The sky was lit in a blaze of colours and bangs could be heard across St Helier during the 15-minute show, which featured a waterfall-effect firework that flowed from the castle wall into the sea.
Festivities centred around the People’s Park in the afternoon, where Islanders enjoyed a community tea party and food fair.
Among those who took part in the celebrations was Helier Warder, a Jersey-born 81-year-old, who was evacuated to Bournemouth as the Second World War took hold. Mr Warder said that Liberation Day always reminded him of the period that he spent away. He added: ‘I think how lucky I am to be living with my family and to be on an Island that is free.’
Five-year-old George Sellars enjoyed the range of food stalls and activities on offer. He said: ‘I loved the fire truck from 1934 and I loved my hot dog and chocolate flake cake.’
Songs filled the air when the Island Games Children’s Choir took to the stage for jubilant renditions of singalong classics such as Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and It’s A Long Way To Tipperary.
And crowds were entertained by the Jersey Big Band, who performed covers of Bobby Darin’s Beyond the Sea and At Last by Etta James. When the Jersey Scout Band marched out of the arena at around 6.45 pm everyone’s attention turned to the main stage where girls and boys from the Jersey Hoppers showed Islanders how to dance the swing dance classic the Lindy Hop.
The 1940s dance routines set the tone for the Optimistic Voices trio who, with backing from their Plus Fours musicians, performed a popular set of much-loved vintage hits from Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy to White Cliffs of Dover.
The entertainment went down well with Mike and Ruth Fearnley and their daughter Hannah Gleave, who had all watched most of the day’s celebrations.
‘It’s been very emotional and the atmosphere has been amazing,’ said Mrs Fearnley.
The musical entertainment continued with Acappella Brass, made up of trumpeter Luke Brown and his brass quintet. The band played a variety of songs including the Florentina March, Cottontail Capers and Little Brown Jug.
Headline act Nerina Pallot arrived on stage shortly after 9 pm. The Jersey songstress performed keyboard renditions of Elton John’s Bennie and the Jets and Nina Simone’s Feeling Good as well as playing six of her own songs.
The singer, who grew up in the Island, told the crowd she was ‘honoured’ to be part of the celebrations and added that Liberation Day meant a lot to her and her husband’s family.
