kozetland1

2012 Lerwick Up Helly Aa - Evening Pics

2012-02-12T10:59:00.001Z

Pics of the fiery part of the evening activities....

Jarl's Squad marching up the ranks.

Light-up.

Procession moves off.

Waiting to clear away the ashes.

2012 Lerwick Up Helly Aa - Day pics

2012-02-09T14:41:00.000Z

Torchboys delivering the Bill to the Market Cross

Galley 'per ardua' at the galley shed.

Galley boys with Jarl

2012 Lerwick Up Helly Aa

2012-02-07T17:09:00.001Z

Pics from the Jarl's Squad Photo Shoot at the Brough adjacent to the Noss Sound ferry crossing on the Bressay side.

2012 Lerwick Up Helly Aa - Shop Window Displays

2012-01-30T15:41:00.000Z

A few more from over the weekend...

J. R. White

Miller Opticians

The Hub

2012 Lerwick Up Helly Aa - Shop Window Displays

2012-01-27T13:17:00.001Z

A few more - fewer than last year.

Bike Project

Camera Shop

Leasks

Peerie Gift Shop - Up Helly Aa Biscuits

Shetland Art Co.

Smiths of Lerwick

2012 Lerwick Up Helly Aa - Shop Window Displays

2012-01-23T15:40:00.001Z

A few more.....

North Rock Gallery

Harry's

LHD

2012 Lerwick Up Helly Aa - Shop Window Displays

2012-01-20T13:47:00.003Z

A few more .....

Shetland Times Bookshop.

Shetland Youth Information Service.

Stage Door.

2012 Lerwick Up Helly Aa - Shop Window Displays

2012-01-18T13:18:00.000Z

Only one so far - Shetland Soap Co.

2012 Scalloway Fire Festival

2012-01-14T21:16:00.004Z

The 2012 Scalloway Fire Festival took place on Friday 13th January with Guizer Jarl Simon Mullay, representing Jarl Sigurd the Stout (Sigurd Hlodversson). The Jarl's Squad comprised 50 members including 19 bairns. This years galley was named Svart Fredag (Black Friday).

More information is at http://shetlopedia.com/Scalloway_Fire_Festival_2012

Best Lerwick Up Helly Aa Window Display 2012

2012-01-06T13:17:00.000Z

Window pics to follow......

Foula Sunset

2011-09-18T20:53:00.000+01:00

Belmont House, Unst

2011-09-10T19:23:00.000+01:00

Belmont House, Unst

Sunset 23 August

2011-08-24T13:37:00.000+01:00

Foula & St. Ninians Tombolo

2011-08-21T23:28:00.000+01:00

Pics of the above from a different viewpoint.

2011 Sandwick Family Fun Day

2011-08-06T23:23:00.001+01:00

The annual Sandwick Fun Day was on Saturday 6 August, not on Sunday as reported on Radio Shetland! Although grey, damp & windy first thing the wind died away during the afternoon & that strange fiery ball in the sky appeared again - having been missing for some time...

Members of the 2011 South Mainland Up Helly Aa opened the proceedings with a march to the football pitch, a song & then onward to the beer tent.

There was also excellent live music - it really was excellent.

Along with the usual fast food.

And things for the small people to do - like this bungee run - which proved very popular.

Along with a 'beat the Shetland Inter-county goalie'.

Who did save more than he let in.

Scalloway Summer Fire Festival (Tall Ships 2011, Cruise in Company, Scalloway Fire Festival) - Video.

2011-07-26T20:41:00.000+01:00

Video clips of the Scalloway Summer Fire Festival (Tall Ships 2011, Cruise in Company, Scalloway Fire Festival).

Scalloway Summer Fire Festival (Tall Ships 2011, Cruise in Company, Scalloway Fire Festival).

