SHOULD Jersey have its own official anthem?
It is a question that the government is asking once again as it launches a public consultation this week to find out what Islanders think about the formal adoption of Liberation Day and Beautiful Jersey as national day and anthem.
This forms part of a wider project about Island identity and follows recommendations from a Policy Development Board led by International Development Minister Carolyn Labey.
But some Islanders could be forgiven for getting a wave of déjà vu – because they have been down this patriotic road before.
In 2007, the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and its then Assistant Education Minister Carolyn Labey launched a competition for budding local musicians to come up with a song to represent the Island at special occasions and sporting events.
While God Save the King is Jersey’s national anthem, and will remain so following this consultation, the Island itself does not have an officially recognised anthem of its own.
Then Chief Minister Frank Walker told the States that although there were songs that Jersey traditionally sang – such as Ma Normandie and Beautiful Jersey – the Island needed a specific song to bolster its individual identity
Composer Gerard Le Feuvre won the competition with Island Home – the first three notes of which are based on the “moo” of a Jersey cow. In 2008, Mr Le Feuvre, was recorded at the Opera House playing the newly chosen anthem as part of the 60th anniversary Liberation celebrations.
However, while a judging panel including the Bailiff, Chief Minister, Education Minister and head of the Jersey Instrumental Music Service, selected Island Home as the winner, the song was never ratified as the official anthem by the States Assembly and failed to gain widespread adoption across the Island.
In 2009, then Deputy Jeremy Maçon even encouraged Education Minister James Reed during a States sitting to “scrap the dirge” and replace the anthem with Beautiful Jersey – a request that was reportedly met by laughter, feet stamping and cheers of “yes” from a number of States Members.
With the Island due to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day on 9 May 2025, Deputy Carolyn Labey (right), who now serves as International Development Minister, wants to try again to formalise Liberation Day and Beautiful Jersey as national day and Island anthem.
She said: “We hope to strengthen a sense of community and citizenship in Jersey through this consultation, while also commemorating our heritage and history. It would be lovely to formalise both a national day and a Jersey anthem in time for the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day next year.
“The song Beautiful Jersey is already viewed by many as our anthem and has been used at public and sporting events for some time. However, it has never been officially agreed as such. Adopting 9 May as an official national day will not change the way Liberation Day is celebrated, but it will help jurisdictions around the world better understand its importance to Islanders.”
The consultation form can be filled out online at gov.je/consultations or sent via post before 18 January 2025. Hard copies will be available at all 12 parish halls and in upcoming editions of parish magazines.
The responses will feature in a consultation report presented to the States Assembly for debate.
