Lerwick Up Helly Aa 2011
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
| Up Helly Aa Fact File | |
|---|---|
| Date: | 25th January |
| Jarl: Portraying: | John Hunter Johan Sanderrevet of Valsgärde |
| Galley Name: | Jägare |
| Jarl's Squad Members: | 65 |
| Number of Squads: | 47 |
| Total Guizers: | 959 |
| Number carrying torches: | 876 |
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The Jarl's Squad
John Hunter was the 2011 Guizer Jarl for the Lerwick Up Helly Aa, and represented Johan Sanderrevet of Valsgärde.
The Jarls Squad consisted of 65 members, including 16 bairns, with the youngest, Zander Manson, just three-and-a-half years old.
About the Jarl's Guizer name
Johan Sanderrevet was born in 840 at Vhitenes, a township within the kommune of Valsgarde, Sweden. He was the eldest child of Jarl Ronne 'Bloodaxe' Sanderrevet. Valsgarde is a farm on the Fyris river, about three kilometres north of Gamla Uppsala, the ancient centre of the Swedish kings and of the pagan faith in Sweden. Ronne possessed an unusual talisman - Svíagris - an intertwined armlet of woven gold, made with impossible accuracy. Folklore would have the bangle possessing mystical powers to protect the wearer from harm.
Following years of disquiet and marauding by Danish invaders, led by King Aðils Snorre, and despite his age of only seventeen, Johan was sent by Ronne, to agree a peace accord. He was at first, well received, but in his hall, Aðils entertained them, but put them to a test where they had to endure immense heat by fire. Johan finally had enough and threw the courtiers, who were feeding the fire, into the flames and leapt at Aðils. The Danish king disappeared. They then found out that Aðils had set the hall on fire, and so they broke out of the hall, only to find themselves surrounded by heavily armed warriors in the street. After a fight, King Aðils retreated to summon reinforcements. When they saw Aðils and his warriors in pursuit, Johan dropped his precious Svíagris on the ground and stooped to pick it up, whereupon Aðils cut his back with his sword and screamed in triumph that he had killed the most powerful man in Sweden. However, Johan was only injured, the power of Svíagris protecting him, and he turned on Aðils, decapitating him with a single blow of his axe, his warriors surrendering in disarray. Johan returned to Valsgarde, a hero, buoyed by the protection of Svíagris.
Unable to rest, Johan bade a fond farewell to his father and departed with his galley Jägare. Johan, now an accomplished seaman, led his men on many voyages across the North Sea and beyond. The Vikings from Valsgarde were clearly identifiable both in battle and in peace. Their helmets were hand crafted with exquisite skill, renowned the Viking world over, such were their beauty. They also wore hand crafted gold bangles similar to Svíagris on their chest, to signify their allegiance to Jarl Johan.
His most famous voyage became a famous Swedish saga - now commonly known as, The loss of Svfagris. Johan Sanderrevet departed Valsgarde in February 861 leading a flotilla of 37 galleys, sailing west, keen to find new lands to settle, farm and prosper. They heard stories of vast fertile lands to the west, now known as Soonhisid, although no one had ever returned to confirm their existence.
The saga commented. The stem of Jägare drove down on the Wester Hoevda on the Island of Fugaey, its crew pulling hard on their oars, against the sea. The mast had carried away such was the severity of the Westerly gale, the galley without the ability to sail clear of danger. Jägare however, held her course - the strength of the oarsmen from Vhitesnes, saving her from impending doom, as they cleared the headland. The scale of the disaster only became clear when the storm passed, with almost the entire fleet of longships lost - driven onto the cliffs of Fugaey. The three surviving galleys Jägare, Breckoll and Moogi, cleared the shore and blew down helpless in among the isles west of Scallowaa. The sea eased and provided the opportunity to haul Jägare ashore on a beach, on the west side of the Island of Oxna.
Johan decided to stay on Oxna for the winter, such was the ease of hunting with walrus, seal and whale, common within the inshore waters. Full repairs were carried out on Jägare, during the winter, using wood from the forest of Tooniesvik on the East side of Shetland. Johan's warriors were also skilled craftsmen, Tom-as Veevol being able to hew a new mast from a spar driven ashore with the same gale that destroyed the fleet.
However, disaster struck. Svíagris fell unnoticed, from Johan's arm and was lost among the undergrowth which covered Oxna. Johan was at odds with his predicament. What would happen to him now? He could not inform the crew, for fear of disquiet, mutiny or loss of respect of this position as Jarl. There was no option - Johan had to fashion a copy of Svíagris and keep the loss a secret. It was the only way, even if the magical powers were lost. Who would ever know? He travelled to see the only person who could make such an object. The serpent haired, Rosa-linn, the Stone Queen of Wharff, an alchemist, who could turn lead into gold. She confirmed she was able to make such an object, but the price left Johan speechless. "Bring me the head of my rival, 'Basil of the Ninian', and I shall replace your armlet", she said.
'Basil of the Ninian', was a beserker war lord from Weesdaal, and an accomplished fisherman. His followers were nomadic warriors who pillaged communities up and down the coastline. Johan had no option, it was the only way. Without Svíagris, stealth was the only option, and speed his only advantage. Johan entered the main hall at Larnes, by the back door, the front being guarded by fourteen Weesdaal beserkers. Basil was sound asleep after a long night of fhivehunder, the ancient card game.
"Awaken Basil of the Ninian", bellowed Johan, "Thy time is at an end. Rosa-linn demands thee and I must bring thy time to a close". Basil stirred and asked if Johan would like a Brandy and Port? With a single blow, Johans' axe severed Basil's head, which rolled down the main hall, still mouthing his final words - "Unbelievable?". His body remaining upright with his outstretched hand holding his glass still intact.