2011-07-23T23:14:00.002+01:00

A summer Fire Festival on Monday 18th July at Scalloway - part of the Cruise in Company section of the Tall Ships races 2011. Unfortunately, due to the weather, there were no Tall Ships at Scalloway! The turn out was exceptional however, with an estimated twice as many folk watching the proceedings (at least), compared with the annual January Festival.

Fibreglass Killer Whales

2011-06-23T23:04:00.001+01:00

This lifesize and realistic fibreglass Killer Whale was made by Shetland Composites for a Salmon Farm company with the aim of towing it around salmon cages to scare away seals that can cause damage to the nets of salmon cages. The project has apparently had mixed results but the fibreglass Killer Whale is an exceptional replica and is extremely lifelike. It has also been painted to the exact pattern of an actual Killer Whale. If its not destined to be towed around salmon cages it would make an excellent exhibit at the Shetland Museum.

The mould used in the construction and a prototype whale.

Aith Gala - 2011 Jarls Squads & Papa Stour Sword Dance - Video

2011-06-07T17:38:00.000+01:00

Members of the 2011 Lerwick, Delting, South Mainland and Nestin & Girlsta Jarl's Squads marching to the Aith Pier.

Members of the 2011 Lerwick, Delting, South Mainland and Nestin & Girlsta Jarl's Squads at the Aith Pier.

Papa Stour Sword Dance at Aith Gala - Turn the sound down as there was a lot of wind noise.

Aith Gala - Sunday 29 May 2011

2011-05-29T23:11:00.000+01:00

Members of the 2011 Lerwick, Delting, South Mainland & Nesting & Girlsta Jarls Squads at the Aith Gala.

2011 SMUHA - Evening Pics

2011-05-26T21:06:00.000+01:00

Evening Pics from the 2011 SMUHA.

2011 SMUHA - #4 - Galley Pics

2011-04-30T22:29:00.000+01:00

Pics of the 2011 SMUHA Galley.

2011 SMUHA - Day Pics #3

2011-04-29T22:33:00.002+01:00

Mainlands Shop, the Sumburgh Hotel & Sandwick Junior High School.

2011 SMUHA Day Pics #2

2011-04-28T22:40:00.001+01:00

Cunningsburgh School.

Dunrossness School.

2011 SMUHA - Day Pics #1

2011-04-27T19:53:00.001+01:00

Start of the pics from the day of the 2011 SMUHA on Friday 11th March. Putting out the Bill at Mainlands shop, heading down to Boddam Hall for breakfast & at Sound School, Lerwick.

Jarl's Squad at Boddam Hall.

Jarl's Squad at Sound School, Lerwick.

Delting Up Helly Aa Exhibition at Muckle Roe Hall

2011-04-17T22:41:00.004+01:00

An exhibition of Delting UHA Suits, photographs, video and other memorabilia was on display at the Muckle Roe Hall this afternoon. This was combined with Sunday teas at the Hall - £3 entrance fee & all the tea, sandwiches & cakes you can eat - and there were a lot of them. It is an excellent display and is also open on Tuesday 19th & Thursday 21st April 7-9pm and also next Sunday 24th April 2-9pm.

The very first Brae School Junior Up Helly Aa Bill from 1970.

The 1975 Brae Junior Up Helly Aa Bill.

The current Delting Up Helly Aa Galley Head - used each year on the Galley. It was carved from Willow out of Kergord by Frank Ratter in 1987.

2011 Delting Up Helly Aa - Video

2011-04-10T11:54:00.002+01:00

Video clips of the 2011 Delting UHA.

Northern Lights Function Room

Leaving Northern Lights to go to Galley for Photos.

Lunnasting School

Olnafirth School

Brae School

Mossbank School

Evening Procession

Throwing Torches onto Galley

2011 Delting Up Helly Aa - Evening Pics

2011-04-01T21:51:00.000+01:00

The Jarl's Squad mustered at the Northern Lights Function Room at 6pm. Guizers began mustering at the Brae Hall at the same time. At 6:45pm, accompanied by the Brass Band, the Jarl's Squad marched to the Brae Hall, shortly followed by the light-up at 7pm. The procession and galley then marched through Brae to the Delting Boating Club for the burning of the galley. Although there was some wind from the west it was a good evening for the procession. Several of the torch heads burned through however, leaving a trail along the road to the boating club.

