2 months to go!

With two months to go until Guernsey marks its 80th Liberation Day, preparations are well underway for a day of commemoration and community celebration on the island. 

Following tradition, the morning of Liberation Day is one of commemoration. The annual Parade will march at 11am and be led by The Band of HM Royal Marines, Scotland. The parade will include contingents from the Princess of Wales Regiment, HMS Daring and ‘Guernsey’s Own’ 201 Squadron alongside the Chelsea Pensioners, Ghurkas, local uniformed youth organisations and a contingent of local veterans. 

The parade will be inspected by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and The Bailiff before parading an extended route along the seafront to the Slaughterhouse roundabout and back to the Town Church. 

This year’s church service will be led by the Bishop of Salisbury at midday to an invited congregation.  The service will be livestreamed for those who wish to watch the service and will be broadcast into the tea tent on The Albany where seating for 150 people will be available. 

Following the formalities of the morning, the celebrations will start. 

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 a food and drink village hosting local stallholders and charities pitches. Crown Pier will be transformed into a children’s zone with the centrepiece showcasing a vintage fair with a 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. 
 
A small camp of British military vehicles and motorbikes will be posititioned on Albert Pier ahead of a historical re-enactment of Force 135's arrival, featuring the HMS Medusa and Rummy III. There will also be several vintage lifeboats in the Victoria Marina.  A dedicated Heritage Zone will provide an opportunity to explore the island’s liberation on The Albany, while the Tea Tent will serve refreshments throughout the afternoon and serve as a quieter area to sit down and relax. 

The Youth Commission bus will be parked at the bus terminus and Castle Emplacement will be home to bouncy castles and a dance zone, ensuring plenty of entertainment for children and families. A programme of live music and family activities will fill the afternoon at Castle Cornet, adding to the celebratory atmosphere all the way along the seafront. 

The Cavalcade will arrive in St Peter Port from 14.30 led by pedestrians, bicycles and wheelchairs and will be followed by the military vehicles, vintage cars, tractors and community floats celebrating Guernsey’s history and community spirit.  The Cavalcade will drive along the seafront to the Slaughterhouse roundabout.  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. 

Helen Glencross, Head of Heritage Services and Chair of the Liberation Day Oversight Committee, said: ‘We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and willingness of so many people to get involved and ensure the 80th anniversary is one to remember.  Delivering an event on this scale requires so many people to pull together. On behalf of the organising committee, I would like to thank every single person who is working away in the background to put all the infrastructure together, giving up their time to arrange an activity, helping to organise a parish event, building a float or taking part or volunteering on the day.’ 

The full programme for St Peter Port with detailed timings will be released in the coming month including details of events across the island.