‘Not a football team but a jarl squad’ – jarl Lynden Nicolson and his squad enjoying a brilliant day
THE STREETS of Lerwick have filled with people from across the world to celebrate Up Helly Aa, writes Chloe Irvine.
Guizer jarl Lynden Nicolson led his squad down King Harald Street this morning after leaving Islesburgh at 8.15am.
Accompanied by an epic marching band, the squad made their way to Toll Clock shopping centre – with each street pinned with gleeful spectators.
Among those who travelled long distances to see the squad was Jocelyn Houska and her mother Shar, who travelled all the way from Missoula, Montana.
Houska told Shetland News she had waited five years to be able to come witness the festival for herself – and has already been left in awe of its beauty.
“This is our first time in Shetland. I love it, this is what we came for.
“I think the suits are great, they’re very well put together, and you can obviously tell they’re well made, everybody matches and they match the galley too. I’m really impressed.”
She and her mother are also “very excited” for the evening procession.
The jarl squad then made their way to the Legion – among the guizer jarl’s favourite part of the day.
“This is brilliant. Once you get to the legion you keyn the day is started we ah the folk here and folk getting to see the suit for the first time,” he said.
“The suits were a peerie bit different and you’re waiting to see what folk think oh it and it’s going doon weel.”
He was keen to ensure the suit helped promote the isles.
“The whole lot is Shetland made. We bought in material, but we used Shetland suppliers where we could, so we really are trying to promote Shetland.”
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Despite being a major Celtic supporter, he felt the colours of the suit were required for the occasion.
“Williamsons ordered the material in for wis. I’ve always grown up going ‘black, red and silver are the colours oh Up Helly Aa.
Photo: Dave Donaldson
“I’m a big Celtic fan and folk thought I might be going we green and white, but it’s no a football team, it’s a jarl squad.”
While the inspiration behind the galley’s name was centred around family.
“The name Skyldulid is a Viking, Nordic name for a family group. It doesna have tae be relations, it’s folk that come together and either fight or make things.
“I thought that’s perfect for Up Helly Aa, it’s about coming together and making a group, there’s nothing better than that.”
In terms of his own family, he recalled his sons [Shetland News reporter] Ryan and Logan just being “peerie” when he first went on the committee.
“They were peerie boys when I went on the committee 18 years ago and they’re grown men noo, so seeing them in front today, the 18 year wait was worth it.”
While speaking at the Lerwick Town Hall, is considered the “nervous bit” he said he “doesna mind speaking” and this was among the moments he was most looking forward to.
“I hae a lot to say aboot my squad and everything that’s happened over the year. I want to share that we folk and the toon hall is a brilliant venue, we should be proud oh it.”
As for the procession, he added that will “take care oh itself” as well as the joy of going around all the halls to meet people.
Lucy Stewart, whose husband Ross is in the jarl squad, was also among the many looking forward to going to a hall tonight.
“We’re going to Mareel tonight, so it’s going to be really good. We’re going to be going to the procession and the whole lot.”
She thought the suits were “very different” but “really nice” and she was delighted to see it all “coming together”.
Photo: Dave Donaldson
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