Boar skin Vikings of the north

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THE WEATHER gods smiled upon Guizer Jarl Kenny Williamson as he led his band of merry Vikings and princesses through Northmavine for the north’s Up Helly Aa…during the day at least.

The 44 year old construction foreman with Garriock Bros donned the mantle of Viking chief Orvar-Oddr Grimsson for the occasion, a warrior who ended a heroic life by dying from a snake bite after tripping over a horse’s skull.

His galley Haja was named after an island off the north west coast of Norway, at the mouth of Kattfjord, near Tromso.
“Me and my brother go halibut fishing there and it’s my favourite place,” the jarl said after a hectic photo session at the sea front in Hillswick.

After Thursday’s gales eased, the squad in their boar skin cloaks had a fine morning visiting the local schools which gathered the children for the occasion even though it was their day off.

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“We do it because the bairns are the future of everything, and you have to do it while you can because the schools probably won’t be open much longer,” he added, dipping his toe into local politics.

Being a North Roe man, the squad feasted at North Roe hall for lunch before taking their tea at St Magnus Bay Hotel ahead of the evening’s procession.

“So far it’s been fantastic and long may it continue,” he said, as he headed off in his large sheepskin boots, grey kirtle, leather and chainmail, topped by a smart reindeer cloak.

His motto for the occasion ahead: “Tak drink and hae fun!”