Johan returned to Rosa-linn with the head of Basil of the Ninian in a grof bag. "I bring thee Basil, and thou should give me Svíagris," he said. Rosa-linn true to her word gave Johan Svíagris, an absolute perfect copy of the one lost on Oxna. "Wear thIs wisely", she said. "I am unable to form another, and thank you for removing the beserker war lord from our lands. You will always be an ally of the people of Wharff."
Johan was able to return to Valsgarde triumphant in his new found lands. He never told of the loss of Svíagris, and whether it held magical powers or not, was never known.
The Gold Armlet Svíagris
The Jarl's Squad suit is based on a bracelet that was discovered some years ago on the small isle of Oxna, adjacent to the Burra Isles, on the west side of Shetland. It was found by a young Mr. James Fullerton, who came upon it accidentally when playing as a boy on his native island. The bracelet was found on a bare spot of land, the surface of which had been scalped over and over again to provide extra soil for the adjacent arable land that had been worn out by prolonged cultivation. It is thought that this scalping process removed 18 to 20 inches of the original soil and that the bracelet lay at approximately this depth. It is, of course, impossible to say whether it had been intentionally placed at that depth or whether, if accidentally lost, had worked its way downward by its own weight over many centuries. Whatever the circumstances may have been, at the time of its discovery, a portion of the bracelet was exposed and its glitter shining in the sunlight attracted Mr Fullerton's attention. He had some difficulty in pulling it out from the strong attachment of roots in which it was embedded.
The armlet (or bracelet) is of solid gold, two and a half inches in width in its interior, and two and seven eights inches in its exterior diameter at the widest part. Its weight is 964 grains troy. It is composed of four strands of finely polished gold that are inter-pleated into a continuous circular chain. It is broadest at the back, opposite where the ends meet, and gradually diminishes in girth towards the points, which are joined together by a flattened and elongated lozenge-shaped formation, which welds them together and makes the circle complete.
After its discovery, it was put away in a cupboard and left for many years until a teacher who was resident in the area became aware of it. After realising it's potential, she took the bangle to a local chemist. It was then sold to Edinburgh Museum for the meagre sum of £20.
The armlet can be seen today in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
During the Day
Following breakfast at Clickimin Leisure Complex the Jarl's Squad ranked up up at 8.30am and departed for visits to Grantfield Garage and the Toll Clock Shopping Centre. Thereafter they joined the galley at the Lerwick Royal British Legion, departing from there at 9.45am. They then marched along Commercial Road and the Esplanade before turning into Commercial Street at Church Road. After a pause at the Market Cross (where the Bill was on display), they continued along Commercial Street to Harbour Street where they proceeded along the Esplanade to join the Galley at Alexandra Wharf at 10.00am. After posing for photographs with the Galley the Guizer Jarl and his Squad were piped to the Town Hall, making their way along the Esplanade and up through Fort Charlotte. Thereafter visits were made to both Lerwick primary schools, hospitals and eventide homes.
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The Bill
The Proclamation (Bill) headpiece was painted by Rosalyn Thompson. The scene is on the isle of Oxna (one of the large islands off Scalloway), and represents the conjectural moment when the armlet (see above) was lost there. The armlet can be seen in the bottom right together with the stones beside which it was later found. The woman is based on a photo of the Jarl's mother in her youth.
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The Galley
This years Galley was named Jägare (Hunter). The wood graining on the planking was achieved by being scummel painted using a variably patterned comb to reproduce a natural wood effect.
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The Procession and the Burning of the Galley
The 47 Squads began mustering from 6.50pm at Islesburgh Community Centre (South car park), to receive torches and be marshalled to the Lower Hillhead. The Guizer Jarl's Squad passed up the ranks at 7.15pm, accompanied by the Brass Band. The Pipe Band played during the Muster and Procession. At 7.30pm a Maroon gave the signal for lighting up, and the galley, Guizer Jarl's Squad and the Brass Band passed down the ranks, the procession counter-marching behind them.
The procession route was along the Lower Hillhead, Town Hall Brae, south along St. Olaf Street, down through Prince Alfred Street for a turning movement in King Harald Street, up Harbour Street, south along St. Olaf Street, turning up King Erik Street, around a marker and down into the north King George V Playing Field, circling the perimeter before heading to the burning site.
The squads formed a complete circle round the Galley. A Maroon was fired to begin the singing of the Galley Song and during the singing the Guizer Jarl's Squad marched round the Galley. Cheers followed for the galley builders and torch makers, the festival and the Guizer Jarl. A Bugle Call then sounded and after the last note, the torches were thrown into the Galley. The squads then re-formed into a circle and sang "The Norseman's Home" before dispersing to begin their rounds of the halls. There was a short firework display during the burning of the Galley.
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The Squads
| Squad Number, Squad Name, Number of Guizers | Video | Squad Number, Squad Name, Number of Guizers | Video |
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1. Johan Sanderrevet of Valsgärde (50) |
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25. Irn Bru-gart (15) |
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Da moarnin eftir - Breakfast at the Sandwick Social Club
One would assume that after a full night of partying the guizers would want to get home to bed. But having stayed 'sober' all night, to perform their acts in the Lerwick halls, the Sandwick squad needed a hearty Viking breakfast, followed by a long awaited drink. (our photographer missed the breakfast pictures).
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Best Lerwick Up Helly Aa Shop Window Display
This years competition for the best Lerwick Up Helly Aa shop window display was won by J.R. White.
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External Link
See also