Following the burning the 28 Squads comprising some 400 guizers, dispersed to the 6 Halls open for the evening - Mossbank Hall, Delting Boating Club, The Northen Lights Function Room, Brae, Hall, Vidlin Hall and Voe Hall. The Squads were: 1. Jarl's Squad, 2. Street Dance Country Style, 3. Da Roddyman's Reel, 4. Chile Con Carnage, 5. On Our way to Africa, 6. Fir Heavin's Sake Tak Me Oot, 7. Jarl in a Reasonably Priced Car, 8. MRWPS+S, 9. No MCA, 10. Louis Spence's Jazzy Thighs, 11. Wacko Jacko, Yun's It, 12. The Show Must Go On, 13. Pirate of Busta Voe, 14. Pit a Ring on It, 15. Gleekit Crood, 16. Total In Tender Selection, 17. Lights, Camera, Pierheads 18. Wii Vikings, 19. Run A v W, 20. Saving Islands Cash, 21. Thriller In Manilla , 22. Gumboot Gals, 23. Wedersty All Stars, 24. Cheryl's Comic(ole) Relief, 25. Supergran, 26. Big Fish, Little Fish, 27. Could It Be Magic, 28. It's Snow 2 Hot.

2011 Delting Up Helly Aa - Day Pics

2011-03-29T13:04:00.000+01:00

The 2011 Delting Up Helly Aa Aa took place on Friday 18th March, with guizer Jarl Kevin Laurenson portraying Haakon Haakonsson, also known as King Haakon IV of Norway.

The Jarl's Squad comprised 39 members including 3 princesses and 5 bairns. In addition, long-time supporter of Up Helly Aa Ross Laurenson (who is blind), formed part of the Jarl's Squad. Ross, in association with Tay-Cad, had also designed a flag commemorating the 2011 Delting Up Helly Aa which was flown at the Brae School during the morning. The Jarl's Squad shields were rectangular with runes down the centre of the letters K, A, H, E and F - the first initial of each member of the Jarl's family. The Jarl's Squad weapon this year was a sword. The Jarls' Squad Musicians were Danny Peterson, Alex Couper, Ryan Couper, Brian Morrison and Maurice Henderson.

The Jarl's Squad mustered at the Northern Lights Function Room in Brae during the early morning for breakfast. The Jarl's Squad were toasted by those present, and after speeches and singing the Up Helly Aa song the Jarl's Squad marched to the Galley shed adjacent to the Brae Hall to pose for photographs with the years Galley named Audannah. Thereafter the Jarl's Squad visited the Lunnasting Primary School, the Olnafirth Primary School, the Brae Primary School and the Mossbank Primary School, followed by Lunch with the Sullom Voe Terminal manager at Mossbank Hall. In the afternoon the Jarl's Squad visited the Ports & Harbours offices at Sellaness, the Brae Police Station and the Northaven Care Centre at Brae.

2011 Walls Junior Up Helly Aa

2011-03-19T20:37:00.000Z

The Walls Junior Up Helly Aa dates back to at least 1990 although it has not been celebrated every year. It is currently administered by the 1st Walls & District Scouts, Cubs and Beavers organisation although the Guides are also involved.

The 2011 festival was held on Saurday 12th March with the Guizer Jarl twelve year old Paul Sansom from Walls portraying Jarl Sigvaard Jurganpuddin. He led a squad of nine.

The galley named Lonabrak (from the Shetland word for breaking water), was at the Walls Public Hall which was also the Guizers muster area. The Bill was on display at the Walls shop.

The light-up was at 6:30pm at the Walls Public Hall with the Jarls Squad pulling the Galley south along the main road through Walls to the burning site along the shoreline near the Graveyard.

