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.
| Year | Guizer Jarl | Portraying | Galley Name | Ranks Tune | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | data-sort-value="Robertson, J. W." | J. W. Robertson | ||||||
| 1907 | data-sort-value="Anderson, H. J." | H. J. Anderson | ||||||
| 1908 | data-sort-value="Sinclair, W." | W. Sinclair | ||||||
| 1909 | data-sort-value="Laing, Jas." | Jas. Laing | ||||||
| 1910 | data-sort-value="Anderson, G. T." | G. T. Anderson | ||||||
| 1911 | data-sort-value="Tait, E. S. Reid" | E. S. Reid Tait | ||||||
| 1912 | data-sort-value="Tait, E. S. Reid (for Kay, H.)" | E. S. Reid Tait (for H. Kay) | ||||||
| 1913 | data-sort-value="Scott, McG." | McG. Scott | ||||||
| 1914 | data-sort-value="Sandison, Laurence" | Laurence Sandison | ||||||
| 1915 | Not held due to First World War | |||||||
| 1916 | ||||||||
| 1917 | ||||||||
| 1918 | ||||||||
| 1919 | ||||||||
| 1920 | data-sort-value="Robertson, Bertie" | Bertie Robertson | ||||||
| 1921 | data-sort-value="Hawick, A. P." | A. P. Hawick | Vikings | |||||
| 1922 | data-sort-value="Burgess, George H." | George H. Burgess | Balder | |||||
| 1923 | data-sort-value="Campbell, John" | John Campbell | Frey | |||||
| 1924 | data-sort-value="Petrie, Charles A." | Charles A. Petrie | Heimdall | |||||
| 1925 | data-sort-value="Gray, Laurence" | Laurence Gray | Njord | |||||
| 1926 | data-sort-value="Manson, Charles A." | Charles A. Manson | Helgeland Vikings | |||||
| 1927 | data-sort-value="McIntosh, James" | James McIntosh | Olaf Tryggveson | |||||
| 1928 | data-sort-value="Johnson, Robert A." | Robert A. Johnson | Ullr | |||||
| 1929 | data-sort-value="Laurenson, P. Bruce" | P. Bruce Laurenson | Vikings | |||||
| 1930 | data-sort-value="Goodlad, P. S." | P. S. Goodlad | Jom Vikings | |||||
| 1931 | data-sort-value="Irvine, J. W." | J. W. Irvine | Jorsalafarers | |||||
| 1932 | data-sort-value="Moar, Peter" | Peter Moar | Vikings | |||||
| 1933 | data-sort-value="Mathewson, A. R. M." | A. R. M. Mathewson | Frithiof | |||||
| 1934 | data-sort-value="Henry, Tom" | Tom Henry | King Sverre's Birkbeiners | |||||
| 1935 | data-sort-value="Gear, John" | John Gear | Vikings | |||||
| 1936 | data-sort-value="Angus, J. W. P." | J. W. P. Angus | Varanger Guard | |||||
| 1937 | data-sort-value="Gray, Robert" | Robert Gray | Leif Erikson | |||||
| 1938 | data-sort-value="Anderson, James" | James Anderson | Hjaltlanders | |||||
| 1939 | data-sort-value="Halcrow, Gilbert" | Gilbert Halcrow | Erik the Red | |||||
| 1940 | Not held due to Second World War | |||||||
| 1941 | ||||||||
| 1942 | ||||||||
| 1943 | ||||||||
| 1944 | ||||||||
| 1945 | ||||||||
| 1946 | ||||||||
| 1947 | ||||||||
| 1948 | ||||||||
| 1949 | data-sort-value="Johnson, L. L." | L. L. Johnson | Jarl Rognvald Kolson | |||||
| 1950 | data-sort-value="Blance, G. W." | G. W. Blance | Torf-Einarr | |||||
| 1951 | data-sort-value="Hunter, J. W." | J. W. Hunter | Sverre | |||||
