The Julian Bickersteth Memorial Medal is a prestigious award made to persons who have made notable and exemplary contributions to family history studies in the judgement of and at the discretion of the Trustees. This year we are pleased to announce that it has been awarded to Elizabeth Ann Roads, LVO, in honour of her distinguished career in heraldry in Scotland.
This year Elizabeth Roads celebrated her 30th anniversary as Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records of the Court of the Lord Lyon. In 1987 she was appointed Linlithgow Pursuivant Extraordinary and thus became the first woman to be appointed an Officer of Arms. Elizabeth was appointed Carrick Pursuivant in 1992 and promoted to Snawdoun Herald in 2010.
Elizabeth has published numerous articles and lectures regularly on heraldic and genealogical subjects, and was elected an Academician of the Académie Internationale d'Héraldique in 2008 and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 2013, both honours in recognition of her heraldic expertise. In 1990 she was installed as a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) and promoted in 2012 to Lieutenant of that Order (LVO). She was appointed Secretary of the Order of the Thistle in 2014.
The medal was presented at this year's Awards Day by the Earl of Lytton and the Institute's Principal, Dr. Richard Baker.