Following the burning the Jarls Squad along with other Guizer Squads perfomed acts and dances back at the Walls Public Hall.

The squads were: 1. Westside Rhythm, 2. Shrek Forever After, 3. 60 Second Make-over, 4. Cubs, 5. Waka Waka, 6. West Side Wonderland, 7. Vicious Vikings, 8. Random Rhapsody, 9. Wild West HeRoads.

2011 Norwick Up Helly Aa - Video

2011-03-16T22:03:00.000Z

Video from during the day & evening events of the 2011 NUHA. There are a few of these so they are in order of when they were taken.

2011 Norwick Up Helly Aa - Evening Pics

2011-03-15T00:13:00.000Z

A light breeze during the day fell away to almost no wind late in the afternoon with near-perfect conditions for the procession and burning. The muster from around 6pm was up the old Skaw road, the Fluggie, where the galley was also positioned. Refreshments for the 103 guizers were provided at the galley. A firework signalled the light-up at 7:30pm with the galley and torchlit procession moving down the road towards Norwick beach. After a right turn towards Valie the procession turned back on itself and headed to the burning site above the Norwick beach opposite the ‘The Taing’. The Jarl’s Squad formed up alongside the galley while the guizers circled them. After three cheers the guizers threw their torches in and a significant bonfire ensued. The pyre lasted an extremely long time and was enjoyed by all.

At this point we had to leave Unst but the 11 Guizer squads then made their way to the North Unst Public Hall to perform their acts into the evening. The Squads were: 1. Jarl’s Squad (14), 2. Hot & Bunny (10), In a Byre Near You! (8), 4. Ad Mirrie Dancers (10), 5. Ferry Man’s Candy (5), 6. Da Viggie Trows (17), 7. Silver Spree (9), 8. Shop Around (7), 9. Animal Hospital (10), 10. Jeemses’ Ho Down (7), 11. Really Gets my Goat (6).

In summary the Norwick Up Helly Aa 2011 was an excellent event & was enjoyed by all – it certainly ranks among the best of all the Shetland fire festivals – but you’re never too old to be a princess!

2011 Norwick Up Helly Aa - Day Pics

2011-03-14T16:48:00.003Z

The 2011 Norwick up Helly Aa was celebrated a week later than planned on Saturday 5^th March with guizer Jarl James Gray portraying Flóki Vilgerðarson. The event was rescheduled as a mark of respect following the unfortunate death of Morag Sutherland from Haroldswick, a long time supporter of the Norwick festival.

Flóki Vilgerðarson was born in the 9th century and was the first Norseman to deliberately sail to Iceland. His story is documented in the Landnámabók manuscript which tells that he heard good news of a new land to the west, then known as Garðarshólmi. He wanted to settle in this new land so he took his family and livestock with him. From Western Norway he set sail to Shetland where one of his daughters, Geirhilda drowned. He continued his journey and landed in the Faroe Islands where another of his daughters was married. There he took three ravens to help him find his way to Iceland, and as a result was nicknamed Raven-Floki (Hrafna-Flóki) and he is commonly remembered by that name.

This was the 27^th year celebrating the most northerly Shetland fire festival since it began as a local Up Helly Aa back in 1985. The Jarl’s squad comprised 14 members including 2 princesses. As crew on the inter-island ferries serving Unst and Fetlar the Jarl decided to name his galley ‘Fivla’. The environmentally conscious will be pleased to learn that the Norwick Jarl’s Squad recycle and re-use as much as possible for their suits from previous years. Most of this years suits, shields, axes and helmets have been used previously and like Uyeasound in the south of Unst, Norwick keep their galley from year to year with a ‘secondary’ galley (an old boat donated to the Committee from year to year by different well-wishers), used for the burning. The pyre for this year’s burning was large and probably rival’s only Lerwick in terms of its volume of material burnt.

