IN a changing of the watch following years of loyal service, two familiar faces will be missing from the annual Liberation Day celebrations tomorrow.
Although nothing was announced at the time, last year’s Liberation 80 event was the last appearance by Captain Brian Nibbs and Lieutenant Ron Perchard in the re-enactment of the events of 9 May 1945.
The long-serving duo had become an established presence for Liberation Day as they took on the roles of Captain Harry Richmond, St Helier Harbourmaster in 1945, and Surgeon-Lt Ronald McDonald, who was one of the first British sailors to set foot on Jersey after stepping off HMS Beagle.
Now Capt Nibbs and Lt Perchard, both of whom were born just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, have voluntarily demobbed themselves, with their respective roles passing to Captain Stanley Richard-dit-Leschery (Capt Richmond) and SCC Lieutenant Andre Bonjour (Surg Lt McDonald).
As in recent years, Lieutenant Commander Trevor Rayson will continue to adopt the role of Lieutenant David Milln, who also stepped ashore from HMS Beagle on 9 May 1945.
Capt Nibbs said that he had first taken on the role in the re-enactment, which sees the Harbourmaster greet Royal Naval officers ahead of the Union Flag being raised from the balcony of the Pomme d’Or Hotel, for the 55th anniversary of Liberation in 2000.
“I played the role until I stood down [as Harbourmaster] in 2004,” he said. “After a break of a few years, I was phoned the day before [9 May] by the Bailiff’s secretary to see if I was available, as the nominated person was unexpectedly due to undertake a pilotage that day and thus unavailable.
“Fortunately I could still get into my uniform and was able to walk around the block a couple of times while wearing it, so I resumed the role.
“I’ve always enjoyed the re-enactment, it’s an honour to represent Capt Richmond, and while I ham it up a bit – because we are celebrating – I do think of how difficult it must have been for him to tread the line between celebrating locals and the occupying forces who surrendered that day.”
Capt Nibbs said that reaching the Pomme d’Or balcony involved some clambering, and following a hip operation he decided “to quit while I was ahead”, alerting the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, about his decision soon after Liberation 80 and receiving a note of thanks in return.
“I had a feeling that it’d be my last time, so I had a table for the whole family [including wife of 52 years Valerie, twin daughters Sarah and Louise, plus granddaughter Iris] in the Pomme afterwards,” he said.
The former Harbourmaster said he was left with a host of happy memories, notably the emotions surrounding Liberation Day in 2022, when Islanders were able to celebrate as normal after two years of Covid-enforced restrictions.
“We still did the re-enactment in 2020 and 2021, but it was very strange to look out from the balcony and there was no-one there, so seeing the crowds return [the following year] was just fantastic,” he said.
Capt Nibbs, who continues to fly the Union Flag outside his home in St Clement in the build-up to 9 May every year, will watch this year’s celebrations from a seat in Liberation Square.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I will still be wearing a jacket and my Royal Naval Reservist tie, but it’ll be a bit more relaxed, and I won’t need to worry about whether my trousers will button up.”
