VIDEO Forest School choir learns Sarnia Cherie

Children in the Forest School junior choir have been rehearsing the song to be recorded by the Guernsey Press and BBC Radio Guernsey and it is hoped they will perform in front of the rest of the school.

A handful of the pupils have also been chosen to join the Festiva choir when they perform the song at its Liberation70 Concert on Liberation Day at St James.

'We have been doing lots of different things for the anniversary and we thought it was important for the children to learn the song because it is part of the island's history,' said teacher Elaine Chapman.

Esme Farrell, 11, said: 'It was quite hard at first because we weren't used to the language. 'Singing it will be good entertainment for the elderly – it means a lot to them.'

We would like you to video yourself or your friends singing Sarnia Cherie. Send it to pictures@guernseypress.com.

Sarnia Cherie words:

Sarnia; dear Homeland, Gem of the sea.

Island of beauty, my heart longs for thee.

Thy voice calls me ever, in waking, or sleep,

Till my soul cries with anguish, my eyes ache to weep.

In fancy I see thee, again as of yore,

Thy verdure-clad hills and thy wave-beaten shore.

Thy rock sheltered bays, ah; of all thou art best,

I'm returning to greet thee, dear island of rest.

Sarnia Cherie, gem of the sea.

Home of my childhood, my heart longs for thee.

Thy voice calls me ever, forget thee I'll never,

Island of beauty, Sarnia Cherie.

I left thee in anger, I knew not thy worth.

Journeyed afar, to the ends of the earth.

Was told of far countries, the heav'n of the bold,

Where the soil gave up diamonds, silver and gold.

The sun always shone, and race took no part,

But thy cry always reached me, its pain wrenched my heart.

So I'm coming home, thou of all art the best.

Returning to greet thee, dear island of rest

Lyrics: George Deighton

Music: Domenico Santangelo