Community / ‘Once in a lifetime’ experience beckons for Up Helly Aa guizer jarl
Shetland News catches up with guizer jarl Lynden Nicolson and his family ahead of the big day
GETTING his turn to wear the guizer jarl’s helmet and shield at Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa has been a long time coming for Lynden Nicolson – it is, in fact, said to be the longest someone has had to wait to take up the reins.
The Lerwick man has waited patiently for more than 17 years for his moment in the limelight, having first been appointed to the Up Helly Aa committee in October 2008.
But, the wait will all be worth it when he leads his jarl squad of 65 around town later this month on the last Tuesday in January.
Nicolson said it was a case of feeling “nervous excitement” when Shetland News visited the jarl and his family at his Lerwick home last week.
At the age of 58, Nicolson is also thought to be the oldest jarl at Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa.
His squad features 55 adults and ten bairns – from age six, all the way up to 87.
The family connection runs deep: alongside him will be his two sons Ryan and Logan, a brother-in-law, three nephews, two grandnephews and two grandnieces.
The furthest travelled will be from Sweden, with two heading north from Orkney and three from the mainland too.
Nicolson, who by day is a meter technician with Scottish Water, says leading the famous fire festival will be a proud moment – especially as he has been out in squads ever since he was 12 years old.
He picks the creation of the squad suit as one of the highlights of what has been a very busy year.
“I’ve had ideas since I was a child probably,” Nicolson says.
“I grew up just along from the galley shed, so I used to go to the summer exhibition and see all the suits. I’ve always loved Up Helly Aa.”
Nicolson – who has been in three jarl squads before – said it has been a huge team effort to get things together over the year, with the goal of making as much locally as possible.
Devoting many hours to the cause, his squad has showcased a varied skillset – while a group of women have been dealing with the kirtles too.
With Toll Clock owner Malcolm Younger in the squad, Nicolson and co. have rented a space in Bolts which the jarl describes as “second to none”.
Details of the suit are understandably scant given the veil of secrecy prior to the big day.
With local artist Dirk Robertson assisting with initial designs, Nicolson however is able to say that the helmet in particular is “very unusual”.
His son Ryan said a prototype was unveiled around 18 months ago. “It was quite interesting to watch everyone’s faces,” he says with a smile.
The jarl admits it could be a “Marmite” helmet, but he is keen to have a suit which stands out.
“What I’ve always said to people, I would hate to walk in ower after 18 years and somebody go ‘oh, that’s nice – that’s kinda like what last year’s’, or two years ago, or five years ago.
“I would like folk to say ‘yeah, yun’s this year’s suit, it’s different but different in a really nice way’.
“I hate the saying reinvent the wheel…but we’re just put a set of chromes on it.”
Nicolson’s other son, Logan, says there are a lot of details which represent “small, clever twists”.
“There’s been thought put into every inch of that suit,” he adds.
Looking ahead, Nicolson said one of his most anticipated moments is the Sunday before Up Helly Aa when the entire squad gathers in their suits for the first time.
“I’ll need hankies,” adds his wife Paula, who has been helping with admin as well as liaising with fellow wives and partners.
Other highlights will be seeing the galley in daylight for the first time, walking outside the Legion with school children at the side of the road and heading to the halls at night.
But the torchlit procession at night will be a “once in a lifetime” moment.
Ryan points to the visit to the Toll Clock shopping centre early on as a likely highlight – “for a lot of people now, that’s the first time they see the squad, and it’s the first time you hear the squad too”.
Marching through the street is a prospective highlight for Logan, who adds with a smile: “I’m excited to catch a look in somebody’s eye when I can see they don’t like the suit – I think that’s going to entertain me.”
As the big day edges nearer, the family meanwhile refer to – with some comedic groans – to a countdown board made by a friend.
It started off at 300 or 400, but is now on the cusp of reaching single figures.
“When it came under a 100 then it was like….two digits!” Nicolson says.
It is clear Nicolson and his squad have worked hard over the last year-plus – with the effort all set to pay off when the countdown reaches zero.
The squad’s various WhatsApp groups have gone “mad” this month in particular, Nicolson says.
Meanwhile Paula – a hostess at the Sound Hall – has even organised a swimming club for women who have a connection to the jarl squad.
It is still on the go despite starting way back in the summer – but it has “not caught on with the men yet,” Ryan jokes.
Logan, meanwhile, has also been filming the whole process for a documentary.
“It’s really fun to see the whole process of the year, and we’ll be able to watch some of it back, and be able to see how much the beards have grown, in some cases the bellies have grown,” he says.
“The first thing I film is [Lynden] and Dirk looking at that drawing, the first major drawing, all the way up to a room full of those helmets. It’s absolutely fantastic, and I’ve really enjoyed getting a chance to watch it all.”
Reflecting on the build-up to this year’s Up Helly Aa, Nicolson says that “you get out what you put in”.
“If you turn up on the working nights, you get to know guys that you never knew before,” he says.
“There’s a lot of guests into your own squad, but you’re being a jarl squad.
“So the 20, 25 boys that come out with us every year, has to become 60.
“That’s a lot of different people that folk don’t know.
“But now they can phone them, message them. That’s what makes the nights fly in. You want to go there to enjoy it.”
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
