Community / Spirits high in Nesting and Girlsta as jarl Ragnarsson takes charge
WHEN Bjorn Ironside Ragnarsson, better known locally as Scott Johnson, got his day underway leading his squad of 46 men and 11 youngsters through the communities of Nesting and Girlsta this morning he had several reasons to celebrate.
Not only is he the guizer jarl of the first of the smaller country fire festivals but it is also the 20th anniversary of his squad which was formed while he was still a pupil at the Anderson High School.
Aged just 35, it is a remarkable achievement to be able to look back at a 20-year history of revelry.
And in setting the tone for the weekend ahead, the jarl admits they were young then but have been going “strong ever since”.
Originally from Vidlin, Scott lives with his wife Louise and young son Kieran in Nesting. It is a proud moment for the four-year-old as joins his father as the youngest member of the jarl squad.
Inspired by the epic Vikings series on Amazon Prime, Scott chose to represent Bjorn Ironside Ragnarsson, the second son of notorious Viking king Ragnar Lodbrok who lived in the 9th century.
Bjorn Ironside, a fearsome warrior who was involved in raids in France, is also said to have been the ruler of the Swedish Munsö dynasty.
Scott meanwhile takes the freedom of adding to the saga by spinning a local tale with Ragnarsson joining his squad in Nesting for the festivities and a bit of pillaging.
Describing his take on the story, he says: “Ragnarsson comes to the Nesting village here and he falls in with our characters here. “We build a longship together and we carry on raiding and pillaging and do a lot of good raids throughout the years.”
All in good humour, of course, and no damage done because, after all, this is a community event with a lot of fun; a party that brings everyone together.
“Being the jarl is very important to me,” Scott says as he describes his feelings ahead of his big day on Friday.
“It brings the whole community together. “It is not just the event in itself, it’s the run-up to it as well. Everyone is involved; if you’re not involved in the squads then you are in the hall or making torches.
“It brings different characters together you would normally not spend time with. It’s laid back, everybody gets on with it and has a good time, enjoying themselves and looking after each other.”
Following a busy day of visits to local schools, including Lunnasting, and elsewhere in the community, guizers will muster at the South Nesting Hall for the lighting up of torches at 7.30pm and the procession to the burning site.
After that the party will get underway in the North Nesting, South Nesting and Whiteness and Weisdale halls.
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