A few tips for next year's Big One...

The Liberation celebrations are a 'must attend' and started for me on Thursday night with the Hangar Ball at Beau Sejour. Dame Mary's continued Specsavers sponsorship is to be applauded and this year the ball organisers got it just right. Great music, food, decorations and entertainers, ably compered by Dennis Burns. I was out on the dance floor almost all night and thank you Dame Mary for signing my programme. I'm sorry you declined to sign the blank cheque I also offered but the Chelsea Pensioners' and Gurkha commanding officers' signatures made up for it.

The Beau Sejour staff should also be complimented not only at the ball but when I visited the centre to have my daily swim. Always welcoming, friendly and helpful, the reception and pool staff are an asset too good to lose. I'm looking forward to next year's Hangar Ball and Beau Sejour visits already.

However, Friday's Liberation Day activities on the Albert Pier need to be looked at more carefully for next year, especially as its the 70th and forecast to be 'The Big One'. The vintage cars and military vehicles were great, as were the parades and the pipe and drum band from Lossiemouth. While there were plenty of dancers to watch, Diamond Cheerleaders, Creative, Arabesque and the Majorettes, performing with a wide range of other entertainment, what has happened to the dance tent? Missing for three years. Judging by the number of dancers packing the floor at the Hangar Ball the previous night, there's a large number of quicksteppers, waltzers, Latin and jumping jivers living on the island and visiting to warrant a large dance floor area for both dancers and spectators.

Disappointing too was the location of each stand. The activity tents and stands were too close to each other, the sounds from the big amplifiers drowning out the other stands' sounds. This was very much noticed when the Church Liberation Service was being transmitted live onto the big screen. At the same time, they had a jazz band playing in the tent and a loud amplifier blasting out in between. It spoilt what is, for many, supposed to be a solemn occasion.

The stand location and programming certainly need looking at for next year and rearranging. Distancing out each sound, maybe separating the younger activities from those with an older taste away from the food stalls that to me seem to be increasing in number each year. I made my way to see 'Jimmy Chows Swing Time', the Bombshell Belles and Guernsey's Glenn Miller Sounds of the Elastic Band. What a disappointment. The tent was packed out with seated spectators, some nearly on the stage with the musicians and a crowd trying to watch from outside. I was forced to give it a miss but was a little placated when I came across the pipe and drum band playing outside the tourist office, joining the crowd following them when they marched off up the street.

I had noticed in the Guernsey Press that The Guernsey Jazz Orchestra was playing at lunchtime at the Dog House on Sunday lunchtime. I'd never been in there before but noticed advertised in the past the different bands, groups and other performers they had there. What an unexpected surprise. An 18-piece orchestra playing great jazz music. It was a treat to be there and free to get in. I later spoke to the musicians, who told me they also play with the Elastic Band and I asked why they weren't the chosen band at the Hangar Ball. 'We're locals and as such believed to be not at all that good,' was one reply. Well, my experience of their sound, the numbers and playing would cause me to argue with anyone that they are as good as any of the London and UK swing and jazz orchestras.

As someone who is a regular dancer at many London dance venues, the famous 100 Club in Oxford Street and the Rivoli Ballroom, where Strictly Come Dancing's Len Goodman learnt to dance, I feel I know what I'm talking about.

Just a suggestion, but wouldn't it be nice if the organisers had them performing at next year's Hangar Ball, St James and on the pier in a good-size dance tent? An 'all-Guernsey' musician event, the Guernsey Jive, Jazz, Swing Dance Orchestra. Let's have a good jump jive/swing band performing as well, like the Jive Aces from the UK with the Three Belles or those great Guernsey female vocalists I saw the other year.

I hope these comments are helpful and may be picked up by the Liberation 2015 organising committee. It was a terrific few days and all those involved should be thanked – the police for keeping good order and the many volunteers.

I look forward to my next visit.

PETER STECHMAN,

London.