Instead, a programme of events is going to be developed heeding the latest advice from Public Health Services, which will still commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Liberation and recognises the importance of the occasion.

Pictured: (file image) The much loved cavalcade might be one of the casualties as covid-19 forces the organisers to scale back the plans for public celebrations on Liberation Day. 

While what will happen on the 9 May has not yet been decided  it is likely that events based in St Peter Port will be among those affected by plans to scale back the public celebrations. The planned Royal visit of the Queen's cousin and his wife, Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester has been cancelled. Other events are likely to follow suit. 

Tens of thousands of people would be expected to converge on the town seafront and piers under normal circumstances, but as we keep being repeatedly told, these are exceptional times and we need to embrace "the new normal".

Express has been told that there will still be an opportunity to commemorate the 75th anniversary and Guernsey's National Day, but this will have to be done in a manner that does not pose a risk to public health.

Those who lived through the Occupation and the War years will definitely be acknowledged under the new plans being put together and there will be a focus on the survivors of that generation all of whom, by reason of their age, are vulnerable in the pandemic. Medical advice will be followed to ensure they are not placed at additional risk. 

Technology will also be used wherever possible to ensure that everyone can enjoy events and participate in the commemorations from their own homes if that is necessary.

Pictured: Guernsey's Bailiff, Sir Richard Collas. 

The Bailiff Sir Richard Collas said all of the new plans are still in the very early stages. 

"While it is too soon to state explicitly what the re-shaped day will look like, the community can rest assured that we remain committed to marking Liberation Day with due regard to the significance of the occasion and to the recognition our war- time generation are rightly due. We hope to be able to continue with the morning wreath laying and church service, and by broadcasting them rather than having large numbers of people in attendance, but at this stage it is too soon to say for certain."

The Lieutenant-Governor, His Excellency, Vice-Admiral Sir Ian Corder said options for marking the occasion from the privacy of people's own homes has to be explored further. 

"We are naturally disappointed that the planned visit of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester has been cancelled; however, we recognise that it was a necessity to do so given the current global pandemic that we must all combat together as a community. While it is too soon to know exactly how we will commemorate the 75th anniversary of our Island’s Liberation, we will probably seek a greater focus on marking the day at home and making full use of the broadcast media in particular."

Pictured: Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder. 

Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, admitted it is a big disappointment but said global events have dictated what must happen here too.

"I appreciate there are many islanders who are looking forward to Liberation Day and all the amazing events planned, so there will be an understandable disappointment however much the community understands the need to re-shape events. We will do everything we can to ensure the day is appropriately commemorated while at the same time aligning events with the advice of Public Health Services, conscious that circumstances are currently changing daily and Liberation Day is several weeks away."

Pictured top: Liberation Day 2018. Image from Chris George.