Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries of Northern Ireland, supporting industry as an Honorary Member of the Chambers of Commerce and Honorary President of the Lisburn Chamber of Commerce. From 1970 he was also an Honorary Bencher of the Inns of Court for Northern Ireland.

Lord Grey of Naunton was the last Governor of Northern Ireland until 1973, having been appointed on 11 November 1968.

Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
(1988–91).

Memberships

Grey was a Council member of

Cheltenham Ladies College
, where his daughter, Amanda, was educated.

As well as regional commitments to

University of Ulster
.

In retirement, Grey was invited to be admitted to

Royal Overseas League
in 1993, Chairman of its General Council, but had been president since 1981.

Honours and awards

Grey was appointed an

Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in 1951.

In 1955, he was appointed a

Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) and, in 1959, a Knight Commander (KCMG) .[8]

He was first appointed a

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1956.[9]

Grey received an

University of Ulster
.

Personal life

In 1944 he married Esme Mae, daughter of Albert Victor Kerry Burcher, of Remuera, Auckland (and widow of Pilot Officer Kenneth Kirkaldie, REFVR). Lady Grey of Naunton, died on 22 March 1996. The couple had three children:

  • The Hon. Jolyon Kenneth Alnwick Grey (b.1946)
  • The Hon. Jeremy Francis Alnwick Grey (b.1948)
  • The Hon. Amanda Mary Alnwick Grey (b.1950).

The Grey family lived in

peerage title
.

Death

Baron Grey died on 17 October 1999 in Naunton.[10]

Arms

Coat of arms of Ralph Grey, Baron Grey of Naunton
Crest
A sheathed Sword erect Gules, garnished hilt and pommel Or, each Quillion ending in a Kiwi's Head erased Or, the Scabbard supported by two Lions' gambs erased Gules, winged Azure, semy of Bees volant Or
Escutcheon
Bendy Argent and Azure, two Lions' faces in pale, issuing from either flank of the shield a Cross Formy flory dimidiated Gules
Supporters
Dexter: a Lion Or; Sinister: a crested Crane Proper, each gorged with an Ancient Crown, flowing therefrom a Mantle Gules lined Vair
Motto
Servir de mon gre (Serving with goodwill)
Orders
The
Maltese Cross
.

References

  1. ^ "No. 44678". The London Gazette. 17 September 1968. p. 10018.
  2. ^ "Lord Grey, 89, Queen's Last Governor in Ulster (Published 1999)". New York Times. 23 October 1999. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  3. ^ "No. 43200". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1964. p. 4.
  4. ^ "New Zealander who was the last Governor of Northern Ireland". The Irish Times. 23 October 1999.
  5. ^ "No. 2518". The Belfast Gazette. 29 November 1968. p. 427.
  6. ^ "No. 2519". The Belfast Gazette. 6 December 1968. p. 447.
  7. ^ "No. 45984". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1973. p. 6476.
  8. ^ "No. 41589". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1959. p. 4.
  9. ^ "No. 40726". The London Gazette. 6 March 1956. p. 1374.
  10. New York Times
    . 23 October 1999. p. A13.
Bibliography
  • Mosley, Charles (2002). Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 of 2 vols. London: Cassells.
  • Gibbs, Vicary (1949). The Complete Peerage for Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. XIII vol. London: St Catherine's Press.
Government offices
Preceded by
Governor of British Guiana

1958–1964 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Sir Robert Stapeldon de Stapeldon
Governor of the Bahamas

1964–1968 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Northern Ireland
1968–1973 		Succeeded by
Office abolished
Other offices
Preceded by
Lord Prior of St John

1988–1990 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ralph_Grey,_Baron_Grey_of_Naunton&oldid=1206354278"