List of Lerwick Up Helly Aa Guizer Jarls explained

The Lerwick Up Helly Aa is the largest Up Helly Aa fire festival celebrated annually on the last Tuesday in January in Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, Scotland. A Guizer Jarl has featured in each Lerwick Up Helly Aa since the introduction of the position in 1906. The Guizer Jarl is the chief guizer, who (in the modern festival) leads a squad dressed as Vikings who are the primary focus of the festival's proceedings. Only the Jarl's Squad dresses as Vikings; the festival's other squads dress up in other costumes associated with the act they perform throughout the halls opened after the torchlight procession.

It took until after the First World War until a squad of Vikings appeared in the festival every year. As the festival developed, the Guizer Jarl began to portray specific individuals from the sagas, or the history of Shetland. Later again, each Guizer Jarl would select both a name for the galley, which is constructed from October the previous year and burned at the culmination of the torchlight procession, along with a tune played by the Lerwick Brass Band as the Jarl leads his squad up the ranks of guizers just prior to the torchlight procession.

Those wishing to become Guizer Jarl must be elected to the Lerwick Up Helly Aa Committee (elections are held during mass meetings which all squads' members can attend), and then serve the committee for 15 years. Traditionally, women and girls were not permitted in any Lerwick squad, and as such were not able to become Guizer Jarl, however in 2022 the Lerwick Up Helly Aa Committee lifted this restriction for future festivals, and the first female members in the Lerwick Jarl's Squad featured in 2024. While female guizers are permitted to varying degrees in the other Up Helly Aa festivals in Shetland, only two Up Helly Aas have had female Guizer Jarls: Angela Tait (now Leask), being the first female Jarl at the 1988 Walls Junior Up Helly Aa organised by the Brownies; and Lesley Simpson, who became the first adult female Jarl at the 2015 South Mainland Up Helly Aa.

