- Round-up of Liberation-related stories
- Jersey celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Liberation on Saturday 9 May
Crew of Iron Duke to march in parade
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A WARSHIP affiliated to Jersey was due to arrive today to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Liberation.
The 23 Frigate HMS Iron Duke, a Royal Navy battleship, was expected to arrive this morning for a five-day visit as part of the Island’s Liberation celebrations.
The ship, which has made a number of visits to the Island in recent years, will be berthed at the Elizabeth Harbour, where it is expected to remain until next week.
On Saturday at 2.15 pm, members of the ship’s company will take part in the Liberation Grand Parade, which will begin in Liberation Square and finish at People’s Park.
The Portsmouth-based HMS Iron Duke will be open to visitors on Sunday and Monday from 1 pm to 4 pm on both days, with last entry at 3.30 pm.
On Monday members of the company have been invited to attend a reception at the Town Hall to celebrate the freedom of the Island and to exchange gifts.
The ship is due to set sail at 12 pm on Tuesday.
V for victory stamps to mark Liberation
SIX stamps and a miniature sheet will be issued by Jersey Post on Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of the Liberation.
The stamps and the souvenir sheet of postage stamps have been designed by Hat-Trick Design and stamp engraver Martin Mörck.
Chris Elligott, Jersey Post’s philatelic production co-ordinator, said: ‘Liberation Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Islanders each year, and we felt it was important to commemorate such an important anniversary.’
The six stamps feature a series of graphic illustrations, each of which incorporates a symbolic ‘V’ – for victory.
The miniature sheet shows a portrait of Sir Winston Churchill together with a quote from his famous victory speech.
Broad Street and Rue des Prés post offices will be closed on Saturday to allow all Islanders to enjoy Liberation celebrations.
The stamps can be ordered here or by phoning the Jersey Philatelic Bureau on 616320.
The stamps will be available to buy from all branches of Jersey Post from Monday.
Vintage cars and bikes on display
A WIDE range of celebratory and educational events being held at the Jersey War Tunnels to mark the 70th anniversary of the Island’s Liberation will cuminate with a vintage bike and car display on Sunday.
Jersey War Tunnels operations manager Kathy Bechelet said: ‘This is the most ambitious programme of events we have ever held at the War Tunnels.
‘We are determined to make the anniversary special for all age-groups.’
A percentage of the profits will be donated to the British Red Cross
The vintage bike and car display runs from 10 am until 4 pm in the Jersey War Tunnels grounds and there will also be Liberation gift stalls available.
For more information phone 860808 or visit the Jersey War Tunnels website on www.jerseywartunnels.com.
Cheer on the singing Liberation walkers
MORE than 70 primary school children are tomorrow due to walk from St Brelade to King Street to celebrate Liberation Day and the freedom won by those who fought in the Second World War.
Pupils aged between nine and 11 from Mont Nicolle and St Mary’s School, dressed in the style of the 1940s and singing the hits of the day, will set off along the Railway Walk at 9 am to raise money for the British Red Cross.
The Year 5 and 6 pupils will walk through St Aubin, along the promenade of St Aubin’s Bay and the Esplanade into town.
John Baudains, headteacher of Mont Nicolle,says he hopes that Islanders will come out to cheer them on their way.
He said: ‘It is about understanding their own history so the children really understand why Liberation Day is such a special day and what we can all learn as a community in Jersey from what happened 70 years ago.’
Other primary schools are also organising Liberation events for tomorrow.
In Trinity pupils will lay wreaths at the parish’s three war memorials, including the one on the north coast at Petit Port, Egypt, to Captain Philip Ayton, who died in a commando raid on Christmas night 1943.
They are also due to visit the memorial in Rue de Diélament, dedicated to French RAF pilot, Sous-Lieut Bernard Scheidhauer, who crash landed his Spitfire in the parish in 1942 and who was later shot by the Gestapo for escaping from Stalug Luft III in a breakout of PoWs known as the ‘Great Escape’.
Meanwhile, Victoria College is due to hold a special assembly to remember those who lived under Occupation during the Second World War and to celebrate the significant event in the school’s history when the proclamation confirming that the Island was no longer under German control was pinned to the main door.
Duo from the UK return for a special WI reunion
TWO Women’s Institute members who were living in Jersey at the outbreak of the Second World War have returned to the Island for the first time in more than a decade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Liberation from German forces.
Ann Starkey and Sheila Collins have travelled from different areas of England to join 30 other UK WI members to mark Liberation Day.
But the pair, who are the only two Jersey-born members of their party, had contrasting experiences during the war years.
Great-grandmother Mrs Starkey (83), who now lives in Warwickshire, was evacuated as an eight-year-old with her family on the last boat out of Jersey before the German troops arrived in the Island.
Mrs Collins, who lives in Sussex, remained in Jersey during the Occupation.
The 82-year-old grandmother still has a strong reminder of the impact of the German forces on her family – a compensation note issued when her parents were ordered out of their St Ouen home.
‘I know we got £500 for the house when they knocked it down,’ said Mrs Collins.
‘It would have been a good place for a defensive stronghold if the British had decided to land in St Ouen’s Bay, so the Germans demolished it,’ she said.
Although the pair have returned a number of times since the end of the war, both say that this visit has added significance.
‘It was very sad when we had to leave Jersey for the UK at the beginning of the war,’ said Mrs Starkey.
‘When I saw that the WI were advertising the trip, I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to come back and see the celebrations.
‘It is also lovely to bring my daughter Debbie with me to see where I’m from.
‘I don’t think there will be too many opportunities to return for other big anniversaries, so this is a very special trip for me.’
Liberation poetry winners announced
THE winners of a poetry competition held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Liberation have been announced.
The Jersey Arts Trust and the States appealed to Islanders to submit their poems about what it would have been like to be present on Liberation Day on 9 May 1945 and the importance of Liberation in the 21st century.
A total of 130 entries were received. These were shortlisted by Jonathan Telfer, editor of UK publication Writing Magazine, and the winners were selected by the Bailiff, William Bailhache.
Mr Bailhache said: ‘The number and standard of entries was very high which made it very difficult to choose a winner in each category.
‘I wish to thank all those who entered the competition and I look forward to Liberation Day when the winning poems will be read out at the special ceremony being held in People’s Park in the presence of HRH The Countess of Wessex.’
The winners of the 7 to 11 years category were two Year 6 students from Grouville School, Ieva Belova and Aliyah Buesnel, with their joint poem ‘Occupation’.
The runner-up prize was awarded to ten-year-old Claudia Blackstone for her poem ‘Liberation Memories’.
Hannah Fennell (13), from Jersey College for Girls, was awarded first prize in the 12 to 17 years category with her poem ‘Contented’.
The runner-up prize was awarded to fellow JCG student Hannah Louise Owens with her poem ‘Tag der Befreiung-Day of Liberation’.
Jane Wakeham won first prize in the 18 and over category with her poem ‘The Gift’.
The runner-up prize was awarded to Geraint Jennings with his Jèrriais poem ‘Les Léopards d’la Libethâtion’, meaning ‘Liberation Leopards’.
The winning poem from each category will be read out on Saturday at People’s Park, plus they and the second-placed poems will be published in the commemorative programme.
All winning entries can be read here.
