A MUSIC festival, parish parties, displays of archives and an inaugural “Liberation Games” will be among the features of Island-wide celebrations marking 80 years since the liberation of Jersey.
On Friday 9 May it will be eight decades since the Island was liberated from almost five years of German occupation, and this year’s anniversary will be marked with a series of events co-ordinated by the Bailiff’s Chambers.
The Liberation Games will be run by Jersey Sport and include a variety of different sports and activities designed to “bring together parishes to compete in a series of friendly and accessible games”.
The Liberation Music Festival will be a two-day event held in St Helier, while Jersey Week 5-9 will be an open-house event, with organisations and businesses encouraged to open their respective archives to show how both public and private organisations contribute to the Island, providing insight into the history, operation and position of each organisation in Jersey.
As well as the traditional re-enactment and service of thanksgiving in St Helier, events will be held in all 12 parishes, while those from Jersey who are based overseas will also be able to tap into the celebratory mood by ordering a “celebration pack” of bunting and other decorative material.
The official Liberation 80 logo has been based on one which was first created in 2020, inspired by the first-hand account of Islander Enid de Gruchy, who was born on 28 February 1941 and remembered being given her first sweet by a soldier on Liberation Day.
Mrs de Gruchy died in 2024 but the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, said it had been considered fitting to keep the legacy of her story alive in this year’s logo.
Sir Timothy added: “Our consultative panel met in the latter months of 2024 to discuss a number of project and ideas for Liberation 80, and in addition we received constructive public feedback that has helped shape thoughts and views about Liberation 80.
“I am grateful for the work of the panel and commitment to establishing such an interesting programme for 2025 – I hope it will ensure that all Islanders will have an opportunity to remember, learn about and celebrate Liberation Day, and to think about and be proud of Jersey and its identity.”
