Guernsey flag flying proudly for Liberation Day

Saturday 09 May 2020

The Guernsey flag is flying over the Ministry of Justice headquarters in London today, to mark the 75th anniversary of the island's liberation from occupying forces during the Second World War - with numerous virtual events planned as the event is marked under lockdown rules.

Our flag is flying at 102 Petty France, London, because the UK's Ministry of Justice is responsible for managing the country's constitutional relationship with the Bailiwick of Guernsey as well as Jersey and the Isle of Man.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt HonRobert Buckland QC MP, said: “We are pleased to be flying both the Guernsey and Jersey flags to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Channel Islands.

“Sadly, many of the commemoration events planned by the islands can no longer take place due to the pandemic, but I hope islanders are able to mark the day in their own way. This gesture is a symbol of the continued importance of our historic relationship, on this most significant anniversary.”

This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, plans for Liberation Day have been reshaped as ‘lockdown’ measures remain in place to continue to protect public health.

A full schedule of ‘virtual’ events has been prepared and full details can be found HERE.

The wider plans for marking the occasion on 9 May had to be scaled back after large public gatherings were banned under the covid-19 lockdown measures.

Instead plans have been released for a series of events to be streamed online.

These include: the traditional church service, the laying of wreaths at the island war memorial, an address from the Bailiff and the reading of a message from Her Majesty the Queen. 

There'll also be interviews screened with an Occupation survivor and a liberating soldier from Liberation Day itself.

Families are encouraged to hold lockdown tea parties themselves and to join in a sofa-sing-along. 

Some people have queried how older residents who lived through the war years will be able to enjoy the events, but a number of charities have ensured many people have been able to use devices to use social media to keep in contact with other people during the lockdown.

The full schedule of events for Liberation 75 are below, with many of them being shared online. 

• 9am – Sirens sounding from Victoria Tower
• 9.30am – Liberation Day message from Bailiff Sir Richard Collas
• 10.50am –Laying of the Wreath by Bailiff Sir Richard Collas
• 11am – Church Service led by the Dean of Guernsey, Tim Barker
• 12.05pm - Children of the Occupation; interviews with children who lived through the Occupation
• 12.20pm – Interview with Second World War veteran Stuart Snow
• 1.30pm - Government House and the Occupation; an Interview by TV historian Dan Snow with Major Marco Ciotti looking at life in Government House during the Occupation and the challenges that faced the Bailiwick after liberation
• 2pm - A message from Her Majesty The Queen read by His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder KBE, CB
• 2.30pm - islanders to create their own stay at home tea party with 1940s music from BBC Radio Guernsey
• 3pm - Sofa Sing-a-long; A Wartime singalong with The Sofa Singers, who will be hosting a special wartime Guernsey-themed singalong
• 4.30pm - A reading from The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society book by co-author Annie Barrows
• 5pm - An interview by TV Historian Dan Snow with His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder KBE, CB

Other events have been planned by members of the public, including a public sing-along of Sarnia Cherie at 20:00 - with people invited to sing from their own front gardens.

Details and the song lyrics can be found HERE.

Social gatherings during Liberation Day are limited to no more than two households which have already linked up as 'bubbles' under the lockdown rules.

The full guidance can be found HERE.

Pictured top: Image by Paul Mariess.