Time marches on towards Liberation Day celebration
THE 80th Liberation Day countdown is on.
With less than two months to go, preparations are under way for a day of commemoration and community celebration.
Following tradition, the morning of Liberation Day is mainly given over to commemoration.
The annual parade will march at 11am, led by the band of HM Royal Marines, Scotland.
The parade will include contingents from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, HMS Daring and ‘Guernsey’s Own’ 201 Squadron alongside the Chelsea Pensioners, Ghurkas, local uniformed youth organisations and local veterans.
The parade will be inspected by the Lt-Governor and the Bailiff, before parading an extended route along the seafront to the roundabout by the South Esplanade and back to the Town Church.
At noon, the Bishop of Salisbury will lead this year’s Town Church service to an invited congregation.
The service will be live-streamed. It will also be broadcast to the tea tent on The Albany, and to a screen at the St Peter’s parish celebrations at L’Eree.
Following the formalities, the celebrations will start. From 2.30pm, the cavalcade will arrive in St Peter Port.
Led by pedestrians, bicycles and wheelchairs and will be followed by the military vehicles, vintage cars, tractors and community floats celebrating the island’s history and community spirit.
It will drive along the seafront to the roundabout by the South Esplanade.
On its return, the vintage cars and tractors will peel off at Albert Pier and the military vehicles will return to Salerie Corner to form two static displays.
North Beach will host the main stage, featuring live entertainment from the UK and local acts throughout the day and into the evening. There will be food, drinks and local stalls.
Crown Pier will be transformed into a free children’s zone, with the centrepiece showcasing a vintage fair with carousel, chair-o-plane and helter skelter.
Face painting and hair braiding will also be on offer alongside a craft tent, biscuit decorating and traditional attractions.
Albert Pier will host a small camp of British military vehicles and motorbikes, ahead of a historical re-enactment.
There will also be several vintage lifeboats in the Victoria Marina.
The Albany will see a dedicated heritage zone, with a tea tent serving refreshments. With seating for 150 people, it will serve as a quieter area to relax.
Castle Emplacement will have free bouncy castles and a dance zone, ensuring plenty of entertainment for children and families, while the Youth Commission bus will be parked at the bus terminus.
Castle Cornet will host a programme of live music and family activities throughout the afternoon. A fireworks finale will signal the end of the celebrations.
More detailed timings and locations for the events in Town will be shared in the coming weeks as well as the full programme for the parishes’ individual celebrations.
Highlights of these include L’Eree, where there will be a live-stream of the parade and church service, mini parade, heritage tent, live music, family activities on the beach and food and drink.
St Andrew’s will be hosting events at The Last Post on 10 May, St Martin’s will be based around the Queens Hotel, and the Vale will be hosting a parishioners tea party.
On 10 May, Sark will celebrate its 80th anniversary of Liberation.
