Cavalcade vehicles ready to roll to celebrate Liberation
NEARLY 100 vehicles have been readied for today’s island-wide Liberation Day Cavalcade.
Starting from Torteval Church at 2pm, it will pass various events through all the parishes, before finishing at the Longfrie Inn two hours later.
Both the Guernsey Old Car Club and Guernsey Military Vehicle Group have members taking part.
‘Everything’s ready and we are ready to go,’ said cavalcade director Jeff Vidamour. ‘We think there is going to be about 90 vehicles in all, but it depends on the weather. Hopefully the rain will hold off, because some of the vehicles are open-topped, and some are vintage and need looking after.’
Parts of the journey will be live-streamed for those who cannot see it.
‘Although the timings are as per the Liberation Day website, we don’t know what we’ll encounter en route. Some places may be busier than others and we hope lots of people will turn out to watch on the road.
‘We’ll be going past community events like St Saviour’s Community Centre, the Last Post, Fairfield, Cobo and the Rockmount – no doubt some people may be having large amounts of refreshments.
‘We’ll proceed around the coast in a northerly direction and then through Town.’
How fast it moves depends on the police escorts and nothing will be thrown from the vehicles.
‘We have done a trial run at 15mph but it may vary. In “hotspots” we’ll slow right down because children are always enthusiastic,’ Mr Vidamour said.
‘We’re aiming to complete the circuit at the Longfrie. All the vehicles will disperse from there, as the end of the official tour. Overall we’re hoping it’s a reasonable day – so long as the suns comes out we’ll be happy.’
Eight schools were visited by some of the cavalcade vehicles yesterday. Cavalcade organising committee member Paul Bourgaize said: ‘They might not have been able to see them up close otherwise. Everybody waves at us when we’re driving around and is pleased to see us.’
Mr Bourgaize drives a Navy Jeep.
‘We make sure everything’s running correctly, we’re talking about old vehicles here. The Jeep had an average [wartime] lifespan of three weeks, so to say it’s lasted this long is a testament to the engineering.’
. Visit liberationday.gg/event-programme/ for a map of the route.
Guide to Liberation Day events
. 7am, Velo Club road race begins at L’Eree.
. 8.59am the siren will sound from Victoria Tower, followed by two minutes’ silence.
. 9am the schools’ relay race begins at Memorial Field.
. 9am-6pm the Grandes Rocques Kiosk family fun day is on, with live music, food and activities, in conjunction with Guernsey Mind.
. 10am Starting at Rousse, the Liberation Day run commences, moving through Bordeaux to finish at North Beach.
. 10am at Cobo slipway the blessing of Grosse Rocque flag, with refreshments at Cobo Community Centre afterwards.
. 10am-4pm, free admission to Castle Cornet.
. Family fun day in Market Square from 10am-4pm.
. 10.30am St Sampson’s Church is holding its thanksgiving service.
.10.30am Forest is hosting a day of entertainment from 10.30am at the Mallard show ground, Venture Inn and Mallard Cinema.
. 10.45am Wreath laying at the War Memorial, followed by a Town Church service at 11am.
. 11am Torteval Church is hosting a service before lunch in the parish hall ahead of the cavalcade setting off.
. 12.15pm Guests arrive for the unveiling of the new 75th anniversary monument outside the Guernsey Information Centre, with music from Guernsey Concert Brass Band. At 12.45, former Bailiff Sir Richard Collas will deliver a speech, followed by sculptor Mark Cook and Education, Sport & Culture president Andrea Dudley-Owen, before the statue is unveiled at 1pm.
. At 2pm the Liberation Day Cavalcade sets off from Torteval Church, passing through St Saviour’s, St Andrew’s, Castel, Vale, St Sampson’s, St Peter Port, St Martin’s, Forest and St Peter’s before disbanding at The Longfrie Inn.
. From 2-4pm St Saviour’s is hosting a tea party in the rectory gardens.
. From 2.30-4.30pm, St Sampson’s Community Hall is hosting an afternoon tea party.
. Picnic and cavalcade watching event at Fairfield, Route de l’Eglise, Castel. The cavalcade is due to pass by at 2.40pm.
. 9.15pm fireworks will close the day at Castle Cornet.
. Sark is hosting Liberation Day celebrations on Monday 10 May with a cavalcade, church service, picnic and evening entertainment.
. Visit facebook.com/LiberationGSY or liberationday.gg to view the live-streamed events.