List of Lerwick UHA Guizer Jarls

YearGuizer JarlPortrayingGalley NameRanks TuneReference
1906data-sort-value="Robertson, J. W."J. W. Robertson
1907data-sort-value="Anderson, H. J."H. J. Anderson
1908data-sort-value="Sinclair, W."W. Sinclair
1909data-sort-value="Laing, Jas."Jas. Laing
1910data-sort-value="Anderson, G. T."G. T. Anderson
1911data-sort-value="Tait, E. S. Reid"E. S. Reid Tait
1912data-sort-value="Tait, E. S. Reid (for Kay, H.)"E. S. Reid Tait (for H. Kay)
1913data-sort-value="Scott, McG."McG. Scott
1914data-sort-value="Sandison, Laurence"Laurence Sandison
1915Not held due to First World War
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920data-sort-value="Robertson, Bertie"Bertie Robertson
1921data-sort-value="Hawick, A. P."A. P. HawickVikings
1922data-sort-value="Burgess, George H."George H. BurgessBalder
1923data-sort-value="Campbell, John"John CampbellFrey
1924data-sort-value="Petrie, Charles A."Charles A. PetrieHeimdall
1925data-sort-value="Gray, Laurence"Laurence GrayNjord
1926data-sort-value="Manson, Charles A."Charles A. MansonHelgeland Vikings
1927data-sort-value="McIntosh, James"James McIntoshOlaf Tryggveson
1928data-sort-value="Johnson, Robert A."Robert A. JohnsonUllr
1929data-sort-value="Laurenson, P. Bruce"P. Bruce LaurensonVikings
1930data-sort-value="Goodlad, P. S."P. S. GoodladJom Vikings
1931data-sort-value="Irvine, J. W."J. W. IrvineJorsalafarers
1932data-sort-value="Moar, Peter"Peter MoarVikings
1933data-sort-value="Mathewson, A. R. M."A. R. M. MathewsonFrithiof
1934data-sort-value="Henry, Tom"Tom HenryKing Sverre's Birkbeiners
1935data-sort-value="Gear, John"John GearVikings
1936data-sort-value="Angus, J. W. P."J. W. P. AngusVaranger Guard
1937data-sort-value="Gray, Robert"Robert GrayLeif Erikson
1938data-sort-value="Anderson, James"James AndersonHjaltlanders
1939data-sort-value="Halcrow, Gilbert"Gilbert HalcrowErik the Red
1940Not held due to Second World War
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949data-sort-value="Johnson, L. L."L. L. JohnsonJarl Rognvald Kolson
1950data-sort-value="Blance, G. W."G. W. BlanceTorf-Einarr
1951data-sort-value="Hunter, J. W."J. W. HunterSverre
1952data-sort-value="Smith, J. P."J. P. SmithJarl Ragnvald Môre
1953data-sort-value="Williamson, A. B."A. B. WilliamsonEyskeggs
1954data-sort-value="Thomason, L. T."L. T. ThomasonHakon Hakonsson
1955data-sort-value="McIntosh, J. M."J. M. McIntoshThorfin Karlsefni
1956data-sort-value="Moar, J. P."J. P. MoarKing Harald Harfagr
1957data-sort-value="Johnston, A. G."A. G. JohnstonHaakon the Jarl
1958data-sort-value="Manson, G. A. W."G. A. W. MansonJarl Erik Haakonsson
1959data-sort-value="Scott, Jack"Jack ScottKing Magnus Barelegs
1960data-sort-value="Tait, William L."William L. TaitOlaf the Saint
1961data-sort-value="Young, James"James YoungHarald Hardrada's Vaerings
1962data-sort-value="Leask, G. W."G. W. LeaskOlaf Kyrre
1963data-sort-value="Paton, G. A. B."G. A. B. PatonSigurd the Crusader
1964data-sort-value="Hunter, J. G."J. G. HunterKing Harald GraafeldHarald GrafelOur Director
1965data-sort-value="Moncrieff, Thomas"Thomas MoncrieffOttar the ExplorerLokiOur Director
1966data-sort-value="Hunter, Joe S."Joe S. HunterHaakon the GoodFeeyarsundBelphegor
1967data-sort-value="Smith, Douglas C."Douglas C. SmithErling SkakkiBökesundenStein Song
1968data-sort-value="Simpson, Thomas"Thomas SimpsonHalfdan the BlackViggyrdil (war girdle)Scotland the Brave
1969data-sort-value="Tulloch, A. T. H."A. T. H. TullochMagnus the LawmenderLagaböter (lawmender)Wark o' the Weavers
1970data-sort-value="Peterson, William"William PetersonEinar ThambarskelverOrmrinn Langi (long serpent)Our Director
1971data-sort-value="Anderson, Allan"Allan AndersonTore the HoundUlvin (wolf)Imperial Echoes
1972data-sort-value="Laurenson, John L."John L. LaurensonBonderGula Ting SkibErimus
1973data-sort-value="Geddes, Robert"Robert GeddesFloki of the RavensGeirhildaStandard of St George
1974data-sort-value="Kerr, James"James KerrMagnus the GoodBisonSaints
1975data-sort-value="Manson, Maurice"Maurice MansonEarl Thorfinn the MightyBifrostRasmus
1976data-sort-value="Johnston, John"John JohnstonKali KolssonFifa (arrow)Under the Double Eagle
1977data-sort-value="Hunter, George"George HunterSigmund Brestisson of FaroeSkudaRadetsky
1978data-sort-value="Leith, Peter"Peter LeithBjorn of MousaThoraMangaster Voe
1979data-sort-value="Nicolson, J. J."J. J. NicolsonEgil ScallagrimssonKveldulf (night wolf)Slantigart
1980data-sort-value="Leslie, D. G."D. G. LeslieJan BjornejegerenVår (spring)B/M Burgoyne
1981data-sort-value="Jamieson, Harry"Harry JamiesonThorvald ThoresonVirdaBlaze Away
