John ap Griffin

Photo
John and Flavia
Information
Preferred title: Not specified Their Pronouns: Not specified Resides: Angels Status: Deceased Awards: Visit the Caid Order of Precedence
Heraldry
Vert, a griffin segreant contourny Or and for augmentation, maintaining in its forefeet a roundel azure charged with four crescents conjoined in saltire horns outward and a bordure argent
Help with this sidebar

Baron John ap Griffin, OP was the Eleventh Baron of the Angels and is a member of the Griffin Freehold.

Persona

Once upon a time, a Welsh trader named Master John ap Griffin packed up his best wool clip and headed for the fabled city of Novgorod. Along the way, he took up with a band of Rus who were on their way to Constantinople (when you're heading that far East, might as well keep going) The merchanting was profitable and the scenery exciting, so he never quite made it back to Wales. He journeyed throughout Europe and the Great Silk Road, trading whatever came to hand until one day he crossed paths with a dynamic Genovese merchant baroness (Flavia Beatrice Carmigniani). Their mutual love of merchanting, travel and each other has led to a thriving business and wonderful marriage of many years. They have two daughters, Lady Kathryn du Griffin, and Viscountess Lorissa du Griffin, who had the distinction of being the youngest monarch in the SCA, when she was the 10-year-old 7th Princess of Caid.

Offices and Positions

SCA Corporate

• Twice a member of the BoD (mid-70's & late 80's)
• Editor of Progress Reports & Daily Newsletters for SCA 20th Year & 25th Year Celebrations

College of Heralds

• On committee (with Duke Siegfried von Hoflischskeit) to investigate heraldic submission backlog problem, 1978
• El Munadi Herald, 1974-1980's

Barony of the Angels

• Chancellor of the Exchequer for Graywinds, 09/07/1977
• Eleventh Baron of the Angels with Flavia Beatrice Carmigniani, 09/13/2008-01/14/2012
• Seraph Pursuivant Herald, Barony of the Angels, 1/14/2012-Present

Classes Taught

• Basic Heraldry for Scribes, Scribe's Studies Collegium 1980 (co-taught with Louise of Woodsholme)
• Protocol & Court Heraldry, Collegium Caidis-General Session 1982 (co-taught with Conrad von Regensburg)
• Field Heraldry, Collegium Caidis-General Session 1982 (co-taught with Hrorek Halfdane of Faulconwood)
• Voice Heraldry, Collegium Caidis 2009

More Info

• John and Flavia founded and operated Griffin Dyeworks which offers quality dyes and fiber tools, natural dyes like earth oxides and dye pigments, as well as roving, yarns, threads, drop spindles,lucets, nålbinding needles, kumihimo forms, silk scarves, dyepots, and many other useful items. The goal is to serve the needs of spinners, dyers, weavers, felters, knitters, and other fiber artists. In February 2015, Lady Mariam Albarran took over management of the business.

Memories

• John G Trimble

US Air Force - PFC - Korean War John was born in the late 1930’s and grew up in Devils Lake, ND. He graduated from Poly High School in Long Beach, CA, and enlisted in the US Air Force on 5 April 1955.

John attended Basic Training at Parks Air Force Base Pleasanton, CA. He reported to Edward Gary Air Force Base in San Marcos, TX, for eight weeks of helicopter mechanic school on the Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaws. John was assigned to the 2157th Air Rescue Squadron, stationed at Kempo Airfield K-14 Korea for six months until the squadron was transferred to the 39th Air Rescue Squadron, Ashia Japan, for 18 months. John deployed to many locations during this assignment, including a long visit to Tainan, Taiwan. One of his best memories was when the squadron rescued visiting US Boy Scouts stranded on a mountain in Taiwan. It took multiple trips to get all hands safely home.

John returned to the US to serve at Williams AFB in Chandler, AZ. He was retrained to be an Air Operations Specialist, maintaining flight records and dispatching aircraft. John met his wife, Betty Jo (Bjo) under a piano at Forrest J Ackerman’s mansion, a friend they met thru Science Fiction fandom. They were married in July and would have celebrated 64 years of marriage. Their 3 children, Kathryn, Lora and Jenn have been a constant joy and the addition of husband to Lora, Jason and Jenn’s husband Chris have completed the family.

In 1966 they found a group of people interested in mediaeval combat and arts. They joined the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA) . John served 2 terms as a member of it’s board of directors, was a landed Baron of the first Barony. His arms were the very first to be registered with the college of Heralds and both John and Bjo have been members ever since. Later that year he said to his wife, “Gee it’s a shame a good science fiction show like Star Trek is going to be canceled. We should do something about that!” And the same Star Trek campaign was born. For over 58 years John and Bjo Trimble have been ambassadors for science fiction, the space program and the SCA. Meeting and hosting people from all walks of life, all over the world.

John has touched thousands of lives in a way that positive and full of joy. He will be greatly missed.

Society Announcement

Forever In Our Hearts – John G. Trimble APRIL 20, 2024 | SCA COMMUNICATIONS

It is with heavy hearts that SCA Inc and the Board of Directors acknowledge the passing of John G. Trimble, known to the Society as John ap Griffin.

John and Flavia as Baron and Baroness of Angels (photo credit: Kolfinna Kottr/Kitty Sexton published in the CaidWiki-John ap Griffin)

On the nineteenth day of April, LVIII anno societatis, Baron John ap Griffin entered immortality. He passed away surrounded by family: Mistress Flavia Beatrice de Carmagniani, Lady Gaynor du Griffin and Countess Lorissa ap Griffin

John was one of the Founders; in fact his arms were the first registered by the College of Arms. He was instrumental in the creation of the Corporation, and served two terms on the Board. He and Flavia were the second and third members of the SCA. His experience in bulk mailings, acquired during his years in science fiction conventions, served the fledgling Society very well in those early years. John was elevated to the Order of the Pelican on September 9, AS XI. (1976), and his service continued through the very end of his life.

John served the Barony of the Angels, as herald, seneschal, and baron. He was an integral part of the College of Arms from its very inception, and in fact, his arms (Vert, a griffin segreant contourny Or and for augmentation, maintaining in its forefeet a roundel azure charged with a cross of Caid and a bordure argent) were the first registered by the College. He frequently told the story of his trip to an event in AS X with his wife, and his return with two mistresses… Bjo was created a Laurel and a Pelican on the same day.

John was also a leading light in the early days of science fiction and fantasy fandom. He and Bjo created and ran the World Science Fiction Art Show for WorldCon, he MC’d countless costume contests and panels and ceremonies.

Husband, father, peer, baron, MC extraordinaire, herald, mentor, friend. John was sui generis; one of a kind. He will live on in the hearts of all those who knew and loved him.

<><><>

John G. Trimble was born in November, 1936. He passed away in April, 2024 at the age of 87. He is survived by his beloved wife, Bjo, his daughters Jenn, Lora, and Kathryn, and his sons-in-law Chris Eplett and Jason Boehm. Time & location of the celebration of John’s life TBA.

Vale, your legacy will forever inspire and guide us.