| Honorific Prefix: | Sir |
| John Welch | |
| Birth Date: | 1933 7, df=y |
| Birth Place: | London, England |
| Death Place: | London, England |
| Occupation: | Solicitor |
| Nationality: | British |
| Spouse: | Kerry née Douglass (m. 1962) |
| Children: | 3 |
| Alma Mater: | Hertford College, Oxford |
| Honours: | Baronet CStJ |
Sir John Reader Welch, 2nd Baronet (26 July 1933 – 5 September 2023) was an English solicitor and baronet.
Scion of a Somerset gentry family originally of Welsh extraction, the only son of Sir Cullum Welch (1895–1980) and Gertrude née Harrison (1896–1966), he was educated at Marlborough College, before going up to Hertford College, Oxford,[1] graduating BA proceeding MA.[2]
Upon his father's death in 1980, he succeeded to the family baronetcy.[3]
Commissioned into the Royal Signals for National Service (1952–54), Welch saw action at Suez (GSM with Canal Zone Clasp).[4] He then served in the Territorial Army with the Middlesex Yeomanry, being promoted to Captain.[5]
Admitted as a solicitor in 1960, he joined Bell Broderick & Gray becoming partner (1961–71), before moving to Wedlake Bell as a senior partner (1972–96).[6]
His father having served as Lord Mayor of London for 1956/57,[7] Sir John pursued a life in public service. He was elected a Common Councilman for Walbrook 1975–86[8] and served as Chairman of the City Corporation's Planning and Communications Committee (1981–82).[9]
Registrar of the Archdeanconry of London from 1964 until 1999,[10] he served as Master Parish Clerk, then Master of the Haberdashers' Company for 1990/91.[11]
A Governor of the City of London School for Girls and of Haberdashers' Aske's School, Elstree, Sir John also served as a ceremonial officer of the Order of St John (CStJ).[12]
Married to (Margaret) Kerry Douglass on 25 September 1962, Sir John and Lady Welch had issue:
| Escutcheon: | Or on a Fess Gules between six Martlets Azure two Lions passant respectant Or, an Inescutcheon Argent a Sinister Hand erect and apaumée couped at the wrist Gules, for augmentation as a Baronet |
| Crest: | An heraldic Antelope’s Head erased Or armed Gules gorged with a Collar composed of six pierced Mullets Azure chained also Gules |
| Helm: | That of a Knight: |
| Badge: | A Sword erect Gules enfiled by a Circlet of six pierced Mullets Or chained Azure: |
| Motto: | Ne cede arduis (Latin) (Eng: Do not give in to hardship) |
| Orders: | Surrounding the Shield, the Circlet of the Order of St John: |
| Other Elements: | As Master Haberdasher, the Company's (dexter) and Welch arms (sinister) could be displayed impaled or accolés: |