Local celebrations fitting as Liberation goes global
LOCAL celebrations of freedom and remembrance were fitting for a year in which Guernsey’s Occupation and Liberation was brought to a worldwide audience.
The 73rd anniversary of the Liberation was marked with celebrations across the island.
A service at the Town Church in the morning focusing on community in the face of conflict was called ‘moving’ and ‘uplifting’. It was streamed live on two screens for a bigger audience to see.
The traditional parades, dancing and food stalls were spread across the Town piers and esplanades with live music going on late into the night as well as the usual fireworks display.
People were given two chances to see the C47 aircraft, the military version of the DC3, which featured in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society film, set just after Liberation in 1945. The plane spent much of the day at the airport and flew low over the cavalcade.
Children’s activities were aplenty from go-karting to crafting activities for all ages as well as face painting, bubbles and balloons.
Thousands gathered in Town and hundreds more at other venues such as the Last Post in St Andrew’s which was this year taken over by the Vale Earth Fair Collective.
‘They’ve got such a lot of entertainment, it was all running very smoothly and everyone had a drink in their hand,’ said volunteer Jon Bisson.
Visitors were particularly impressed with the friendly atmosphere and wealth of food and spectacle on offer on the day.
‘We can’t believe how friendly everyone is, we love it, if your next question is will we be back we definitely will,’ said Allan Roache, 76, a tourist from the UK.
Although rain was forecast for later in the evening the day was dry with temperatures reaching 15C and Guernsey Police had no reported incidents of trouble as of late afternoon.
Eight-page supplement in tomorrow's Guernsey Press with more stories and pictures