| 1952 | data-sort-value="Smith, J. P." | J. P. Smith | Jarl Ragnvald Môre | |||||
| 1953 | data-sort-value="Williamson, A. B." | A. B. Williamson | Eyskeggs | |||||
| 1954 | data-sort-value="Thomason, L. T." | L. T. Thomason | Hakon Hakonsson | |||||
| 1955 | data-sort-value="McIntosh, J. M." | J. M. McIntosh | Thorfin Karlsefni | |||||
| 1956 | data-sort-value="Moar, J. P." | J. P. Moar | King Harald Harfagr | |||||
| 1957 | data-sort-value="Johnston, A. G." | A. G. Johnston | Haakon the Jarl | |||||
| 1958 | data-sort-value="Manson, G. A. W." | G. A. W. Manson | Jarl Erik Haakonsson | |||||
| 1959 | data-sort-value="Scott, Jack" | Jack Scott | King Magnus Barelegs | |||||
| 1960 | data-sort-value="Tait, William L." | William L. Tait | Olaf the Saint | |||||
| 1961 | data-sort-value="Young, James" | James Young | Harald Hardrada's Vaerings | |||||
| 1962 | data-sort-value="Leask, G. W." | G. W. Leask | Olaf Kyrre | |||||
| 1963 | data-sort-value="Paton, G. A. B." | G. A. B. Paton | Sigurd the Crusader | |||||
| 1964 | data-sort-value="Hunter, J. G." | J. G. Hunter | King Harald Graafeld | Harald Grafel | Our Director | |||
| 1965 | data-sort-value="Moncrieff, Thomas" | Thomas Moncrieff | Ottar the Explorer | Loki | Our Director | |||
| 1966 | data-sort-value="Hunter, Joe S." | Joe S. Hunter | Haakon the Good | Feeyarsund | Belphegor | |||
| 1967 | data-sort-value="Smith, Douglas C." | Douglas C. Smith | Erling Skakki | Bökesunden | Stein Song | |||
| 1968 | data-sort-value="Simpson, Thomas" | Thomas Simpson | Halfdan the Black | Viggyrdil (war girdle) | Scotland the Brave | |||
| 1969 | data-sort-value="Tulloch, A. T. H." | A. T. H. Tulloch | Magnus the Lawmender | Lagaböter (lawmender) | Wark o' the Weavers | |||
| 1970 | data-sort-value="Peterson, William" | William Peterson | Einar Thambarskelver | Ormrinn Langi (long serpent) | Our Director | |||
| 1971 | data-sort-value="Anderson, Allan" | Allan Anderson | Tore the Hound | Ulvin (wolf) | Imperial Echoes | |||
| 1972 | data-sort-value="Laurenson, John L." | John L. Laurenson | Bonder | Gula Ting Skib | Erimus | |||
| 1973 | data-sort-value="Geddes, Robert" | Robert Geddes | Floki of the Ravens | Geirhilda | Standard of St George | |||
| 1974 | data-sort-value="Kerr, James" | James Kerr | Magnus the Good | Bison | Saints | |||
| 1975 | data-sort-value="Manson, Maurice" | Maurice Manson | Earl Thorfinn the Mighty | Bifrost | Rasmus | |||
| 1976 | data-sort-value="Johnston, John" | John Johnston | Kali Kolsson | Fifa (arrow) | Under the Double Eagle | |||
| 1977 | data-sort-value="Hunter, George" | George Hunter | Sigmund Brestisson of Faroe | Skuda | Radetsky | |||
| 1978 | data-sort-value="Leith, Peter" | Peter Leith | Bjorn of Mousa | Thora | Mangaster Voe | |||
| 1979 | data-sort-value="Nicolson, J. J." | J. J. Nicolson | Egil Scallagrimsson | Kveldulf (night wolf) | Slantigart | |||
| 1980 | data-sort-value="Leslie, D. G." | D. G. Leslie | Jan Bjornejegeren | Vår (spring) | B/M Burgoyne | |||
