Serjeant at Arms of the British House of Commons
| United Kingdom Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | |
| Reports to | Clerk of the Parliaments |
| Appointer |
The Crown (de jure) Clerk of the Parliaments (de facto) |
| Formation | 1415 |
| First holder | Nicholas Maundit |
| Deputy | Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod |
| Website | Serjeant at Arms |
The Serjeant at Arms of the British House of Commons is an official responsible for the security of the House of Commons. The office dates to 1415.
The House of Lords also had a Serjeant-at-Arms (the title was often distinguished by the use of hyphens), dating also from the 15th Century. His duties were merged in 1971 with those of Black Rod.[1]
In October 2011, the then Serjeant at Arms, Jill Pay, announced that she would retire in January 2012.[2] Michael Naworynsky undertook relevant responsibilities on an "acting" basis,[3] before Lawrence Ward acquired the role in April 2012.[4]
Duties
The duties of the Serjeant at Arms are partly ceremonial. The Serjeant at Arms carries the mace during the opening of Parliament and is also responsible for security during debates in the House of Commons, escorting Members out of the Chamber if ordered to do so by the Speaker.
Dress
The Serjeant at Arms wears traditional dress and carries a sword,[5] and is traditionally the only person allowed inside the House armed.
List of Serjeants at Arms
- This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
- 1415–: Nicholas Maundit
- 1610–: Edward Grimston
- Edward Dendy snr
- c.1645: Edward Dendy jnr
- 1660–1675: James Norfolk [6]
- 1675–1693: William Bishop [6]
- 1693–1709: Samuel Powell [6]
- 1709–1717: Thomas Wybergh [6]
- 1717–1737: Thomas Spence [7]
- 1737–1762: Wentworth Odiarne [6]
- 1762–1775: Nicholas Bonfoy [8]
- 1775–1805: Edward Colman [9]
- 1805–1811: Francis John Colman [6]
- 1812–1812: John Clementson [6]
- 1812–1835: Henry Seymour [6]
- 1835–1848: Sir William Gosset [10]
- 1848–1875: Lord Charles James Fox Russell [11]
- ?1875–1885: Sir Ralph Allen Gosset KCB[12]
- 1885–1915: Sir Henry David Erskine KCVO
- 1915–1935: Sir Colin Richard Keppel KCVO GCVO
- ?–1957: Sir Charles Howard
- 1957–?1961: Ivor Thomas Percival Hughes KCVO
- 1961–1976: Alexander Henry Charles Gordon-Lennox KCVO [13]
- 1976–1982: Sir Peter Francis Thorne KCVO
- 1982–1989: Sir Victor Le Fanu KCVO
- 1989–1995: Sir Alan Urwick KCVO, CMG
- 1995–1999: Sir Peter Jennings CVO
- 2000–2005: Sir Michael Cummins
- 2005–2007: Major General Peter Grant Peterkin CB, OBE
- 2008–2012: Jill Pay
- 2012–present: Lawrence Ward
See also
References
- ↑ House of Lords; Serjeant-at-Arms at www.parliament.uk
- ↑ Groves, Jason (13 October 2011). "First female Serjeant at Arms quits Commons just days after powerful clerk becomes her boss". Daily Mail (London).
- ↑ House of Lords; Serjeant-at-Arms at www.parliament.uk
- ↑ "Property stolen from Parliament revealed". BBC. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
It came as the House of Commons appointed Lawrence Ward as their new security chief. Mr Ward's appointment to Serjeant at Arms...
- ↑ Serjeant at Arms
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 "Serjeants at Arms to the Speaker". Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ↑ History of Parliament
- ↑ History of Parliament
- ↑ History of Parliament
- ↑ History of Parliament
- ↑ Thepeerage
- ↑ "Captain Gosset has resigned". The Spectator. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ↑ Thepeerage
| Officers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| House of Commons | House of Lords | ||
| Speaker | John Bercow | Lord Speaker | The Baroness D'Souza |
| Leader of the House of Commons | William Hague | Leader of the House of Lords | The Baroness Stowell of Beeston |
| Serjeant at Arms | Lawrence Ward | Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod | Lt-Gen. David Leakey |
| Clerk of the House | David Natzler | Clerk of the Parliaments | David Beamish |