Up Helly Aa celebrated at packed junior hop

HUNDREDS of bairns gathered at Sound Hall to toast the Junior Up Helly Aa festival at their annual hop on Monday night.

The yearly celebration was kicked off by junior jarl Frankie Walterson and his jarl squad, who delighted the young audience with renditions of Up Helly Aa Song, Galley Song and his squad song – Oasis’ Rock and Roll Star.

There was also a visitation from senior jarl Lynden Nicolson and his 2026 squad, who arrived into AC/DC’s Thunderstruck before performing We Will Rock You.

Nicolson also provided junior jarl Walterson with his own ex-junior jarl’s tie, and the name plate from his galley Brenda.

In between, the dancefloor was filled all night as the Brian Morrison Band provided the backing to dances such as the Boston Two Step, Canadian Barn Dance and Dashing White Sergeant.

A “glam team” of Jane Keddie and Becky Johnson were on hand to provide hair and make-up to make sure everyone looked their best, while a photobooth from Shetland Sound and Light had people queueing up all night.

Da Fantin Burger and Miss Sprinkles were also outside to offer food and ice cream and – incredibly as the snow fell – people lined up to wait for ice cream throughout the hop.

There was even a 360° “Glam Bot”, provided by Shetland Youth Voice, which gave folk the chance to get a video of themselves in Hollywood slow-motion.

And two of those captured enjoying themselves in the Glam Bot were junior and senior guizer jarls Walterson and Nicolson.

Junior Up Helly Aa chairman Martin Summers said after the hop that “young people in Shetland know how to throw a party”.

“The junior hop saw young people from all corners of our islands dance the night away in good spirit, friendship and fun,” he said.

“Sometimes we are too quick to judge our young folk, and yet the vast majority are incredible young people who care about their community and want to be at the heart of it.

Members of the junior jarl squad enjoy the hop.

Members of the junior jarl squad enjoy the hop.

“I am incredibly proud of Junior Up Helly Aa and the platform it provides our young people to build life skills, develop friendships and have fun. Three cheers for Junior Up Helly Aa.”

The Junior Up Helly Aa committee thanked the volunteers of the Sound Hall committee, the junior jarl squad parents and volunteers who supported the event, the Brian Morrison Band, J.W. Grays and Da Fantin Burger and Miss Sprinkles Shetland.

They also thanked Youth Scotland’s rural action fund, Shetland Sound and Light, Shetland Youth Voice, Aimée Sutherland Photography, Lynden Nicolson, the senior jarl squad and the senior Up Helly Aa committee.

For photos and videos of the junior people are asked to check the Junior Up Helly Aa’s social media channels here.

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