Lord Lyon who brought Scots heraldry into 21st century
Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight Born: May 25, 1938;
Died: September 20, 2020.
SIR Malcolm Innes of Edingight, who has died from cancer aged 82, was the Lord Lyon who brought Scots heraldry into line with the needs and aspirations of the 21st century. Raised in centuries-old traditions, he foresaw the need to adapt long before change was thrust upon his ancient office.
To the modernising Sir Malcolm, the cliche of “the Lyon’s den” was anathema. While enforcing centuries-old heraldic law, he ensured legislation met current standards, presiding as a judge of the realm in the only nation in the world where a court of heraldry and genealogy is fully integrated into the judicial system.
He appointed the first woman herald in the world in 1992, a move so far copied only by Canada and Ireland. Thus the heralds on duty at the first opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 proved gender-balanced in an era before the term ever entered ordinary speech.
His reign (as the term of office of a Lyon is quaintly termed) oversaw the introduction of heraldic charges (the devices on shields) to cope with late 20th century needs such as computing and electronics, a period by which time he had long been familiar with heraldic use representing DNA and space travel.
He encouraged a move away from Latin as a base for mottoes, suggesting a language relevant to the petitioner for arms be considered. His father Sir Thomas had as Lyon in 1956 granted Shetland Isles Council the motto in Old Norse Med Logum Skal Land Byggji (By law shall the land be built up). In Sir Malcolm’s time came mottoes in English, Greek, French, Welsh and several Asiatic tongues. He took particular interest in the use of Scots, with Leal (True-hearted) being granted in 1987 – the shortest motto in Scots of all time. His example encouraged his Lyonic successors, with Aberdeen and North-east Scotland Family History Society bearing the Doric motto of Aye Tyaavin Awa.
Malcolm Rognvald Innes, third son of Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, redoubtable Lord Lyon for nearly a quarter of a century from 1945, and his wife Lady Lucy Buchan, was born in Edinburgh and grew up steeped in heraldry and armory. At Edinburgh Academy in 1948, when he was 10, he saw service as a Lyon Court page, and while still at Edinburgh University in 1957 he gained the appointed of Falkland Pursuivant Extraordinary.
A non-heraldic memory was that so little alcohol was ever served in his Aberdeenshire boyhood home the young Malcolm grew up believing whisky existed solely to counter bee stings.
On joining Lyon Office, the ability of the young Innes quickly became noted. Learning and authorship saw his rapid rise through heraldic ranks, being appointed Lord Lyon in 1981, the 35th Lyon since Henry Greve (Greve) in 1399, a position with origins in the seannachie of Celtic kings.
It was Sir Malcolm who in 1977 energised the notion from Charles Burnett (later himself a distinguished herald) that there be a Heraldry Society of Scotland. Aware that heraldry could be seen as stultified, he as first chairman of the infant association became the steady hand who guided some 400 members toward the study, use and enjoyment of heraldry.
Recalling early years of the society, he said: “We went on many wonderful excursions, fortified with good picnics and bottles of decent wine. In those days, I was described by Lady Olga Maitland in her
[Daily Express] column as
“a robust partygoer”.
As Lyon, Sir Malcolm was responsible for several far-reaching decisions on the laws of arms, passing judgment on numerous claims and
disputes on the succession to titles and chiefships, including the Earldom of Annandale, the Lordship of Borthwick, and the Dunbar of Mochrum baronetcy.
His extensive writings included a revised edition of Scots Heraldry, from the original written by his father. Heavily involved in Scots culture and history, Sir Malcolm was a founder and later president of the Scottish Genealogy Society, and an active
past president of the Royal Celtic Society.
Ample humour laced Sir Malcolm’s profound knowledge. In one lecture, he predicted heraldry in globalisation would increasingly occupy a role in preserving identity for the individual and family, and for institutions local and national, adding that the desire for individual identity ran very deep in Scotland. Invoking his famously dry wit, he turned for authority for his prediction to his wife’s hairdresser, this lady informing Lady Innes that “Edinburgh’s leading tattoo parlour” never applied exactly the same tattoo to customers. “Each pattern is absolutely individual”, she said.
Essentially modest and not one to seek the limelight, Sir Malcolm welcomed visitors of
all distinction and none to Lyon Office. Many an intending armiger (owner of a coat-of-arms) has benefited from his kindly intervention in heraldic design. He retained the dignity of his ancient office while leaving admiration of the majesty of it to others.
Sir Malcolm, 16th laird of Edingight in Banffshire, was appointed CVO in 1981, and promoted KCVO nine years later.
He was predeceased in 2013 by his wife of half-a-century Joan Hay, scion of the Tweeddale Hays.
He is survived by his three sons John, now 17th of Edingight, Colin and Michael, and by grandchildren ranging in age from seven to 24.
So little alcohol was ever served in his boyhood home he grew up believing whisky existed solely to counter bee stings