SCA Name & title: Maighstir Uilliam Mac an tSaoir
Years in the SCA: 17
How did you find out about the SCA? I knew of the SCA back in high school and college, but, didn’t have a real inroad until I met my wife, Mistress Constance Glyn Dwr.
Where did you start, what was your first event?
My first event was Pennsic, I only made it for a few days that first year, but I was hooked instantly.
What is your persona?
I started out as generic Scottish, I have pushed my focus more towards Alba Norse (Scottish/Norse).
Why did you pick this persona?
My father’s family is from Scotland, it just made sense.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
My wife and I are the leaders of Clan Crann Bethadh (Crawn Ba – Ha). We are a service household that is based in the BMDL. Crann Bethadh is Scots Gaelic for the Tree of Life.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
Outside the SCA, I am an Emergency Medical Technician, Field Training Officer and First Aid/CPR/AED instructor with Cranberry Township EMS. I have a Bachelor of Arts in History which is heavily focused on Early American History. I am an 18th Century Reenactor with Captain William Trent’s Company and the Fort Pitt Garrison. I write a history blog called the Magical History Tour, and most importantly spend as much time as I can with my wife and three dogs (Murphy, Henry and Wally) and my son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
Heavy fighting, fencing, combat archery, archery, thrown weapons, bardic, commedia del arte’, cooking, Helgaball (as a referee), Pennsic Watch, chirurgeon.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)
Event Autocrat, Baronial Chirurgeon, Baronial Knight Marshal, Herald, Sycamore Herald (Crown Tournament Herald), Gage Herald (Region 2 Herald), Dean of the War College, Seventh Landed Baron of the Barony March of the Debatable Lands (Retired). Chamberlain for Gareth and Julian I, Aethelwald Army Commander.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
My main plan was knighthood, it was the meaning for my joining the SCA, As I grew in the SCA I found so many more things I liked about the SCA and around each corner, there were more things I wanted to try. Now that 26 years of working in public safety have caught up with my body, knighthood is no longer in the cards because I had to step away from fighting.
What are your goals now?
More arts and cooking and helping others on their path to find what they want in the SCA.
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?
Stepping out of my comfort zone to read scrolls in court, I am dyslexic, so reading in public has always been difficult for me. (A note to calligraphers, please print a gloss in a block print font to go with your scroll, your work is beautiful, but a challenge to read for some of us.)
If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be?
Begin teaching about New World culture in the SCA, I have studied and continue to study a great deal on this subject, and I hope to start sharing that knowledge. Also, Cook More!
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA.
Have Fun! This is a hobby, don’t let anything keep you from having fun, if someone in the SCA is stepping on your fun, walk away from them.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
Weaving, I find it amazing and confusing all at once.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
My heart is in Æthelmearc, If I ever move away, I will do all that I can to remain a citizen. That said, I hope that some day that I will have the humility, grace and wisdom to be counted among the Jewels of Æthelmearc. I hope to meet that level of awesomeness in the society someday.
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