Sir Crispin Hamlyn Agnew of Lochnaw, 11th Baronet, LVO, KC, FRGS (born 13 May 1944) is a Scottish advocate, herald and former explorer. He is the chief of the ancient Agnew family, and the eleventh holder of the Agnew baronetcy, created in 1629.[1] He was elected a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the King's Body Guard for Scotland in 1975.[2]

Agnew is the only son of Sir Fulque Agnew and his wife Swanzie Erskine, latterly Professor of Geography at the University of Malawi. He succeeded his father in 1975.

He was educated at Uppingham School and RMA Sandhurst, before being commissioned into the Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1964.[3] He served in Germany, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and the UK. As an active climber and mountaineer and member of the Alpine Club (UK) he was involved with the army's policy of developing adventurous training for soldiers of all ranks. He took part in or led a number of expeditions, including expeditions to Api Himal in 1980,[4] Everest in 1976,[5] Nuptse Himal in 1975,[6] Northern Patagonian Ice Field in 1973,[7] Elephant Island in 1970,[8] and Greenland in 1968[9] and 1966.[10] He retired as a major in 1981.

Agnew is a King's Counsel and was in practice at the Scottish Bar with Westwater Advocates before going non-practising in April 2020.[11] He was ranked by Chambers & Partners UK 2018 as a "Star Individual" in Agriculture and Rural Affairs and "Band 1" in Planning and Environment.[12] He specialised in rural property, planning & environmental, and public law. He was made an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Dundee in 2020.[13] He is the author of legal textbooks on agriculture, crofting, land obligations and liquor licensing as well as articles in academic journals. He served as a part-time judge of the Upper Tribunal (formerly Social Security Commissioner) (2000 to 2018) and was part-time legal chairman of the Pension Appeal Tribunal (2002 to 2012). He is a legal convenor of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland (2018-).

His heraldic career began in 1978 when he was appointed Slains Pursuivant by Merlin, Earl of Erroll. In 1981, he was appointed Unicorn Pursuivant[14] at the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. In 1986, he was promoted to Rothesay Herald,[15] a position he held until 31 August 2021,[16] when he became Albany Herald Extraordinary.[17]

He was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) in the 2021 Birthday Honours.[18]

In 1980 he married Susan Rachel Strang Steel, a careers adviser and formerly a journalist and broadcaster, the daughter of Jock Wykeham Strang Steel[19] and Lesley Graham.[20] Agnew and his wife have a son and three daughters: Mark, Isabel, Emma and Roseanna. Adventurer Mark Agnew is the Younger of Lochnaw, and the heir to the chiefship and baronetcy.

Works

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  • Agnew, Crispin. (1988). The Conflict of Heraldic Laws. The Juridical review. 1988 Pt 1. 61 - 76.
  • Agnew, Sir Crispin . “Baronial heraldic additaments”, 2004 Scots Law Times (News) 179.
  • Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Bt, and Gillian Black. “The significance of status and genetics in succession to titles, honours, dignities and coats of arms: Making the case for reform”. The Cambridge Law Journal, vol. 77, no. 2, 2018, pp. 321–48.
  • Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Bt, and Gillian Black. “Reforming the law of succession to peerages, baronetcies and dignities: identifying problems and exploring solutions”. Public Law, vol. 2023, no. 1, 2023, pp. 104-125.

Arms

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Coat of arms of Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw
 
Notes
This coat of arms with the chevron first appears on the seal of Quentin Agnew of Lochnaw c 1487, previous versions having been recorded featuring three hands in the Hague Armorial Roll (c 1590) and Sir George Mackenzie’s "Science of Herauldry" (1680).
Crest
Above the shield, from which is pendent by an orange-tawny riband the Badge of a Baronet of Nova Scotia, is placed a Chapeau Azure furred Ermine, and thereon an Helm befitting his degree with a Mantling Gules doubled Argent, and on a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest an eagle issuant and reguardant Proper
Escutcheon
Argent, a chevron between two cinquefoils in chief Gules and a saltire couped in base Azure.[21]
Supporters
Two heraldic tygers Proper, collared and chained Or
Motto
CONSILIO NON IMPETU

References

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  1. ^ Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage 2019 - Agnew of Lochnaw Baronetcy
  2. ^ Alastair Blair, The History of the Royal Company of Archers 1951-1976 (Edinburgh 1977)
  3. ^ London Gazette, 22 September 1964, Issue 43443 Supplement p. 89099.Archived 26 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 8/6/2021)
  4. ^ "Soldiers on Api, Alpine Journal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  5. ^ Soldiers on Everest by Fleming and Faux, London HMSO 1977
  6. ^ "Nuptse 1975 Alpine Journal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  7. ^ C. H. Agnew Of Lochnaw Yr; Gobey, C. S. (1974). "The Joint Services Expedition to Chilean Patagonia 1972-73". The Geographical Journal. 140 (2): 262–268. doi:10.2307/1797083. JSTOR 1797083. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2023 – via JSTOR.
  8. ^ Burley, Malcolm (1972). "Joint Services Expedition to Elephant Island". The Geographical Journal. 138 (3): 298–308. doi:10.2307/1795437. JSTOR 1795437. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2023 – via JSTOR.
  9. ^ "Notes Army East Greenland Expedition 1968" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Royal Navy East Greenland Expedition 1966 by MB Thomas and Dr R Wallis Alpine Journal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Westwater Advocates Stable". Westwater Advocates. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  12. ^ Chambers & Partners UK (2018)
  13. ^ [1] Archived 8 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 8/6/2021)
  14. ^ Edinburgh Gazette, 3 July 1981, Issue 20935 p. 891.Archived 26 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 8/6/2021).
  15. ^ Edinburgh Gazette, 5 August 1986, Issue 21986 p. 1185. Archived 20 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 8/6/2021)
  16. ^ Rosie, George (10 December 2000). "All the Queen's men". Sunday Herald. Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  17. ^ "albany". www.courtofthelordlyon.scot. Retrieved 28 February 2023.; The Gazette 12 October 2012, Other Notices, Court of the Lord Lyon, 7 October 2021. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3900410
  18. ^ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B5.
  19. ^ Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage 2011 - Steel of Philiphaugh Baronet
  20. ^ Daughter of Sir Reginald Graham Bt VC
  21. ^ "Rothesay". www.courtofthelordlyon.scot. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
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Baronetage of Nova Scotia
Preceded by Baronet
(of Lochnaw)
1975–present
Incumbent
Heraldic offices
Preceded by
 
Unicorn Pursuivant

1981-1986
Succeeded by
Preceded by
 
Rothesay Herald

1986-2021
Succeeded by
Liam Devlin
Preceded by
 
Albany Herald

2021-Present
Incumbent
  NODES
Note 3