Masters of the Bench

Patric Dickinson was born in London and spent his childhood in Sussex and Gloucestershire.  He read history at Oxford, where he was President of the Union, and has worked at the College of arms since 1968.  For 42 years he was one of the Officers of Arms, latterly holding the office of Clarenceux King of Arms from which he retired in 2021.  He also served as Secretary of the Order of the Garter from 2004 to 2024 and in that capacity played a large part in organising the Garter Ceremony held annually at Windsor Castle.  Active in the genealogical world for many years, he has been President of the Society of Genealogists since 2005.  He joined Middle Temple in 1973 and was called to the Bar in 1979, afterwards doing pupillage at 1 New Square, Lincolns Inn.  He has been Honorary Treasurer of the Bar Theatrical Society since 1978 and was a founder member of the Middle Temple Historical Society in 1981.  He was appointed Master of the Archive in 2024.  Amongst other posts he has held, he was Honorary Secretary of the British Record Society from 1979 to 2010 and Chairman of the Anthony Powell Society from 2003 to 2007.