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1987 JIM
EASTON - " Parallel Lines "
Born and brought up " up the
Braes ", where the land can
be somewhat marginal, we
were able to look over to
the north-east and see the
green, and much more fertile
land of the south flank of
the Flints and Erngath
Ridge. My father and uncles
were all miners and seemed
to know all about Bo'ness -
" lies over that hill " -
and one had the feeling of a
people apart, quite
different from ALL around,
and moreover, not reluctant
to let people " outside "
know of this feeling.
It was not then with any
great surprise, twenty years
on, when circumstances
dictated that I should live
in Bo'ness, that I met for
the first time the idea that
I was " an incomer ", and
all true Bo'nessians know
what that means! Somehow,
the geographical positions
of Carriden Brae, Flints and
the Snab, virtually enclosed
a society, with a community
spirit and standard of
self-reliance which seemed
quite unique.
Then, as if to re-write the
chapter, when, twenty years
on, circumstances again
dictated that I should live
this time in Shetland - I
met for the second time the
idea that I met an incomer -
but Shetlanders have a
different name for such a
one - soothmoother - viz.
one who enters Shetland by
the south entrance of the
main harbour at Lerwick.
Here the geographical
cut-off is a much more
finite one in the shape of
the harsh seas of the
Pentland Firth, but yet
another society with a
community spirit and
standards of self-reliance,
of which they are
justifiably proud!
In a most fascinating book -
" North over Sea " by john
Leirfal, he traces the
development of Norse culture
and communities in the
Shetland, Orkneys and
Hebrides, and on reaching
the present day poses the
question - " And after the
Oil - What?" In a somewhat
less classically erudite
way, one is prompted to ask
a similar question about
Bo'ness - " And after the
Coal - What?" And no doubt,
a fascinating parallel was
posed by the forefathers of
many of you reading this who
are Bo'nessians, - " And
after the Whaling - What?"
The common theme continues
in almost every aspect one
examines, yet, as one would,
in fact, expect of two such
strong communities - the
same but different!
Shetlanders are fiercely
proud of their heritage, and
indeed, discussed breaking
away from British rule. (
One tries to envisage
Bo'ness declaring U.D.I.
with one of our local
Councillors as Supremo!).
They already have an
enterprising Heritage
Organisation in operation,
while we in Bo'ness are
working hard to catch up.
Music plays a dominant part
in both communities with the
well known Shetland fiddling
- which, as one might expect
from them, is different from
other types of fiddling -
and Bo'ness of course, is
not content with only one
instrumental Band, but has
three, and a Pipe Band as
well as a flourishing
Operatic Society.
As an Incomer, or a
Soothmoother, it is not
until one makes it obvious
that one is willing to
assist or take part, that it
all begins to happen. In
these circumstances, each
community has a way of
making it clear that they
will meet you more than
half-way, and I know that
there are many " Incomers "
in Bo'ness who will concur
with that - not least those
who have had principals in
The Fair!
No Bo'nessian, worth his
Whalemeat, or Salt, or Coal,
would ever countenance that
there could be an event
quite like THE FAIR.
Equally, no Shetlander would
ever admit that there could
by anything like ' Up Helly
Aa ', and significantly,
having been involved in
both, I cannot disagree with
either!
I am sure herein lies the
total secret of both
communities, that which
makes them at once unique,
yet the same - the spirit of
the community demonstrated
so visibly by the two
events.
Up Helly Aa - the Fire
Festival - is held on the
eve of the Summer Solstice,
something like the first
Tuesday after the second
Thursday in January. The
central figure is The Guizer
Jarl, representing a Viking
Chief leading his favoured
squad of guizers. The
detail of the event has
altered over the years but
it now involves the Jarl
squad dragging a replica of
a galley through the town,
leading a torchlight
procession of many other
guizers, all in squads with
each squad dressed up to
represent the theme chosen
by themselves - just as
Presentees do for the Fair.
When the procession reaches
the agreed rendezvous, all
the torches are piled into
the galley - which in some
places is floated out on the
water - as a funeral pyre
for the end of Winter. The
feasting, singing and go on
till daylight, with all of
the guizer squads having
visited each of several
halls where they perform
their individual squad
routines. To achieve the
most prestigious position of
Jarl, a man has of the group
squad. Each year, a
different group provides the
Jarl so that only after
being involved and working
on the project for many
years, can a man hope to
have a chance to be the
Guizer Jarl, and thereafter
hold a very special place in
the Community. Preparation
for the event starts
immediately the current one
is over, planning, devising
costumes, raising funds,
building galleys, etc, and
involves the whole community
throughout the year.
In the organisation of The
Fair, the honour of
providing the Queen passes
from year to year in
rotation round the Schools.
The Queen is chosen by her
peers as are her Chief Lady
in Waiting, Queen of the
Fairies and Queen of the
Flower Girls. Great
excitement is generated too
in choosing the groups of
Fairies, Flower Girls and
various other members of the
Court, and, while perhaps
not having achieved the
highest honours, it is with
no less pride they recount
in later years their
participation as a Fairy,
Flower Girl or other Court
attendant.
As a further involvement,
each School selects a squad
of Presentees, attired and
trained to perform their
chosen theme in front of the
Queen after her crowning and
later at the Court Revels on
the afternoon of The Day.
The whole town sets about
painting, erecting Arches
and decorating house
fronts. Decorated floats
carry the Queen and all her
retinue through the town,
leading a procession of
displays; all of the Bands
from the town - and often
including visiting Bands
from overseas; Youth
Organisations and marching
school-children, in what -
as the Bo'ness Children's
Fair Festival - is a most
memorable and exciting day
for all.
One of the highlights of the
adult participation is Fair
E'en when the whole
population seems to go round
the town to inspect Arches
and decorations, ( many,
closely guarded secrets,
still being erected so that
they cannot be imitated
before the great day ), and
the visiting of friends and
" togetherness " goes on
into the wee sma' 'oors.
The parallels are obvious,
the spirit and charm of both
communities are so similar
that I am sure that both
would appreciate the other,
and I would like to see
common ties maturing into a
" twinning " organisation
between Lerwick and Bo'ness.
It has been a great pleasure
to live in Bo'ness/Shetland;
to be accepted as an Incomer
in a most warm-hearted way;
to be allowed to take part
in the most unique events in
the life of each place, and
it has to be with some
regret that the ultimate
attainment I cannot achieve!
I can never be a Bo'nessian!
JIM EASTON
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