| 1981 | data-sort-value="Jamieson, Harry" | Harry Jamieson | Thorvald Thoreson | Virda | Blaze Away | |||
| 1982 | data-sort-value="Crossan, Kenneth" | Kenneth Crossan | Hakon's Fakkelbaere | Ormen (serpent) | Gerty Boys | |||
| 1983 | data-sort-value="Burgess, James" | James Burgess | Kári Solmundarson | Njord (god of wealth, sea & fire) | Fraternity | |||
| 1984 | data-sort-value="Malcolmson, Peter" | Peter Malcolmson | Eirik Bloodaxe Haraldson | Bokies | Blayden Races | |||
| 1985 | data-sort-value="Ratter, John" | John Ratter | Thorvald Inflyterre | Laks | Aces High | |||
| 1986 | data-sort-value="Stronach, Gordon" | Gordon Stronach | Sigurd's Crusaders | Nordlys (northern lights) | Sigurd's March | |||
| 1987 | data-sort-value="Simpson, Magnus" | Magnus Simpson | Ragnar Lodbrok | Sungam | Brown Girl | |||
| 1988 | data-sort-value="Simpson, Charles" | Charles Simpson | Thorbjorn Clerk | Ravnur | Holyrood | |||
| 1989 | data-sort-value="Black, Willie" | Willie Black | Halfdan of Brouster | Jaruin | Black Bear | |||
| 1990 | data-sort-value="Mathewson, John" | John Mathewson | Svein Asleifarson | Gareksey | Colonel Bogey | |||
| 1991 | data-sort-value="Johnston" | Andrew Johnston | Thorstein Olafsson | Sjøormen | Anchors Away | |||
| 1992 | data-sort-value="Moncrieff, Laurence" | Laurence Moncrieff | Magnus Erlendsson | Shoormal | Valdres March | |||
| 1993 | data-sort-value="Gair, Ronald" | Ronald Gair | Earl Rognvald Brusason | Vagsoy | Roll Out the Barrel | |||
| 1994 | data-sort-value="Grant, Charles" | Charles W. Grant | Goturm the Dane | Drakker | Old Comrades | |||
| 1995 | data-sort-value="Leask, Peter R." | Peter R. Leask | Jon Petersson of Sogn | Alasund | Vienna Remains Vienna | |||
| 1996 | data-sort-value="Coutts, Jim" | Jim Coutts | Brúsi Sigurdsson | Vågar | The Happy Wanderer | |||
| 1997 | data-sort-value="Smith, Willie" | Willie Smith | Sigurd Magnusson | Garvor | Gammel Jegermarsj | |||
| 1998 | data-sort-value="Summers, Colin" | Colin Summers | Thorbjorn of Wast Burrafirt | Lori Tafgen | Jarl Summers Time | |||
| 1999 | data-sort-value="Mathewson, Davie" | Davie Mathewson | Sigurd Hlodvisson | Ásmundarvag | Liberty Bell | |||
| 2000 | data-sort-value="Goudie, Billy" | Billy Goudie | Harald Maddadsson | Hvit Lyn | British Legion | |||
| 2001 | data-sort-value="Groat, Michael" | Michael Groat | Gunnar Hamundarson | Old Faithful | Blaze Away | |||
| 2002 | data-sort-value="Leask, Bruce" | Bruce Leask | Harald Gilli Magnusson | Vestmaenir | Highland Laddie | |||
| 2003 | data-sort-value="Johnson, Alex" | Alex Johnson | Olaf Sitricson | Aaksytrik | Wilds o' Yell | |||
| 2004 | data-sort-value="Manson, Stanley" | Stanley Manson | Naddod of Faroe | Bergholm | Show Business | |||
| 2005 | data-sort-value="Fraser, Peter" | Peter Fraser | Earl Sigurd o' Gord | Pete's Dragon | Teddy Bears' Picnic | |||
