Robert George Alexander Balchin, Baron Lingfield, DLKStJ (born 31 July 1942) is a British educationalist, noted as an advocate and pioneer for school autonomy.[1] He also served as Director-General of St. John Ambulance from 1984 to 1990.
He has written numerous articles on education and politics. His schools initiative was proclaimed by The Daily Telegraph's deputy editor, Benedict Brogan, as: "[being the] first and, as time passes, perhaps the most important legislative milestone achieved by the Coalition".[2]
Patron of the charity MaleVoicED, a charity supporting all males with Eating Disorders and other co-morbid conditions. He is also Chairman of The Cadet Vocational Qualifications Organisation (CVQO), a national charity that supports members of uniformed youth organisations to gain vocational qualifications for the activities they undertake within their youth organisation.[8]
The armorial bearings of The Lord Lingfield were confirmed by the College of Arms in 1975, with the additional grant of supporters after being elevated to the peerage.
A Demi-Bagwyn Argent, armed and unguled Or, gorged with a Collar compony Or and Vert, charged with Anchors counter-changed, and supporting a Wooden Beam Proper, attached to the Collar by a Chain Or.
Escutcheon
Quarterly: 1st & 4th, Vert, a Crescent between eight Mullets in lozenge Or (Balchin); 2nd & 3rd, Azure, a Chain fesswise each link per pale Or and Argent, between three Fleurs-de-Lis per pale Or and Argent (Skelton); en surtout, an Inescutcheon barry of six Ermine and Vert, charged with a Label of three Points in bend Or, each Point charged with an Annulet Gules (Kinlay-Balchin).
Supporters
Dexter: A Lion guardant Or, the body legs and tail semée of Spur Rowels spur upwards Gules, crowned with a Baron’s Coronet with Cap Proper; Sinister: A Bagwyn Argent, armed, unguled and tail tufted Or, gorged with a Baron’s Coronet sans Cap Proper, attached thereto a Chain reflexed over the back and terminating in an Annulet Or.
Motto
De Bonne Esperance (Of Good Hope)
Badge
Pendent from a tassled Cord Or and Vert, an Escallop Or.
- Life Peer as Baron Lingfield, of Lingfield, in the County of Surrey (created 17 December 2010)
- Knight Bachelor (1993)
- Knight of Justice, Order of St John (1984)
_ribbon_-vector.svg){kind=small}
- Commander, pro Merito Melitensi (1987)
- Knight Grand Cross, Royal Order of Francis I (2014)
- Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Eagle (2014)
