Evening Hybrid meeting - 6.30pm - Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms – The Court of The Lord Lyon

On Thursday 30th June 2022 in the absence of President Brian Johnson, Senior Vice President Scott Galloway welcomed 15 club Rotarians 20 guests and Dr Joseph Morrow to this our monthly evening meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel.

The meeting commenced with Chantal Mrimi who takes over as the clubs Foundation Lead spoke about her visit to Rwanda and she brought back crafts which she sold at the district 1010 conference and also tonight and raised £290 for the End Polio Now Campaign to eradicate Polio.

Our speaker tonight who had only at  lunch time been at lunch with her Majesty the Queen was Dr Joseph Morrow CBE QC LLD DL FRSE who was brought up in Glenrothes and attended Glenrothes High School. In his Youth he was the Glenrothes festival Lad with Margaret Sneddon the festival lass. He is presently the current Lord Lyon King of Arms and was appointed to the office on 17 January 2014 and sworn in before the Lord President of the Court of Session on 27th February 2014. A member of the Faculty of Advocates, Dr Morrow took silk in September 2015. In 2008 he was appointed President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland from which post he retired in 2019. He has previously served as Her Majesty’s Commissioner for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (1999-2006), as a First-tier Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) (2002-2013), and as President of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (2010-2014).In 2009 he was appointed as Vice Lord Lieutenant of the City of Dundee, having served as a Labour councillor for the Maryfield ward until that year. He held the positions of Convenor of the Economic Development Committee and Convenor of the Dundee Waterfront Development Board and was Depute Lord Provost during his time as an elected member. He has served as incumbent of the Chapel of Glamis Castle, Chancellor of the Diocese of Brechin, and an Honorary Canon of St Paul's Cathedral, Dundee. and was recently installed as Chancellor of the United Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness. Lyon Morrow was created CBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 2018 for Services to Mental Health and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2019.  He is a Freemason and from 2004 to 2005 he served as the 108th Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. In March 2018 he was appointed as the First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland. In 2012, he was appointed Commander of the Venerable Order of St John. In December 2015 he was promoted to the rank of Knight. In 2016 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Edinburgh Napier University. In 2020, he was appointed Squadron Colonel of 2 (City of Dundee and Highland) Signal Squadron, which is a sub unit of 32nd Signal Regiment, a Royal Signals Army Reserve sub-unit based in Dundee and Aberdeen.

Armorial Bearings of Lord Lyon King of Arms. Dr Morrow’s personal arms are blazoned: Per fess enhanced Or and Purpure overall all three piles conjoined in point counter-changed, the centre pile charged with a maunch (mauche) and the other two with passion crosses of the first. For crest, he has A dexter hand or holding a dagger erect Purpure hilted and pummelled Or, and for motto: Deo Volente (‘God Willing’). The supporters aresea-eagles crowned with the crown of the Lord Lyon King of Arms His interests include ecclesiastical history and the practical application of ceremonial to state, civil, military, and ecclesiastical areas of Scottish life, together with over thirty years' experience in the field of heraldry.

During the month of July, we will be having a summer break with the club starting back on the 4^th August 2022.  On 28^th July a past presidents’ dinner will be held at 1pm at the Pitlessie Inn.

If you were interested in supporting the community and international projects get in touch by Private message on The Rotary Club of Glenrothes Facebook page. You will be made most welcome.