Lerwick Junior Up Helly Aa 2003
Shane Jamieson was the 2003 Lerwick Junior Guizer Jarl, representing Magnus of Marasetr. This was the 48th Lerwick Junior Up Helly Aa Festival.
About the Jarl's Guizer name
Magnus lived on the Island of Whalsay where he farmed and kept horses. He was a third generation Danish settler. His trade in working horses meant that he had to keep a large longship and travelled to Denmark and further afield buying and selling stock. Due to these trips he became well known for his great seamanship and his grand longship. He was also able to maintain close ties with his Danish cousins. One of whom, Thorir Tree-Beard had set up camp in Orkney and along with Kalf Skurvy they had intentions to usurp their Norwegian overlords.
Magnus was aware of a fully equipped Norwegian warship of twenty benches lying at Skerries. Word soon came that this was the longship of Turf-Einar and that he had been sent by his father, Earl Rognavld, from Norway to clear the Danes out of Orkney.
Magnus feared for Thorir Tree-Beard and quickly gathered enough fighting men to take to Orkney in his longship to warn Thorir and reinforce his ranks. Magnus was said to be thoughtful of fighting Turf-Einer and his larger band of loyal Orcadians. He went out into his yard, removed his gold ropework ring and tossed it among his mares, it was soon trampled underfoot. If I do not return with my proud longship then only when my ring is found again will such vessels return to the sound! Despite the advance warning of Magnus and his reinforcements the Danes were heavily defeated in a field on the edge of what is now Kirkwall by Earl Turf-Einar Rognavldson and his men. Although it is not known if Magnus survived the battle in true Viking fashion his longship was said to have been put to fire by the victors.
One Hundred years ago a gold, Viking, ropework ring was found at Marrister, Whalsay by Shane's Great, Great, Great, Grand Mother. "The Marrister ring" is now housed in the museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
This years galley was amed Kristine-louise after his sisters.
The Muster
Guizers mustered on the Lower Hillhead at 5.15pm and the light-up signalled by a MAROON was at 5.30pm precisely. The route was along the Lower Hillhead, down King Erik Street and around the South Playing Field. After the guizers had circled the inside of the north field the last rites will took place in the centre of the park. "The Feast, the Dance, the Song" for the Junior guizers and their friends was in the Anderson High School on Monday 5th February, where they were visited by the Senior Jarl and some of his men.
The Galley was on view at the Anderson High School car park from 9.30am to 11.00am before the Junior Jarl and his Squad, along with the galley and the Lerwick Pipe Band, marched north along Commercial Street to the foot of Harbour Street starting from the Post Office at approximately 11.15am, then proceeded to Sound Primary School. The galley was on view at Islesburgh Community Centre until about 3.00pm.
Names of School Squads
1. Junior Jarl's Squad (15)
2. West Side Rappers (11)
3. Magnificent 7 + 3 (10)
4. Arabian (K)nights (8)
5. Da Simpsons (13)
6. World's Most Hated (5)
7. The MIB (9)
8. Cheeky Girls (11)
9. The Skater Boys (7)
10. James Bond 007 (5)
Total number of guizers = 94.
See also
