Community / Laughs aplenty as SIC convener and guizer jarl lead Up Helly Aa civic reception
THERE were plenty of laughs and local humour in Lerwick Town Hall earlier this morning (Tuesday) as 2026 Up Helly Aa guizer jarl Lynden Nicolson and his squad enjoyed the hospitality of Shetland Islands Council.
Two traditions were repeated in front of an audience of family, VIPs and ex-jarls – a toast to Måløy in Norway, and the jarl, who is representing Knut the Great, being given the freedom of Lerwick for 24 hours.
It also gave the 65-strong jarl squad a chance for a breather and a quick dram – juice for the bairns – after a busy morning of galavanting around town.
Flanked by Shetland’s lord lieutenant Lindsay Tulloch, it was up to SIC convener Andrea Manson to open the reception with a typically humorous and heartfelt speech – with plenty of time for gags.
She opened with praise for the “truly fantastic suits”, which were made locally, and the workmanship which went into their creation – but more on that later.
Some talk followed about Nicolson’s long history with Up Helly Aa, but it was not long before the jokes flowed.
“I did kinda wonder when I saw dy Norse name that ‘nut’ was a very unusual name for a jarl…and then I realised that I that the K is no silent like knickers or knees,” Manson said.
Other topics mentioned in her jokes included Nicolson’s favoured football team Celtic – “I’m surprised that do isna wearing green but I dunna keen whit colour dy drawers is”, the convener added – and the “two Saturdays every weekend” which featured in the Shetland Times’ 2026 calendar by mistake.
Meanwhile she also praised the work that goes on behind the scenes – “if ever there was a committee that actually did mean commitment, it’s surely this one” – as well as the hosts and hostesses at the various halls.
When granting the freedom of Lerwick, Manson said the council would appreciate “no broken laws, windows or bones” over the next 24 hours.
“Let’s show the world what a fun place Shetland is and how we can party tonight as is the Shetland way – as friends, regardless of colour, politics, religion or…football loyalties,” she added.
The drink in the toast to the town of Måløy was, at the jarl’s choice, gin.
Meanwhile Nicolson – which a voice growing a tad husky already – said he was “delighted” to stand at the town hall as guizer jarl.
“From my humble beginnings on the mean streets to Cheyne Crescent to the dizzy heights of the toon hall, I’ve come a long way in 58 years – basically about a mile,” he quipped.
Nicolson paid tribute to the support of his wife Paula and sons Logan and Ryan as well as his extended family and his jarl squad.
He also thanked everyone involved in making Up Helly Aa happen, from the folk running the halls to local businesses.
Referring to the latter, he said: “Without their support year in, year out we couldn’t run this festival the way it is, the size it is and how good it is. We have to shop local when we can.
“Nae boats, nae problem – shop local. That’s a good advert, I’ll get a discount in a couple [of shops].”
Nicolson also remarked on the huge age gap within his squad – from six years old to 87.
And to the suit. The jarl said inspiration for the the striking animal skull themed helmets could be traced back to the old North Star cinema 40 years ago when he saw Highlander as an 18-year old (with a “magnificent ginger mullet”).
He said seeing the “baddie’s helmet”, on the character Kurgan, stuck with him.
Nicolson worked on ideas for the helmet with local artist Dirk Robertson, with Andrew Tait – who used 3D printing – and Dawn Siegel also getting involved in creating the impressive gear.
But he said an initial test helmet drew silence from his peers when it was first unveiled, until Jimmy Sinclair said “well…it’s definitely different”.
The jarl also reeled off a bunch of impressive stats which drew some ‘wows’ from the audience and reiterated the work that goes into the suits.
There were eight coats of paint on each helmet, and eight on each shield centre too.
There were 51 pieces of leather per suit, meaning there were more than 3,300 for the whole squad.
Nearly 4,900 holes were punched per suit – equating to 292,000 over the squad – while there were 9,720 hand stitches for each suit, making for half a million in total.
There were also 715 metres of webbing in total and 10 kilometres of red thread.
“That we were able to get this all done locally is a huge credit to Shetland, and its businesses,” he said.
Nicolson ended his speech with three cheers for Up Helly Aa – and another three for the council and the town hall staff.
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