Community / Three cheers for 70 years of Junior Up Helly Aa
Photo: Austin Taylor
THE JUNIOR Up Helly Aa (JUHA) squad are set to go the “extra mile” tomorrow (Tuesday) as they mark its 70th anniversary, writes Chloe Irvine.
Frankie Walterson, 14, from Tingwall will take on the role of junior jarl.
Among the moments he told Shetland News he is most looking forward to are “seeing my galley in the daylight for the first time” and getting the opportunity to march through Commercial Street with his squad.
JUHA chairman Martin Summers said the 70th anniversary of the festival is a “celebration of the continued work” between a committee of “dedicated volunteers past and present” as well as the community at large as it centres around “family, friendship and fun”.
The major milestone would also serve as an opportunity to “look back over our history” and share stories on the “positive impact” it has had on young folk.
He believes Up Helly Aa had become “more sophisticated” throughout the years and JUHA had also “adapted” to these changes – whether it be “increased involvement” of young folk in all stages of the festival or how the progress of the festival is shared on various social media platforms.
However, Summers emphasised a number of traditions have remained the same from the festival’s first year.
“In the early days, pupils would have built the galley in nautical classes,” he said. “Over the past few years, we have tried to keep those core values within JUHA.”
Summers said the committee also prides itself on involving as many members of the community as possible – including participation from an ASN [additional support needs] squad over the past few years during the junior procession.
Another highlight for the festival was the recognition it received from the Generations Working Together Awards at the Scottish Parliament.
Summers described this as an “incredible” accomplishment as it recognised the “power of intergenerational learning”.
For tomorrow’s event, Summers said the “extra mile” has gone into many aspects of JUHA but stressed he cannot give too much away and spoil the surprise.
As well as the JUHA squad, there will also be a new band to accompany them which includes Ami Grains and Richie Stein on the fiddle, accordionists Irvine Grains and Ryan Johnson, guitarists Murray Jamieson and Jack Taylor and drummer Corey Burns.
The junior jarl added that he thinks the evening procession will be “something special” and stressed he could not have done it without the support of his friends, family and local businesses.
Summers said JUHA would once again enable the guizers to “learn about their heritage” as well as develop their leadership skills.
He added that this is also the case even after JUHA is over as there are a range of other events throughout the year – including a civic event hosted by SIC convener Andrea Manson at Lerwick Town Hall in May.
The junior jarl also makes several visits in the following weeks, including to Eric Gray, Taing House and the Whiteness Primary School.
On the Monday after Up Helly Aa, pupils aged between primary seven and secondary two come together for the Junior Hop at Sound Hall.
While it is “hard to guess” how the festival will evolve over the next 70 years, Summers said the committee would “continue to be thankful for those founding members” and they would “look to the future with excitement” as more young folk get to take part in this “very special and unique festival”.
Meanwhile, Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart has lodged a motion in parliament celebrating the 70th anniversary of the event.
The Junior Up Helly Aa squad will begin their day on Tuesday with a visit to Mareel at 9.15am before they join the senior squad, led by jarl Lynden Nicolson, in their march along the Esplanade and Commercial Street at 9.40am.
The juniors will then march along the Esplanade and the street themselves alongside the Royal British Legion Pipe Band at 11.15am, while they will also attend the Fiery Sessions event at Mareel at 3pm.
The junior squad and squads of guizers – 125 in total – will light up for their own torchlit procession at 5.30pm.
The procession will be livestreamed by Shetland Webcams via the Junior Up Helly Aa Facebook page. Organisers said this will be a test stream for the senior procession, so sound and visuals may be corrected.
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