Bressay Up Helly Aa

History

1930 Jarl Charles Johnson.

1930 Jarl's Squad and Galley.
(left to right, rear on galley)- Charles Johnson, Charles Baxter, Geordie Tulloch, Frankie Anderson, (standing)- Jimmy Tulloch, Brucie Laurenson, (seated)- Jimmy Deyell, Johnnie Strachan.

1931 Jarl Brucie Laurenson.

1930 Galley.

There were five Up-Helly-Aa festivals held on Bressay from 1930-1934.

1930 - Charlie Johnson, Heogan
1931 - Brucie Laurenson, Daal
1932 - Jeemie Deyall, Hoversta
1933 - Magnie Tulloch, Cherrybraes
1934 - Geordie Tulloch, Cherrybraes

As far as is known a new galley was built then burned during each year, with the construction taking place at various sheds throughout the Island. Nothing much is known about the torch making other than at least one year the torches were made and then steeped in Jessie Gifford's (Jessie Blue) vacant dwelling house at Gunhaa.

The format of the bill was much as it is today - humorous and good natured text and verse directed at those on the island who could, hopefully, be relied upon to take it all in good spirit. The Procession lit up and started out from Eunson's. About 70-90 people, including women, all walked in single file along past the shop, Hall and School.

The Galley burning took place North-by the Old Manse on a vacant piece of ground loaned from Hoversta Farm. The Hall was the venue for the evening’s entertainment and as like today the act would consist of colourful costumes, dances or some local skit. Dancing usually went on until around 6am.

After 1934 the festivities were stopped as the hall, which at that time was a Kirk Hall, was not allowed to be used for the purpose of what was looked on at the time as "very unsavoury".

Early 1930's Squad Night. (left to right) Sisco Deyell, Mary Gifford, Joey Deyell, Jeannie Anderson, Alice Tait.

Early 1930's Squad Queen of Hearts. (left to right) Ruby Gifford, Nellie Sutherland, Laura Stephen, Jeannie Gifford, Minnie Tulloch, Georgina Wishart.

Early 1960's Women's Squad. (left to right) Thelma Geddes, Sheila Henderson, Mrs. Matches, Zena Smith, Netta Coutts, Nan Donald.

Historical text and photographs courtesey of Stephen Anderson on behalf of the Bressay Up Helly Aa Committee.

The modern Festival

Gathering of former Jarls in 1995.

Gathering of former Jarls in 2012.

Bressay UHA Galley Shed 2010 - just south of the Bressay shop.

2012 Committee. Back row (left to right) – Laurence Robertson, James Anderson, Steven Anderson (Secretary), Ralph Tulloch (2011 Jarl), Ian Harkness. Front row (left to right) – Liam Hunter, Lyle Tulloch, Njal Christie-Henry (2013 Jarl), Robert Groat, Chris Dyer. Not in picture – Neil Smith (2010 Jarl) and Ross Manson.

It was not until November 1961 when (during a Clapshot Supper in the Bressay Hall), Willie Johnnie Kirkpatrick of Hillside along with Geordie Tulloch of Cherry-braes and J. Lennie Matches of The Manse raised the possibility of re-establishing an Up Helly Aa Festival in Bressay, after a 28 year break. Willie Johnnie was very persuasive, and by the end of the evening all three were convinced that this was a splendid idea. J. Lennie Matches was the first Jarl and the festival has continued in its present form since then. The only year without a festival was in 1992.

Today, all the organisation is carried out by the Bressay Up Helly Aa Committee - the making of the torches, the painting of the Bill, the preparing of the galley etc., and each member serves for six years on the Committee before he is called on to take the post of Jarl. Thereafter he serves a further six years before giving up his membership. A decision made by the Committee in 1962 has been important in the organisation of the festival - the galley built in that year has never been burnt, and is kept from year to year to make its annual appearance on Up Helly Aa day. For the final bonfire a secondary Galley (an old boat donated to the Committee from year to year by different well-wishers), provides the centre-piece of the last rites.

On the day of the festival the Jarl's Squad takes the galley to the Bressay Ferry Terminal car park where the Bill is also on display. The Jarl's Squad visits the Bressay Public Hall during the day where the bairns from the Bressay School and other visitors can see the squad. Guizers muster at the Bressay Public Hall at 7.45 pm for the light-up at 8 pm. The torchlit procession then follows the road around the shop and heads north along the coast road to the burning site on the banks of the Voe of Leiraness, near the houses at Voeside. Following the galley burning the squads return to the hall to perform their acts into the early hours.

Bressay Guizer Jarls by Year
Articles on the events from 2011 are available by clicking on the year links.

Year	Guizer Jarl	Representing	Galley Name
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1935-61 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930	Ex. Jarls Festival Ralph Tulloch Neil Smith Charlie Umphrey John Paton Tam Rowley Graham Forrest Ivar Black Stephen Anderson Clark Paton Bryan Law Robert Harkness Brian Anderson Edwin Gifford John Scollay Kenny Manson Alan Scollay Ex Jarls Festival Kenny Groat Billy Christie No Festival Alastair Scollay Theo Smith Nigel Williamson John Henderson Bert Henderson Keith Anderson Raymond Tulloch Neil Donald Rune Tulloch Billy Clark Tommy Hughson Bob Smith George Birnie Adam Gifford Richard Birnie Ray Tulloch Geordie Peattie David Manson Maurice Anderson Jim Hardie Charles Christie-Henry Harry Tulloch Jim McKay Loll Anderson Tammie Manson Graham Henderson Roger Donald George Williamson Hibbie Tulloch J. Lennie Matches No Festivals Geordie Tulloch Magnie Tulloch Jeemie Deyall Brucie Laurenson Charles Johnson	50th Anniversary Harald Maddadsson Thorfinn the Red Ollafsson - - Harald Hardrada - - Brusi Sigurdsson - - - - - - - - 25th Anniversary - - - - Brusi Sigurdsson - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Gra Kill St. Braner Brynijen - - Celtic Warrior - - Varanger - - Nordlus Draker Heimdal - - - - - - - - Geirhilda - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The 2013 Jarl will be Njal Christie-Henry.

