Specsavers tea dance a time to remember
HUNDREDS of islanders who lived through the Occupation or who were born during it celebrated Liberation at the annual Specsavers tea dance.
Beau Sejour was transformed back to the 1940s, where islanders listened to some wartime music, exchanged stories and enjoyed an afternoon tea.
Hosted for the third year in a row by compere and now ‘honorary donkey’ Rob Rinder, he told attendees that Guernsey understood something much greater about the meaning of freedom.
‘All of you understand something much richer, more important and more profound, you have touched the literal face of tyranny,’ he said.
‘You understand as families, as communities, as first, second, third and even fourth generations, how sacred freedom is and how much it matters, now more than ever.’
He visited Alderney on Thursday and said that the reflection he left with was curious and strange.
‘Despite all of the dark and jagged suggestions that are on that island, I flew back in the exquisite sunshine and had a reflection. The island could have easily chosen to live in darkness, feelings of regret,’ he said.
‘As it was liberated, something else took place, and Guernsey is an example to all of us and show the world that it’s about living life, in the fullness of optimism, joy, family and community. Thank you for teaching me that.’
Bailiff Richard McMahon acknowledged how important Liberation Day is to everyone who attended and said it was an opportunity to reflect and be grateful for those families who took in locals who were evacuation.
‘We know how important Liberation Day is because many of you lived through the events,’ he said.
‘For those who were evacuated, you probably have strong memories of what it was like to be pulled away from the island and your families and sent to places that you may never have heard of.
‘Not all of you would necessarily have good experiences when you went away, but I hope that most of you did.
‘Liberation Day is an opportunity for us to look back and remember the freedoms that each and every one of us come to expect these days. Those freedoms really do matter.’
