Up Helly Aa festival welcomes Stornoway harbour chief
28 January 2025
Alex Macleod, chief executive at Stornoway Port Authority, is having his day in the torchlight as part of Shetland’s famous Up Helly Aa fire festival.
Mr Macleod received an highly coveted invitation to be a Viking at the spectacular
festival as part of the Jarl Squad in Lerwick. Such an invite is an exclusive privilege
and often once-in-a-lifetime chance as it is very much a local event. Normally participants
must have been a resident in Shetland for five years before they can even be considered
to take part.
With the rest of the 61-strong squad, he receives the freedom of Lerwick (for 24
hours only) with Andrea Manson, convener of Shetland Islands Council insisting the
town must be returned in good condition on Wednesday afternoon.
Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa is always held on the last Tuesday in January with the following day being a public holiday throughout Shetland.
Squad responsibilities include pulling a replica Viking galley through the town amid visits to local schools, hospital, care homes and public venues.
Up Helly Aa is a massively exciting time in Shetland with thousands expected to line
the streets tonight for the world famous torchlit procession with lots of roaring
from Viking-clad marchers holding blazing torches high aloft before ending with the
ceremonial burning of the longship.
Guizer Jarl, the chief Viking heading up the event, Lerwick Port Authority chief executive, Captain Calum Grains, invited Tom Hutchison and Alex Macleod, his opposite numbers at Montrose and Stornoway harbours, to join his Jarl Squad.
Calum Grains said: “It is my pleasure to welcome Tom and Alex to the day’s community
activities, including the evening torchlight procession, the traditional burning
of the Viking galley and the follow-on celebrations. The visit will give them direct
experience of Up Helly Aa to long remember.”
Alex Macleod, chief executive at Stornoway Port Authority, said: “It’s an honour to be invited to be a member in this year's Jarl Squad for Up Helly Aa.
“It has always been an iconic celebration of Shetland’s rich culture and heritage, and it will be truly special to witness firsthand the passion and spirit of the community that Up Helly Aa represents.”
He was “looking forward to taking part” in the annual event “celebrating Shetland’s traditions and continue to build lasting relationships across all three ports.”
Photo: Tom Jamieson
