Nest verch Gwilim

Device: Quarterly Or and azure, an orle ermine.

Badge: (Fieldless) A martlet azure maintaining in its beak an ermine spot sable.

Introduction

Nest first discovered the SCA through a mentor in high school and took another decade or so (and a few failed attempts) to finally join, which she did in late spring of 2012.
She currently resides in the Barony of Bright Hills. In her former life, she was known as Beatrice Shirwod.

Nest's pronouns are she/her and her preferred title (if using one) is Pendefiges. Magistra and Arglwyddes are also acceptable.

She is apprentice (and formerly protegee) to Dame Lillia de Vaux (of the East Kingdom), and co-founder of the companie of ye cafe.

Persona

Nest verch Gwilim is an early 12th-century Welsh woman living near Abertawe, in southern Wales, where she lives with her Norman husband and their daughter, and dabbles in any number of things.

Heraldry

Being from what was largely a pre-heraldic culture (there are plenty of Normans and English folk in early-12th-century Wales, but not much armory), it's unlikely that Nest would have had arms of her own during her lifetime. However, her later-period descendants would almost certainly have fixed this error retroactively, and so in the Modern Middle Ages she bears Quarterly Or and azure, an orle ermine. More often, she prefers to use her badge, (Fieldless) A martlet azure maintaining in its beak an ermine spot sable.

French motto: Courez et découvrez
Welsh motto: Melyster a mellt

Offices & Positions

• Northern March Pursuivant (Bright Hills Baronial herald): 2013-2014
• Opal Pursuivant (Kingdom notifications deputy, College of Heralds): 2014-2017
• Golden Dolphin Herald (Kingdom Submissions Herald): 2017-2020
• Crane Herald (new-herald liason): 2021-2024
• Thrown Weapons Marshal: 2014-present
• SCA College of Arms proof-reader, 2021-present
• Event Steward (jointly), virtual Known World Heralds and Scribes Symposium, January 2024
• Unofficial: Moderator, "Knowne World Heraults" discord server, 2021-present

Classes Taught

• Herald 101 (University of Atlantia (several))
• Beyond Banners and Shields: an Introduction to Heraldic Display (University of Atlantia (several), EK Nova Schola 2024)
• Care and Feeding of Your Thrown Weapons (University of Atlantia, co-taught with Master Kryss Kostarev)
• Up and Coming Names Research in the College of Arms (Virtual Known World Heralds and Scribes Symposium, roundtable discussion, co-facilitated with Anéžka​ Liška​ z Kolína)
• It Takes a College (Virtual Known World Heralds and Scribes Symposium, roundtable discussion on heraldic education)
• An Evening of Heraldry (University of Atlantia Instructor Spotlight, April 2023)
• Stories from the Submissions Desk (Known World Heralds and Scribes Symposium 2023, moderator/facilitator for panel discussion)

Publications

• "Beyond Banners and Shields," published in Known World Heralds and Scribes Symposium (KWHSS) Proceedings, 2020 (as Beatrice Shirwod)
• "Some Feminine Personal Names Found in A Dictionary of Period Russian Names", submitted for KWHSS 2021 Proceedings
• “Critique and Commentary: Tips from Art School,” submitted to Known World Heralds and Scribes Symposium (KWHSS) Proceedings, 2022
• Ongoing blog-type writings can be found at A Nest Proper
• Proposal for expanding the Welsh Alternate Titles table; actual proposal published on OSCAR, 2023

Current Projects

• Researching 12th-century names in Wales, as recorded in Latin church documents
• Researching names and naming practices in 16th-century Wales, primarily from heraldic visitations and armorials
• Researching herald-equivalents (what they did and what they were called) in pre-1600 Wales
• Researching late-period Welsh armory, particularly what motifs, charges, and arrangements were most commonly found.
• Various sewing and embroidery projects
• Learning to spin with period-style spindles and distaff

Awards and Distinctions

• Bearer of the Bright Hills Spirit Cup, February 2017-February 2018
• Bachelors Degree, University of Atlantia, Session 105, September 2020
• Fellow, University of Atlantia, Session 108, September 2021
• Masters Degree, University of Atlantia, Session 112, February 2023
• Wrangler, University of Atlantia, Session 113, June 2023
• Commendation from Laurel Queen of Arms, January 2024 BoD Meeting

In Case of Court

Contact David FitzMartin regarding preferences, etc. In general, would prefer some warning before being called into Court, but do not need to be told the details.

Date	Award	Group
2/9/2013	Companion of Tessa	Bright Hills
9/14/2013	Award of Arms	Atlantia
2/13/2016	Companion of Job	Bright Hills
4/29/2017	Companion of the Opal	Atlantia
2/8/2020	Companion of the Golden Dolphin	Atlantia
8/7/2024	Companion of the Pelican	Atlantia