Society Awards

Society Awards

The Society has a number of awards which may be given to members who are recognised as having made an outstanding contribution to the Society.

General points

1. No award is earned automatically by fulfilling basic criteria. The member must also be recognised as having earned the award by a substantial and sustained contribution to the Society.
2. No member may put him/herself forward for an award. A member may be nominated for an award by their Jarl/Sturaesman, Provincial Members’ Thegn, any High Council Jarl or any appropriate Society High Thegn. Nominations should be given to the Konungr, and it will then be discussed by the High Council as a whole as to whether the award should be made or not.
3. Awards are normally made at the next banquet or at a major event if this is more convenient.
4. The Konungr may remove a member’s award or rank, with any accompanying privileges, if the holder has been judged to have brought the Society into disrepute or found guilty of any major breaches of discipline (see The Vikings Disciplinary Procedure).

Individual Awards

Images of the awards given may be found here Ranks within the Society

• The Five Year Award

This award can be made to any member who has held the rank of Drengr for a period of 5 years or more and who, in that time, has made a valued and sustained contribution to the Society. There are no privileges associated with this award.

• Gillian Warren Memorial Award

This award can be made to any member who, in the opinion of the awards committee, has made a substantial contribution to the promotion of crafts in the preceding year.

• The Paul Allen Memorial Scholarship

This award can be made to novice member who, in the opinion of the awards committee, has shown a substantial interest in the promotion of equestrianism in the preceding year.

• Steve Hurley Clerical and Medical

This award can be made to any member who, in the opinion of the awards committee, has made a substantial contribution to the promotion of either the depiction of the clergy in or of medicine of the period over in the preceding year.

• The Gerry East Memorial Award

This award can be made to any Drengr who, in the opinion of the awards committee, has been seen to have contributed most to the Society in the preceding year. The award is for life and individuals so awarded, will henceforth be known as a Warriors or Shield Maidens of Bear Odinsson.

• The Konungr’s Award of Merit

This award can be made to any group or society officer who has made a valued contribution to the Society, either over a long period of time or on a particular project, and recognition for this would not be made by presentation of any of the above awards or the Silver Thegn. There are no privileges associated with this award.

• The High Council Award of Merit

This award can be made to any member who has made a valued contribution to the Society, either over a long period of time or on a particular project, and recognition for this would not be made by presentation of any of the above awards. There are no privileges associated with this award.

Group Awards

• Best Group LHE award

This award can be made to any Herred or Leđang, who, in the opinion of the awards committee, have made the best sustained contribution to the Living History displays at events throughout the preceding season, relative to the size of the group. This will take into account not only the number of tents, units etc but also the number of crafts being undertaken throughout a weekend, the proportion of structures open to the public and the ability of the group to portray aspects of early medieval life. This award may also be given to a group who has made significant progress in their LHE display over a sustained period.

• Thorgrim Sigmardsson Best Group Combat Award

This award can be made to any Herred or Leđang, who, in the opinion of the awards committee, have made the best sustained contribution to the combat displays at events throughout the preceding season, relative to the size of the group. This will take into account not only the number of warriors but also supplying Hersirs and battlefield support staff (marshals, water carriers, first aiders etc) to assist with the smooth running of an event.

• The George Hay Trophy

The George Hay Trophy is awarded to the Herred which, in the opinion of the High Council, have been seen to have contributed most to the Society in the preceding year. A number of criteria will be used to decide to whom the trophy will be awarded including the total number of members attending Society events and the number of Society events (major and minor shows, banquets, training weekends etc) hosted by each group. Contributions to running the Society will also be taken into account. Leđangs and groups who have only achieved Herred status within that 12 month period are not eligible to win the trophy.