Thousands turn out to watch spectacle of galley burning

Thousands of people watched the procession and burning of Guizer Jarl David Nicolson’s galley Per Ardua on a cold and windy but dry Up-Helly-A’ night.

The jarl raised a cheer from the ranks of almost 900 torch-bearing men around him in Lerwick’s King George V playing fields when he kissed the head of the galley which he himself made – his 12th and last.

A rousing rendition of the Galley Song preceded the throwing in of the torches in customary fashion. In the strong winds the galley burned quickly as the guizers sang the Norseman’s Home and began to disperse for a night of revelry.

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  • isabel Gillis

    • April 8th, 2012 20:53

    My mum is a ninety year old shetlander marooned in residential care in the West Midlands and no longer able to travel to Shetland. I showed her the you tube video of Up Helly Aa which she loved. Thanks for making it available to us.

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