Opinion is divided on the best way to celebrate liberation

I certainly participated in a wide variety of activities, from the traditional Town Church reflective service with a first-rate sermon from the emeritus Bishop of London to clambering aboard D-Day maritime survivor HMS Medusa and enjoying the musical excellence of Rachael Wright's prize-winning royal concert at the Castle with the show-stopping arrangement of Sarnia Cherie by the Guernsey Girls’ Choir, as well as the odd special liberation tea party or two, even if I missed, like Cinderella, the balls.

It was obvious some of the parish events were very successful from retro dance sport out in the Forest to the jolly youthful attitude on the west coast in St Peter’s, with a strong happy Rocquaine Regatta or West Show appeal and atmosphere.

I think the decision by the excellent Museum Service as directed by Education Sport and Culture to hold great music by major players like Lydia Sullivan Pugh as well as traditional wartime costumes, services and 21 gun salutes was excellent and proved some critics wrong. Along with the morning's parade there was indeed activity free to all in Town and St Peter Port.

I will single out praise for the relatively new Education Sport & Culture which has to combine both then traditional ministerial mandates of the former Education Council and Culture and Leisure.

Once those boards had at least 11 politicians. 16-plus when I started. Now just five. Effectively they integrate the erstwhile Island Reception Committee which had a narrow mandate of planning for Royal and VIP visits too.

Two members who were particularly involved in charming the Royal couple and ensuring everything for the Earl and Sophie Countess of Wessex were the President, Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen and Deputy Sue Aldwell, who were reassuring courtly regal ladies in-waiting and superb hosts for their Highnesses.

I do hope parochial events for liberation time will become annual events. However, more political and staff support from the States may be needed, especially for the larger, more populated parishes on the eastern waterfront such as St Peter Port and St Sampson’s.

I was informed that the financial support and grants given to each of our 10 parishes were virtually identical, so per person, Torteval in practice had more money than Town.

Any policy to maintain the island-wide parochial Liberation Day has to recognise greater realism of funding and a more useful formula.

I’ve perhaps been a political survivor because much of the time I maintain contact with mainstream opinion.

I have to say that many, many people, especially the elderly, busy caterers and hard-pressed parochial volunteers in some areas are definitely not happy about the new format for Liberation Day post-Covid and want an immediate return to Town-centred activities.

The five-year format for some is unsettling with 2025 too long to wait.

I therefore ask the committee and the States to reflect on this and consider a Town-based programme for 2023.

We can still encourage and support parochial events over the liberation period and a possible halfway house, or compromise would be to work with St Peter Port douzaine and constables to look at a big, fully-funded joint ESC and parish event along the Town seafront next Liberation Day and the piers too.

Opinion is definitely divided on the best way to celebrate Liberation Day.

Deputy JOHN Gollop

28 Rosaire Court Apartments

St Peter Port

GY1 1XW