Junior Guizer Jarl - Grant Polson
Magnus Erlandsson
Grant has chosen to portray the esteemed Earl Magnus, later canonised Saint Magnus, and commemorated by St. Magnus Cathedral, Orkney, and St. Magnus Bay, Shetland.
Magnus was son of Earl Erland of Orkney and Shetland, who had ruled the islands jointly with his brother Paul. They had fought at the great battle of Stamford Bridge with King Harald the Headstrong in 1066 and both survived the Norwegian army's defeat.
Magnus co-ruled the Northern Islands, as his father before him, but with his cousin Hakon. As throughout the Orkneyinga Saga, jealousy and feuding were commonplace, and thus Hakon felt that the joint rulership cease. Attacks and skirmishes ensued. A battle in Orkney was imminent when the noblemen of the isles, friends to both Earls, arranged a meeting between Hakon and Magnus.
The meeting to confirm the peace and goodwill between them was to take place on Egilsay in spring during Holy Week. But Earl Hakon was treacherous, and the peace meeting, betrayal, murder and martyrdom of Saint Magnus is fully described in the Orkneyinga Saga.
The rocky overgrown place where Earl Magnus was killed in April 1117 turned into a green field. His mother, Thora, pleaded for her son to be buried at Christ Kirk where a bright heavenly light was often seen over the grave. Ailing people kept vigil at the grave and recovered their health. Legend has it that those most deeply involved in the betrayal, died cruel and violent deaths. The stone Minster later built by his nephew Rognvald in Kirkwall is where Earl Magnus was finally interred. He was canonised in 1135 following numerous miracles attributed to him.
Grant has aptly named his galley after his great-grandmother's house in Yell - "Vigga" ('The way to the wetland').
The galley will be on view at the Anderson High School car park from 9.30 to 11.00am before the Junior Jarl and his Squad, along with the galley and Lerwick Pipe Band, march north along Commercial Street to the foot of Harbour Street starting from the Post Office at approx. 11.15am (weather permitting), then proceeding to Sound Primary School. The galley will be on view at Islesburgh Community Centre until about 3.00pm.
Guizers will muster on the Lower Hillhead at 5.15pm and the light-up signalled by a MAROON, will be 5.30pm precisely. The route will be along the Lower Hillhead, down King Erik Street and around the South Playing Field. After the guizers have circled the inside of the north field the last rites will take place in the centre of the park. "The Feast, the Dance, the Song" for the Junior guizers and their friends will be in the High School on Monday, 3rd February, where they will be visited by the Senior Jarl and some of his men.
1. Junior Jarl's Squad (15) 2. The Flower Pot Men (5) 3. T.I.B. (Teenagers In Black) (7) 4. The Mask Way Out West (2) 5. Star Wars (4) 6. Soldier, Soldier (5) 7. Sex Pistols (4) 8. Animals (4) | 9. The Rap Pac (5) 10. Cadets (5) 11. Gangsters (7) 12. Men In Black (4) 13. The Auld Firm (7) 14. Pinky and Perky (2) 15. Shetland Spice Girls (6) 16. Resident Evil (6) |
1956 Odin - John Halcrow 1957 Thor - Alexander Scott 1958 Baldur - Gordon Smith 1959 Sleipner - Bobby Robertson 1960 Loki - Ian Campbell 1961 Valkyrie - Douglas Dalziel 1962 Valhalla - Andrew Johnston 1963 Hvitdraga - Roger Thomason 1964 Heimdal - Angus Stevenson 1965 Ellidi - John Williamson 1966 Iduna - Brydon Peterson 1967 Niord - Robert Leask 1968 Mjolnir - Alex Simpson 1969 Freya - Edward Sim 1970 Geirhilda - David Summers 1971 Aegir - Robert Simpson 1972 Verdandi - Gary Nicolson 1973 Varanger - Magnus Leask 1974 Helgi - Michael Johnston 1975 Sol - Terry Strachan 1976 Tyr - George Leask | 1977 Hugin - Melvyn Leask 1978 Munin - Ian Isbister 1979 Virna - Ian Mann 1980 Circa - Robert Leask 1981 Floka-Vardi -Mark Sandison 1982 Oseberg - Steven Johnson 1983 Helluland - Alan Pottinger 1984 Gokstad - Campbell Jamieson 1985 Ikigait - Iain Johnston 1986 Dynröst - Victor Sandison 1987 Skraeling - Grant Wiseman 1988 Skerdoya - Michael Grant 1989 Sjørøver - Bryan Goodlad 1990 Synnive - Bryan Peterson 1991 Brenning - Robert Geddes 1992 Kolvarøv - Gary Robertson 1993 Runa - Tom Ward 1994 Asgard - Luke Hunter 1995 Sjøfuglen - Gary Manson 1996 Sønja - Steven Henderson 1997 Helga - John Bulter |