60 Years of the Junior Up Helly Aa
Saturday, January 9th 2016 - Sunday, February 21st 2016
The Gadderie
The origin of the Junior Up-Helly-Aa, or “Peerie Galley”, is almost as old as Up-Helly-Aa itself. Several processions of young guizers and galleys preceded the main procession in 1903, and by 1914 no less than ten galleys and processions with torches were taking part.
These processions and small galleys sprang up around Lerwick and were organized by the parents and friends of the boys involved. Between 1920 and 1939 it was reported that the standard of workmanship on the galleys and costumes was steadily improving, and each miniature procession had its little Guizer Jarl.
It was reported in the Shetland Times in 1909 “Amid no class in the town does the Up-Helly-Aa enthusiasm run higher than among the schoolboys.” This can still be said today, but instead of several peerie galleys and processions from various parts of the town we now have one main Junior Procession before the main Up-Helly-Aa starts.
The Junior Festival was the inspiration of the Headmaster of Lerwick Central School, George W. Blance. He wanted to bring together the Peerie Galleys into one procession and burning in central Lerwick, using this to install discipline in, and prepare boys for entry into the senior festival. Navigation teacher Thomas Moncrieff built the galley as a school project, a Junior Jarl was elected and the torches were made and prepared by the Up-Helly-Aa Committee.
The first procession was held in central Lerwick in January 1956.The boys were mustered on the lower hillhead and the procession ended in the King George V Park. This was so successful that the senior committee, who at that time had to burn the galley on the outskirts of Lerwick, copied it the following year, and have burned the senior galley there ever since.
This exhibition is to celebrate 60 years of the Junior Up-Helly-Aa . It displays a complete photographic record of all the Jarls squads that have taken part, photos of other guizers, procession and burning photos, some of the suits worn by the Guizers, and a full size junior galley.
Some photos are from Malcolm Younger and various other people.
However most of the photos are from the archives of Dennis and John Coutts and the Junior Committee would like to especially thank John for all his support.