Grays Of Westminster Granted Coat Of Arms In World First

Grays of Westminster, the multi-award winning, exclusively-Nikon camera shop, has become the first camera shop in the world to be granted a Coat of Arms.

Mr. Robert Noel, Lancaster Herald of Her Majesty's College of Arms, presented the Coat of Arms to Gray Levett, founder of Grays of Westminster at a celebratory dinner held at the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall, London on 29 October 2014.

For any person or organisation to have a legal right to a Coat of Arms, it has to be granted to them by England’s Earl Marshal, the 18th Duke of Norfolk, through the Herald at the College of Arms in London. Heralds are appointed by The Queen and are delegated to act on her behalf in all concerns of heraldry and the granting of new Coats of Arms. To be the recipient of this honour, the criteria that is taken into account before a Coat of Arms is granted might include awards or honours from the Crown, public and charitable services or eminence and good standing in national or local life.

The College of Arms worked closely with Gray Levett throughout the design process to create a Coat of Arms that was personal to Grays of Westminster and one which would visually identify their role in the photographic industry. It is painted on vellum using ink and 22-carat gold paint decorated by a herald painter, with the text written by a scrivener, the whole process taking a year to create.

On receiving the Coat of Arms, Gray Levett said: "I am deeply honoured to receive this singular recognition for Grays of Westminster at the Institute of Directors tonight in the presence of so many key figures of our profession. To be acknowledged by Her Majesty's College of Arms is something very, very special, and the Coat of Arms will serve as an enduring inspiration for me to continue to offer the very best in service to our Nikon customers."