Bedell
This position includes Esquire Bedell and Yeoman Bedell.
Esquire Bedell
Historically the Esquire Bedelle is the principal ceremonial officer of the University.
In 1950, Senate approved the following statement: “The Esquire Bedelle shall attend the Chancellor or Deputy Chancellor on public academic occasions and shall consult with the Vice-Chancellor on the ceremonial procedure suitable for such occasions” (Registrar to Sir Ivan Mackay, 19 June 1950, G3/13/1883). Alongside this, the Esquire Bedelle is to carry the Mace in Official Functions.
2 April 1991: Senate resolved to make the President of the Standing Committee of Convocation the ex-officio Esquire Bedelle. Senate resolved, to invite the holder of the office of President of the Standing Committee of Convocation to be appointed as Esquire Bedell.
In 1991 the post was moved into convocation as the Vice-Chancellor of the time felt that “Convocation has a particular role to play amongst the graduates of the University, and this would be one way of recognising that role and bringing Convocation into closer contact with the ceremonial aspects of graduations”.
2 February 2009: Senate resolved that the President of the Alumni Council be authorised to nominate a member of the Council or other eminent alumnus to act as Esquire Bedell.
The President of the Alumni Council is the de facto Esquire Bedell and the President is authorised to nominate a member of the Council or other eminent alumnus to act as Esquire Bedell. Standing convention still therefore applies that “the Mace is usually carried by a Bedell drawn from the Alumni Council, Alumni Associations, alumni, academics, and officers of the University”.
1855-1865 Sir William Charles Windeyer, KBE., LLD., MA
1866-1897 John Kinlock, MA
1897-1915 John Mitchell Purves, MA
1916-1946 Lt Col RJA Massie, DSO, BE
1946-1950 Vacant
1950-1966 Lt General Sir Iven G Mackay, KBE., CMG., DSO (with Bar)., VD., BA., Hon LLD
1967 Vacant
1968-1988 The Hon Frederick M Osborne, CMG., DSC (with Bar)., VRD., BA., LLB
Yeoman Bedell
Apart from the Esquire Bedell there is a lesser office, that of Yeoman Bedell whose duties relate to processions and proclamations. There are various other linkages to wardens (yeoman), (e.g. “care and maintenance of that portion of the building devoted to the Museum”), sergeants (yeoman) of the University (linking with the heraldic principals of protection maintained today), and administrators (esquires) of the University (in advising the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor on ceremonial protocol).
1852-1881 Joseph Burrows
1882 GH Bartlett
1882-1919 S Craddock
1919-1940 William Barber
1940-1956 George Baxter
1956-1978 AJ Brook
1978-1982 Raymond L Coxhead
1983-1986 Leslie M McGregor
https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/why-choose-sydney/student-life/student-news/2018/05/18/everyday-campus-heroes--yeomen-bedell.html (accessed 31/08/2026)