The Galley

The Bressay Up Helly Aa galley was built in 1962 and is used each year for the festival but is not burnt. A secondary galley is burnt each year.

The Galley in her shed. Photo by Kozetland1.

The Galley Head. Photo by Kozetland1.

Stern and Nameboard.

The side of the Galley.

The Head.

Shields on the side of the Galley from stern to bow 2010 :
The Shields are rotated so the current Jarl's Shield goes to the front of the Galley, and the oldest shield is removed.

Photo by Kozetland1.

Photo by Kozetland1.

Photo by Kozetland1.

Photo by Kozetland1.

Jarl's Squads since 1962

2012 - 50th anniversary - ex. jarls

2011 - Jarl Ralph Tulloch (centre)

2010 - Jarl Neil Smith (far right)

2009 - Jarl Charlie Umphrey (far left)

2008 - Jarl John Paton (front left)

2007 - Jarl Tam Rowley (left, on Galley)

2006 - Jarl Graham Forrest (centre, third from right)

2005 - Jarl Ivar Black (front, centre)

2004 - Jarl Stephen Anderson (front, centre)

2003 - Jarl Clark Paton (rear, on Galley)

2002 - Jarl Bryan Law (middle, third from left)

2001 - Jarl Robert Harkness (far right)

2000 - Jarl Brian Anderson (front, far right)

1999 - Jarl Edwin Gifford (front, centre)

1998 - Jarl John Scollay (front, centre)

1997 - Jarl Kenneth Manson (middle, third from left)

1996 - Jarl Alan Scollay (front, far left)

1994 - Jarl Kenny Groat (front, far right)

1993 - Jarl Billie Christie (centre, black tunic)

1991 - Jarl Alastair Scollay (front, third from left)

1990 - Jarl - Theo Smith (front, far right)

1989 - Jarl - Nigel Williamson (front, far right)

1988 - Jarl John Henderson (far right)

1987 - Jarl Bert Henderson (front, centre)

1986 - Jarl Keith Anderson (front, white shield)

1985 - Jarl Raymond Tulloch (front, far left)

1984 - Jarl Neil Donald (back, on Galley, far left)

1983 - Jarl Rune Tulloch (far right)

1982 - Jarl Billy Clark (rear, far left)

1981 - Jarl Tommy Hughson (lower, far right)

1980 - Jarl Bob Smith (rear, far right)

1979 - Jarl George Birnie (front, far right)

1978 - Jarl Adam Gifford (far right)

1977 - Jarl Richard Birnie (centre, not on Galley, double-sided axe)

1976 - Jarl Ray Tulloch (rear, on galley, far left)

1975 - Jarl Geordie Peattie (rear, on galley, far left)

1974 - Jarl David Manson (centre)

1973 - Jarl Maurice Anderson (rear, on Galley, right)

1972 - Jarl Jim Hardie (front right)

1971 - Jarl Charles Christie-Henry (far left)

1970 - Jarl Harry Tulloch (far left)

1969 - Jarl Jim McKay (front far left)

1968 - Jarl Lol Anderson (far left)

1967 - Jarl Tammie Manson (far right)

1966 - Jarl Graham Henderson (far left on Galley)

1965 - Jarl Roger Donald (front centre)

1964 - Jarl George Williamson (front centre)

1963 - Jarl Herbert Tulloch (front centre)

1962 - Jarl J. Lennie Matches (far left)

Jarl's Squad Shields

Some shields are on display at the Bressay Primary School and the Galley Shed. All shield photos by Kozetland1.

2011 - Jarl Ralph Tulloch.

2010 - Jarl Neil Smith.

2009 - Jarl Charlie Umphrey.

2008 - Jarl John Paton.

2007 - Jarl Tam Rowley.

2006 - Jarl Graham Forrest.

2005 - Jarl Ivar Black.

2004 - Jarl Stephen Anderson.

2003 - Clark Paton.

2002 - Jarl Bryan Law.

2001 - Jarl Robert Harkness.

2000 - Jarl Brian Anderson.

1999 - Jarl Edwin Gifford.

1998 - Jarl John Scollay.

1997 - Jarl Kenneth Manson.

1996 - Jarl Alan Scollay.

1994 - Jarl Kenny Groat.

1993 - Jarl Billie Christie.

1991 - Jarl Alastair Scollay.

1990 - Jarl Theo Smith.

1989 - Jarl Nigel Williamson.

1988 - Jarl John Henderson.

1987 - Jarl Bert Henderson.

1986 - Jarl Keith Anderson.

1985 - Jarl Raymond Tulloch.

1984 - Jarl Neil Donald.

1983 - Jarl Rune Tulloch.

1982 - Jarl Billy Clark.

1980 - Jarl Bob Smith.

1979 - Jarl George Birnie.

1971 - Jarl Charles Christie-Henry.