Solemn start to day before statue is unveiled a year late

WHILE the afternoon of Liberation Day was about celebration, the morning was for commemoration.

Bailiff Richard McMahon lays a wreath at the War Memorial at the top of Smith Street, one of the first acts of Liberation Day. (Pictures by Sophie Rabey, 29528666)

It started with the sounding of the siren at 9am, then Bailiff Richard McMahon laid a wreath at the Smith Street War Memorial before a small gathering of court officials and members of the public.

The service of thanksgiving was held at Town Church at 11am.

It was led by the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Tim Barker.

The Dean, the Very Rev. Tim Barker, conducted the service. (29528778)

‘For many people, today is a day for recalling painful and vivid memories of loss and separation, of hardship and deprivation, of fear and anxiety,’ he said in his welcome.

‘After over 12 months of disruption to our lives because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we know only too well that life and peace are both precious and fragile – and that too many people in our world do not know and enjoy the peace, security and prosperity in which we are privileged to live.’

Following the service, a sculpture was unveiled at the Guernsey Information Centre by former Bailiff Sir Richard Collas.

Guernsey’s Liberation statue, Past, Present, Future was unveiled yesterday by former Bailiff, Sir Richard Collas. There for the occasions were the four models, left to right, Erica de Sousa, 31, Harry Turner, 29, Rupert Glencross, 4, and Sylvia Glencross, 8. (29529045)

It was due to have been his final official engagement before stepping down last year, but the unveiling was delayed by 12 months due to Covid.

Education, Sport & Culture commissioned the statue, which was put in position earlier in the week, but kept under wraps until Liberation Day.

‘Seeing the statue coming down the road was quite funny because it was wrapped in loads of blankets,’ said Mark Cook, its creator and College of Further Education art and design lecturer.

For the past year it has been held securely at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre.

‘Wonderfully, anybody that was involved hasn’t put anything out there,’ said Mr Cook.

‘Obviously I was very excited for it to be unveiled, but once it’s out there for the public to see it brings some trepidation.

‘Hopefully people will feel it has captured the spirit of Liberation Day as intended.’

Four models were used to create the wartime family sculpture – siblings Sylvia, 8, and Rupert Glencross, 4, modelled the children, while Harry Turner, 29, and Erica de Sousa, 31, modelled the parents.

Sylvia said she was excited to finally see the statue.

While it is currently outside the information centre, there are plans to move it to another harbour location, which has not been announced yet.

Last year Brandon Carberry and Sydney Le Gallais created a documentary on the statue’s creation process for a satellite exhibition at Candie Museum, which is intended to be rescheduled later in the year.