Peter Drummond-Murray as Slains Pursuivant

Peter Drummond-Murray of Mastrick, who served the Chief of Clan Hay as his personal officer of arms for nearly three decades, died in Edinburgh on Sunday 13th April, aged 84.

William Edward Peter Louis Drummond-Murray was born on 24th November 1929, a scion of the Murrays of Mastrick in Aberdeenshire and the Drummond family who founded the famous Drummond's Bank, now part of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

In the family tradition, he pursued a career as a banker and stockbroker in Edinburgh and London, whilst developing a deep interest in history and heraldry, on which subject he became a leading international authority and noted author.  He was, for several years, Chairman of the Heraldry Society of Scotland.

In 1982, the Earl of Erroll, Chief of Clan Hay, appointed Peter to the office of Slains Pursuivant, the personal officer of arms of the Lords High Constable of Scotland, an appointment dating from at least 1404.  He continued to play a high profile role as Slains until retiring in 2009.

He was held in the highest regard by the chivalric community and became a Knight of Justice of the Venerable Order of St John and a Knight of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George.  His greatest enthusiasm, however, was reserved for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, of which he was a Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion. Malta further recognised his many years of service by creating him a Bailiff of the Order in 2014.

Peter married the Hon Barbara Hope, a daughter of Lord Rankeillour, in 1954, who survives him together with their five children.  His eldest son Andrew succeeds as Drummond-Murray of Mastrick.