Each of the Jarl’s Squad members had a red bow on the right shoulder of their black cloaks in memory of Lance Corporal Liam Richard Tasker, an Arms and Explosives Search dog handler attached to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. He was killed in Afghanistan on 1^st March 2011, while on patrol with his dog Theo. Liam was known to many folk on Unst as he was a pupil at the Baltasound Junior High School from 1997 to 1999 while his parents were stationed at the then RAF Saxa Vord. It was believed that snipers may have been targeting the dog because of the animal's importance in locating bombs and although Theo initially survived the attack, the springer spaniel later died after suffering a seizure.

The day started with the Jarl’s squad mustering at the North Unst Public Hall in the early morning where breakfast was served. On display at the hall were the Bill Head painted by Eyvor Renwick, depicting a Viking settlement at Norwick beach looking towards the cliffs at Burgar, along with what was probably the largest Bill ever seen. Spanning numerous pages and running the full length of the hall, it was all hand-lettered by “Jackie Chip”. Around 11am the Jarl’s Squad headed off to greet well-wishers at the galley shed along the Skaw road on the Ward of Norwick. Refreshments were served at the galley shed, followed by group photos with the galley of everyone at the shed, and the Jarl’s Squad. Official squad photos followed on the beach at Norwick along with further Jarls’ Squad and galley photos. The galley is equipped with floodlights and loudspeakers attached to the yard, with a sound system installed in the stern. The experience of watching the Jarl’s Squad bus and galley arrive at Norwick beach to Cher’s Shoop Shoop song blasting from the galley speakers was entertaining to say the least.

From here it was back to the Hall for soup, tea and cakes and presentations thanking volunteers for their work supporting the Up Helly Aa. It is worth mentioning that the official photographer, Desley Stickle, did a stalwart job marshalling and positioning the Jarl’s Squad. When presented with a bouquet of flowers by the Jarl at the hall, she was asked to move slightly to the right, back slightly and hold the bouquet up so as not to obscure the folk next to her!

Following lunch at the Baltasound Hotel the Jarl’s Squad visited the Nordalea Care Home. Further refreshments were available and dancing ensued with some of the squad. The Jarl’s son Andrew reluctantly posed with a copy of the August 1993 Shetland Life magazine (the centrepiece of an Up Helly Aa display at the Home), the cover of which shows a picture of him and his parents just after he was born. Further visits to houses were made during the afternoon including a bairn with Chickenpox who was unable to attend the procession and burning. An entertaining visit was also made to the ‘Final Checkout’ shop to share a dram with Charlie Priest, one of the original folk who started the festival in 1985. The Jarl also shared some of his specially commissioned malt with those present and several squad members took the opportunity to replenish their stock of personal refreshments.

The word ‘Fivla’ is commonly mentioned in an old Norse myth, told in several places in Shetland with slight variations. From Jakobsens’ “Dialect and place names of Shetland” (1897), the Fetlar version says: The "guidman" of Taft had been to Urie with his butter-tithe and was on his way home again. He was riding a grey mare and leading a red one. On passing a knoll he heard a voice from inside the knoll crying the following words : " Du at rins de red and rides de gray, tell t0na Tivla, at f0na Fivla is fa'en i' de fire and brunt her." When the man came home to Taft, he shouted these same words into the byre, where a fairy was sitting, milking one of his cows. The fairy on hearing this immediately left off milking and cried : "Oh, dat's my bairn," whereupon she fled, leaving the pan she was milking into. This pan was kept in the house of Taft and caused the house to prosper ever afterwards. In this old myth Fivla is the name of the troll's child, but at one time "Fivla" has been a common troll-name in old fairy legends, both Shetlandic and Scandinavian.

‘Da tree Fivla’ is also the name given to three concentric circles (ancient dyke-steads), at the top of Crussa Field, a hill between Baltasound and Haroldswick.

2011 Bressay Up Helly Aa - Evening pics

2011-03-07T20:10:00.000Z

Pictures from the evening procession and burning of the 2011 Bressay Up Helly Aa - all courtesey of Scott Goudie who plays in the Lerwick Brass Band. He was playing at the BUHA evening event & very kindly took these pictures as the 'galley spotters' were up at the Cullivoe UHA burning.