| 2006 | data-sort-value="Manson, Mark" | Mark Manson | Einar of Gullberuvik | Moogi | Blues on the March | |||
| 2007 | data-sort-value="Nicolson, Graham" | Graham Nicolson | Gunnar Egilsson | Jupiter | Blaze Away | |||
| 2008 | data-sort-value="Leask, Roy" | Roy Leask | Kol Kalison | Breckon | Dambusters March | |||
| 2009 | data-sort-value="Mouat, Stephen" | Stephen Mouat | Othere Fra Hålogaland | Is Bjørn | The Great Escape | |||
| 2010 | data-sort-value="Simpson, Rae" | Rae Simpson | Sigurd "Snake-Eye" Ragnarsson | Avie-Jane | Killiecrankie | |||
| 2011 | data-sort-value="Hunter, John" | John Hunter | Johan Sanderrevet of Valsgärde | Jägare | The Regiment | |||
| 2012 | data-sort-value="Nicolson, David" | David Nicolson | Böthvar Egilsson | Per Ardua | The A-Team | |||
| 2013 | data-sort-value="Grant, Stephen" | Stephen Grant | Gamle Eriksson | Krisara | On the Quarterdeck | |||
| 2014 | data-sort-value="Cluness, Ivor" | Ivor Cluness | Ivar (The Boneless) Ragnarsson | Congo Warrior | Raiders March | |||
| 2015 | data-sort-value="Robertson, Neil" | Neil Robertson | Olav Harldsson | Nils Olav | Out of the Blue | |||
| 2016 | data-sort-value="Evans, Mark" | Mark Evans | Solmund Sigurdsson of Tønsberg | Lauren Grace | Pride of Princess Street | |||
| 2017 | data-sort-value="Gair, Lyall" | Lyall Gair | Sweyn "Forkbeard" Haraldsson | Falcon | Gonna Fly Now | |||
| 2018 | data-sort-value="Jamieson, Stewart" | Stewart Jamieson | Thorvald Thorvaldsson | Blaze Away | Old Comrades | |||
| 2019 | data-sort-value="Nicolson, John" | John Nicolson | Thorstein Egilsson | Chloe Barbara | The Magnificent Seven | |||
| 2020 | data-sort-value="Summers, Liam" | Liam Summers | Odin - Lord of the Gallows | Yggdrasil | Erimus | |||
| 2021 | Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||
| 2022 | ||||||||
| 2023 | data-sort-value="Moncrieff, Neil" | Neil Moncrieff | Njal Thorgeirsson | Petingaer | The Middy | [1] | ||
| 2024 | data-sort-value="Moar, Richard" | Richard Moar | Harald Olafsson | Ethena |
| |||
| 2025 | data-sort-value="Grains, Calum" | Calum Grains | ||||||
| 2026 | data-sort-value="Nicolson, Lynden" | Lynden Nicolson | ||||||
| 2027 | data-sort-value="Leith, Ryan" | Ryan Leith | ||||||
| 2028 | data-sort-value="Wright, Brydon" | Brydon Wright | ||||||
| 2029 | data-sort-value="Garrick, Graeme" | Graeme Garrick | ||||||
| 2030 | data-sort-value="Geddes, Robert" | Robert Geddes | ||||||
| 2031 | data-sort-value="Wright, Ryan" | Ryan Wright | ||||||
| 2032 | data-sort-value="Fraser, Neil" | Neil Fraser | ||||||
| 2033 | data-sort-value="Gray, Brydon" | Brydon Gray | ||||||
| 2034 | data-sort-value="Smith, Gary" | Gary Smith | ||||||
| 2035 | data-sort-value="Leask, James" | James Leask | ||||||
| 2036 | data-sort-value="Pulley, Jon" | Jon Pulley | ||||||
| 2037 | data-sort-value="Hunter, Jordan" | Jordan Hunter | ||||||
| 2038 | data-sort-value="Jamieson, Shane" | Shane Jamieson | ||||||
| 2039 | data-sort-value="Goudie, Scott" | Scot Goudie | ||||||