1982data-sort-value="Crossan, Kenneth"Kenneth CrossanHakon's FakkelbaereOrmen (serpent)Gerty Boys
1983data-sort-value="Burgess, James"James BurgessKári SolmundarsonNjord (god of wealth, sea & fire)Fraternity
1984data-sort-value="Malcolmson, Peter"Peter MalcolmsonEirik Bloodaxe HaraldsonBokiesBlayden Races
1985data-sort-value="Ratter, John"John RatterThorvald InflyterreLaksAces High
1986data-sort-value="Stronach, Gordon"Gordon StronachSigurd's CrusadersNordlys (northern lights)Sigurd's March
1987data-sort-value="Simpson, Magnus"Magnus SimpsonRagnar LodbrokSungamBrown Girl
1988data-sort-value="Simpson, Charles"Charles SimpsonThorbjorn ClerkRavnurHolyrood
1989data-sort-value="Black, Willie"Willie BlackHalfdan of BrousterJaruinBlack Bear
1990data-sort-value="Mathewson, John"John MathewsonSvein AsleifarsonGarekseyColonel Bogey
1991data-sort-value="Johnston"Andrew JohnstonThorstein OlafssonSjøormenAnchors Away
1992data-sort-value="Moncrieff, Laurence"Laurence MoncrieffMagnus ErlendssonShoormalValdres March
1993data-sort-value="Gair, Ronald"Ronald GairEarl Rognvald BrusasonVagsoyRoll Out the Barrel
1994data-sort-value="Grant, Charles"Charles W. GrantGoturm the DaneDrakkerOld Comrades
1995data-sort-value="Leask, Peter R."Peter R. LeaskJon Petersson of SognAlasundVienna Remains Vienna
1996data-sort-value="Coutts, Jim"Jim CouttsBrúsi SigurdssonVågarThe Happy Wanderer
1997data-sort-value="Smith, Willie"Willie SmithSigurd MagnussonGarvorGammel Jegermarsj
1998data-sort-value="Summers, Colin"Colin SummersThorbjorn of Wast BurrafirtLori TafgenJarl Summers Time
1999data-sort-value="Mathewson, Davie"Davie MathewsonSigurd HlodvissonÁsmundarvagLiberty Bell
2000data-sort-value="Goudie, Billy"Billy GoudieHarald MaddadssonHvit LynBritish Legion
2001data-sort-value="Groat, Michael"Michael GroatGunnar HamundarsonOld FaithfulBlaze Away
2002data-sort-value="Leask, Bruce"Bruce LeaskHarald Gilli MagnussonVestmaenirHighland Laddie
2003data-sort-value="Johnson, Alex"Alex JohnsonOlaf SitricsonAaksytrikWilds o' Yell
2004data-sort-value="Manson, Stanley"Stanley MansonNaddod of FaroeBergholmShow Business
2005data-sort-value="Fraser, Peter"Peter FraserEarl Sigurd o' GordPete's DragonTeddy Bears' Picnic
2006data-sort-value="Manson, Mark"Mark MansonEinar of GullberuvikMoogiBlues on the March
2007data-sort-value="Nicolson, Graham"Graham NicolsonGunnar EgilssonJupiterBlaze Away
2008data-sort-value="Leask, Roy"Roy LeaskKol KalisonBreckonDambusters March
2009data-sort-value="Mouat, Stephen"Stephen MouatOthere Fra HålogalandIs BjørnThe Great Escape
2010data-sort-value="Simpson, Rae"Rae SimpsonSigurd "Snake-Eye" RagnarssonAvie-JaneKilliecrankie
2011data-sort-value="Hunter, John"John HunterJohan Sanderrevet of ValsgärdeJägareThe Regiment
2012data-sort-value="Nicolson, David"David NicolsonBöthvar EgilssonPer ArduaThe A-Team
2013data-sort-value="Grant, Stephen"Stephen GrantGamle ErikssonKrisaraOn the Quarterdeck
2014data-sort-value="Cluness, Ivor"Ivor ClunessIvar (The Boneless) RagnarssonCongo WarriorRaiders March
2015data-sort-value="Robertson, Neil"Neil RobertsonOlav HarldssonNils OlavOut of the Blue
2016data-sort-value="Evans, Mark"Mark EvansSolmund Sigurdsson of TønsbergLauren GracePride of Princess Street
2017data-sort-value="Gair, Lyall"Lyall GairSweyn "Forkbeard" HaraldssonFalconGonna Fly Now
2018data-sort-value="Jamieson, Stewart"Stewart JamiesonThorvald ThorvaldssonBlaze AwayOld Comrades
2019data-sort-value="Nicolson, John"John NicolsonThorstein EgilssonChloe BarbaraThe Magnificent Seven
2020data-sort-value="Summers, Liam"Liam SummersOdin - Lord of the GallowsYggdrasilErimus
2021Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022
2023data-sort-value="Moncrieff, Neil" Neil MoncrieffNjal ThorgeirssonPetingaerThe Middy[1]
2024data-sort-value="Moar, Richard" Richard MoarHarald OlafssonEthena
Gerty Boys
2025data-sort-value="Grains, Calum" Calum Grains
2026data-sort-value="Nicolson, Lynden" Lynden Nicolson
2027data-sort-value="Leith, Ryan" Ryan Leith
2028data-sort-value="Wright, Brydon" Brydon Wright
2029data-sort-value="Garrick, Graeme" Graeme Garrick
2030data-sort-value="Geddes, Robert" Robert Geddes
2031data-sort-value="Wright, Ryan" Ryan Wright
2032data-sort-value="Fraser, Neil" Neil Fraser
2033data-sort-value="Gray, Brydon" Brydon Gray
2034data-sort-value="Smith, Gary" Gary Smith
2035data-sort-value="Leask, James" James Leask
2036data-sort-value="Pulley, Jon" Jon Pulley
2037data-sort-value="Hunter, Jordan" Jordan Hunter
2038data-sort-value="Jamieson, Shane" Shane Jamieson
2039data-sort-value="Goudie, Scott" Scot Goudie

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Up-Helly-A' Official Programme 2023 . . 2023 . 9781904746539 . Lerwick . 5, 13.