Guizers circling the galley.

Jarl Ralph Tulloch with his burning Galley.

'Galley Spotters' again

2011-03-04T11:07:00.001Z

kozetland1 and our Lodberrie Correspondent have made it into the Shetland Times again for their 'galley spotting'. this time it was in smirk's article about the 2011 Bressay Up Helly Aa. The following appears in the Shetland Times, Friday 4th March 2011, page 23)....

Still going - but only 3 left. Norwick - which was postponed from last Saturday to 5th March due to an unfortunate death in the community, South Mainland on 11th March and Delting on 18th March....

2011 Cullivoe Up Helly Aa - Video

2011-03-03T21:48:00.000Z

A few video clips from the afternoon & evening of the 2011 CUHA.

Jarl's Squad at Cullivoe Primary School.

Music practice session in the Galley shed.

Evening Procession.

Guizers throwing torches onto galley.

2011 Cullivoe Up Helly Aa - evening pics

2011-03-01T17:57:00.002Z

The evening muster was at the Cullivoe Hall from 7pm onwards with the light-up at 7:30pm. The Procession and burning was an eventful one. A relatively strong breeze caused several of the torch heads to burn through at the shaft, with around 30 torch heads ending up alongside the road or around the beach of Culli Voe. In addition, the galley trailer steering failed just as the galley reached Culli Voe. This meant the galley had to be lifted off the trailer and manhandled across the beach and onto the sea across the voe from the burning site. As the tide was at ebb, three of the galley boys waded through the sea to the burning site dragging the floating galley behind them.

Despite the problems the whole thing was extremely well handled and the burning proceeded on schedule and at the usual location alongside the Culli Voe breakwater. In addition, a very well-placed flare was ignited just alongside the burning galley allowing some excellent photos of the Jarl with his burning galley behind.After the excitement of the procession and burning the 146 guizers (including 20 bairn guizers), returned to the Hall and the School where they performed their acts into the early hours.

2011 Cullivoe Up Helly Aa - day pics

2011-02-28T14:59:00.003Z

The 2011 Cullivoe Up Helly Aa took place on Friday 25th February, with Guizer Jarl Campbell Dickie representing 'Einar Rognvaldsson' (Torf-Einar).

This years Galley 'Eydis' was taken from the galley shed in the early hours just across the road to Moarfield Garage, where she was joined by the Jarl's Squad after breafast. The Cullivoe Primary School & pre-school bairns joined the Jarl's Squad at the garage and the Galley with bairns aboard was towed to the School for photographs at the School. After the photo session the galley was taken to the grassy area between R.S. Henderson's shop and the Cullivoe Hall where she remained on display throughout the day. The Bill was on display in the Cullivoe Hall.

The Jarl's Squad comprised 16 members including all five of Campbell's daughters as princesses. The Jarl was armed with a sword while the Jarl's Squad had excellently made spears.

After the visit to the Cullivoe Primary School the Jarl's Squad visited folk in Cullivoe, starting with Greenbank Road and returning to the School for lunch with the bairns. After lunch the Jarl's Squad posed with the bairns for more photos and then for Squad Photos at North Brough, overlooking the Bay of Brough. They then visited more folk during the rest of the afternoon, starting at Gloup and heading south.

Jarl's Squad at Photo Shoot

Bill Head - the Bill was in the Cullivoe Hall.

Jarl's Shield.

Jarl's Squad Bus.

Jarl's Squad at Cullivoe Primary School.

Raven Banner flying at the Cullivoe Hall.

The Galley - 'Eydis'.

Galley Shields, starboard side.

Galley Shields, port side.

Flotation tank attached to underside of Galley.

2011 Bressay Up Helly Aa - Video

2011-02-27T23:33:00.000Z

Video from the morning of the 2011 Bressay Up Helly Aa.