The usher of the Purple Rod, formally known as the Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod or Lady Usher of the Purple Rod, is the Usher to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, established in 1917 and effective since 1918.
The Gentleman Usher is appointed by the Sovereign "the 1917 Statutes", article 27. and holds the office during good behaviour.Article 29 of the 1917 Statutes. No specific functions are assigned to the Gentleman Usher but the StatutesArticle 29 of the 1917 Statutes. require that the Usher shall "execute diligently whatever the Sovereign or Grand Master may be pleased to command touching the interests of the said Order".
The Statutes of the OrderArticle 28 of the 1917 Statutes, article 30 of the 1918 Statutes. provide that the Gentleman Usher "shall wear around his neck pendent to a purple riband an escocheon of gold enamelled on a field purpure a representation of Britannia surrounded by the circle and motto of the Order and surmounted by an Imperial Crown, and that he shall carry the Purple Rod of the Order, having at the top an escrol thereon the motto of the Order surmounted by a representation of Britannia."
Officeholders from 1918 12 April 1918 – 23 August 1952: Sir Frederic G. Kenyon 30 September 1952 – 2 December 1960: Sir Ernest Gowers 2 December 1960 – 8 April 1969: Malcolm Eve, 1st Baron Silsoe 8 April 1969 – 1985: Sir Robert Bellinger 15 March 1985 – 30 November 2000: Sir Robin Gillett, 2nd Baronet 30 November 2000 – 23 July 2013: Sir Alexander Graham 23 July 2013 – present Dame Amelia Fawcett (first Lady Usher)
See also Gentleman Usher, ushers of other orders of chivalry
References
The London Gazette.