Marco recreates 1945 Lib Day photo with help from public
A CALM and sunny morning brought about 100 people to the steps of the Royal Court building yesterday to recreate a classic photograph taken nearly 80 years ago.
In the wake of the success of his book Guernsey Past and Present, which collected modern photos alongside the same area taken years earlier, Marco Tersigni has created a second volume, this time focusing on the Occupation years.
Sunday saw him taking the final modern photo to go in the new book, recreating the scene outside the Royal Court on 9 May 1945, when the Union flag was raised after the signing over of military control into the hands of the island’s civil authorities.
The original showed a large crowd of joyous islanders celebrating the event, and while the number who turned up for the recreation was not as large, there was still enthusiasm.
Andy Eborall was there with his partner, Teresa Brouard, and grandson, Matthew Haines, 10. ‘I thought it would be nice in years to come – he can tell his children he was there with his gran and granddad,’ he said.
Allan and Caroline Besnard’s involvement was more impromptu. ‘It’s a nice morning and we thought we’d come out for a walk,’ said Mrs Besnard.
‘I thought it would be nice [to be in the photo] since my mum’s in a picture of the Liberation, down by the old States office. She was a little girl of seven.’
Julie Smith had an original copy of the photo being recreated, with her grandmother, Eleanor Le Vallee, in the front row. She had never known her, but said she was excited to have the chance to be in the new version of the photo herself.
The picture taken yesterday also features a guest of honour – author Molly Bihet, who, at the age of 14, was present on the day the original photo was taken, albeit she was the wrong side of the camera.
Mrs Bihet was standing on the steps by the door next to Brigadier Snow. She said she had been up since about 6am that day. ‘I was following things everywhere,’ she said. ‘There was a neighbour next to me and an older lady and they were both cuddling him.’
While not as large a crowd as in the original, Mr Tersigni was pleased with the number who did turn out.
He said the new book should be published in early May.
