Vagaland
Encyclopedia
Vagaland is arguably the greatest Shetland poet of the 20th century, was born Thomas Alexander Robertson at Westerwick
at the southern tip of the parish of Sandsting, his mother’s home. He was the second son of Thomas Robertson of Skeld
and his wife Andrina Johnston. Tragically his merchant seaman father drowned before his first birthday, and his mother moved with her two sons to Stove in Waas (Walls
).
Here the poet grew up, in no little hardship, though his deep love for the land and the people overcame that - it was to be the old Norse name for the area that he adopted as his nom-de-plume. A shy boy who adjusted with difficulty to the rough and tumble of school, he was nonetheless able both at physical and intellectual pursuits, and in time he excelled. He took his MA at Edinburgh University and was offered the possibility of postgraduate work at Oxford
, which he turned down for financial reasons, instead becoming a teacher at the Lerwick Central School and carer to his ailing mother.
In 1953, he married Martha (‘Pat’), daughter of the Reverend Robert Andrew, Church of Scotland
minister in Walls for over forty years, a girl he had known in childhood. She became a colleague and collaborator on many fronts, and together they edited Da Sangs at A’ll sing ta Dee (The Songs that I'll sing to you), a collection of dialect songs and music (1973). One of his own lyric poems, Da Sang o da Papa Men, written from the perspective of the Papa Stour
fishermen 'rowin Foula
doon', has become a favourite Shetland song, to music composed by T.M.Y.Manson.
In 1945, Vagaland was instrumental in the founding of the Shetland Folk Society
and he was an office-bearer from its inception until his death after a long illness, in Lerwick on the 30th of December 1973. He was one of the writers who helped to establish The New Shetlander
in 1947, and he was a key supporter of the journal for twenty seven years till his death. Each issue included at least one poem by Vagaland. With John J. Graham
, he co-wrote 'Grammar and Usage of the Shetland Dialect' (1952); co-edited the influential anthology of Shetland verse and prose, 'Nordern Lights' (1964), both crucially important publications, and a number of volumes of the The Shetland Folk Book.
Westerwick
Westerwick is a settlement in Shetland. It faces south with high cliffs on both sides of the wick. There is a small stony beach at the head, and the surrounding land is greener with fewer rocky outcrops than the usual Shetland scene....
at the southern tip of the parish of Sandsting, his mother’s home. He was the second son of Thomas Robertson of Skeld
Skeld
Skeld, is a village on the south side of the West Shetland Mainland. The main village is also referred to as Easter Skeld, while the western end of the settlement, about a mile away, is known as Wester Skeld. The council housing estate in Skeld is called Grindybrecks.it also has a school on a...
and his wife Andrina Johnston. Tragically his merchant seaman father drowned before his first birthday, and his mother moved with her two sons to Stove in Waas (Walls
Walls
- Other uses :*Wall's , a company that makes ice cream*Wall's sausages, a British sausage brand*Walls, an episode of Power Rangers S.P.D.- Music :*Walls EP, a 2005 album by The Red Paintings*Walls , 2007...
).
Here the poet grew up, in no little hardship, though his deep love for the land and the people overcame that - it was to be the old Norse name for the area that he adopted as his nom-de-plume. A shy boy who adjusted with difficulty to the rough and tumble of school, he was nonetheless able both at physical and intellectual pursuits, and in time he excelled. He took his MA at Edinburgh University and was offered the possibility of postgraduate work at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, which he turned down for financial reasons, instead becoming a teacher at the Lerwick Central School and carer to his ailing mother.
In 1953, he married Martha (‘Pat’), daughter of the Reverend Robert Andrew, Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
minister in Walls for over forty years, a girl he had known in childhood. She became a colleague and collaborator on many fronts, and together they edited Da Sangs at A’ll sing ta Dee (The Songs that I'll sing to you), a collection of dialect songs and music (1973). One of his own lyric poems, Da Sang o da Papa Men, written from the perspective of the Papa Stour
Papa Stour
Papa Stour is one of the Shetland Islands in Scotland, with a population of under twenty people, some of whom immigrated after an appeal for residents in the 1970s. Located to the west of mainland Shetland and with an area of 828 hectares , Papa Stour is the eighth largest island in Shetland...
fishermen 'rowin Foula
Foula
Foula in the Shetland Islands of Scotland is one of Great Britain’s most remote permanently inhabited islands. Owned since the turn of the 20th century by the Holbourn family, the island was the location for the film The Edge of the World...
doon', has become a favourite Shetland song, to music composed by T.M.Y.Manson.
In 1945, Vagaland was instrumental in the founding of the Shetland Folk Society
Shetland Folk Society
The Shetland Folk Society was created in 1945 as a heritage group, to gather, record and support all aspects of Shetland's cultural history. The first president was T. A. Robertson , who served until his death in 1973, after which John J. Graham took on the role...
and he was an office-bearer from its inception until his death after a long illness, in Lerwick on the 30th of December 1973. He was one of the writers who helped to establish The New Shetlander
The New Shetlander
The New Shetlander is Scotland's longest running literary magazine, founded in 1947, and edited originally by Peter Jamieson. Priced at £1.90, it has had a central role in Shetland's Literature since it was founded. For the greater part of its existence thus far, 1956 till 1988, the NS benefited...
in 1947, and he was a key supporter of the journal for twenty seven years till his death. Each issue included at least one poem by Vagaland. With John J. Graham
John J. Graham
John J. Graham was an American graphic artist who designed and created both the NBC peacock logo and the NBC "snake" logo ....
, he co-wrote 'Grammar and Usage of the Shetland Dialect' (1952); co-edited the influential anthology of Shetland verse and prose, 'Nordern Lights' (1964), both crucially important publications, and a number of volumes of the The Shetland Folk Book.
- “ … His constant passion for maintaining the continuity of local tradition … was no mere antiquarian indulgence. It was fired by a real conviction, founded on personal experience, that the past revealed true insights into the art of living; that out of the lives of ordinary folk, engaged in their daily tasks and sustained by the warmth of close communities, there emerged basic truths about the human situation. And his poems were evocations of that life and affirmations of those truths … " John J. Graham, The New Shetlander
- “ … His poetry is simple and direct and often has the quality of the historical ballad … he had a natural gift for expressing himself in a lyrical poetry that also reveals his attitude to life and people …” Liv K. Schei, The Shetland Story, (London, 1988)
- "A poet of the countryside, like Wordsworth or Clare ... ... the timeless Shetland before the twentieth century overwhelmed it ..." The Orcadian
Sources
- The original text of this article was from http://shetlopedia.com/Vagaland a GFDL wiki.