It is with much sadness that we report that Captain Robert Alec Snow Irving RN (Retd.) FIL & Arabic Linguist, 19th Clan Chief & Chief of the Name and Arms of Irving of Bonshaw passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in Chapmanslade, near Westbury on 17th February 2021.

Captain Robert Irving was born in Valletta, Malta, on 4th November 1930. He spent 32 years in the British Royal Navy where he learnt and became very proficient in the Arabic language. Retiring from the Navy in 1980 Robert became a freelance Arabic translator for 39 years.

In 2014 Captain Irving was successful in documenting he is a direct descendent of William Irving of Bonshaw. As a consequence the Lord Lyon King of Arms conferred the recognition of Chief of the Name and Arms of Irving of Bonshaw, becoming the 19th Clan Chief.

For more detail on Captain Irving's life please refer to the obituary at Clan Irving:

https://clanirving.com/the_chief/obituary/