'Fabulous' Liberation Day the new template, says deputy in charge
The politician in charge of Liberation Day wants Tuesday’s programme of events – which were split between the parishes and Town – to become the model for future years.
Deputy Sue Aldwell said that organisers of this year’s 78th anniversary celebrations had struck the right balance following criticism last year that not enough was organised in St Peter Port.
‘I think it’s going to have to be this way,’ she said.
‘There are so many people who like to be parish-based because they can walk and it brings them all together, and people love the Town, so it has to be a bit of both.’
For the second year running, most parishes organised events, which were well attended. But St Peter Port also hosted a range of events in the Town centre, including in Market Square and on the Crown Pier. And the cavalcade took a shorter route through the parishes to allow it to stop in Town.
‘It has been just fabulous,’ said Deputy Aldwell yesterday.
‘The pier and Town were buzzing and everyone was in a great mood. They love the parish events but they wanted a focal point in Town and somewhere to dance.’
Deputy Aldwell spent Liberation Day morning with her family and then went to L’Eree, where St Peter’s hosted the largest and most popular of the parish events, and where she met visiting Chelsea pensioners and Gurkhas among a crowd of hundreds of locals.
She then popped into St Martin’s parish event on her way to join celebrations in Town, where she gave a public vote of thanks ahead of the evening’s concert and fireworks finale.
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She said she had been delighted to meet one woman in particular who had been critical of the lack of activity in Town last year but was pleased with this year’s changes.
‘I told her she had made my day,’ said Deputy Aldwell.
She said that positive feedback received from so many people meant this year’s approach was likely to be a template for future Liberation Days for many years to come.
However, Education, Sport & Culture still intends to organise something special for the 80th anniversary in 2025.
‘That will be a very different kettle of fish,’ said Deputy Aldwell, who is a member of ESC.
