Event Programme

A blue plaque in recognition of the Guernsey Active Secret Press will be unveiled on Tuesday 6th May, at 10.30am at 34 St George's Esplanade (China Red), St Peter Port. Everyone is welcome to attend.

When radios were confiscated by the German occupying forces in 1940, the work of GASP began. From June 1942 to May 1945, GASP was producing weekly and monthly newsletters. The threat of arrest was real - many islanders were prosecuted for possessing radio sets, and those behind the Guernsey Underground News Service (GUNS), another resistance network also distributing news, were deported. The Blue Plaque will commemorate those involved in GASP and the risks they took listening to broadcasts outside the island.

Castle Cornet, Fort Grey and Beau Sejour Leisure Centre will be lit up in red, white and blue to make the 80th anniversary of VE Day and Liberation Day.

The 8th May 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, a celebration of the end of WWII in Europe. The beacon lighting represents the ‘light of peace’ that emerged. 

The beacon lighting will take place at Castle Cornet on 8th at 9:30pm. The Castle will not be open to the public but the event will livestreamed on the Guernsey Museums Facebook page.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to see three legendary World War II aircraft at the Ravenscroft-sponsored Meet the Pilots on the East Apron at Guernsey Airport on Thursday 8 May from 3.30pm. The event will remain open until 6.30pm to allow people to enjoy the aircraft after work.

A R4D C-47 which is on a 12,000 mile round journey from America to to honour the service and sacrifice of American and Allied forces for VE Day and the 80th anniversary of the end of the war will be joined by a Hawker Hurricane and Harvard. Alongside these will also be Aurigny’s beloved Joey and the Channel Islands Air Search aircraft rounding out a tribute to decades of flight and service. 

Robin Newbould, CEO of Ravenscroft, said:

'We are excited to continue our sponsorship of this much-loved community event which always attracts hundreds of aviation fans, young and old, and raises funds for the Guernsey Air Display. This type of event has been enjoyed in Guernsey for over 60 years and is so important in commemorating the legacy of the RAF community who have served their country over the last century.'

The individual hampers initiative has been running for three years and is sponsored by Collas Crill.

500 Liberation Day tea hampers will be given to islanders aged 80 or over who stayed in Guernsey, or were deported or evacuated during the Second World War.

Each hamper contains a Guernsey biscuit, buttermilk cake, Guernsey chocolate, tea, cheese, butter and milk.  All the dairy products are kindly donated by the Guernsey Dairy.

How to register:

To register for a hamper please send the following information via: [email protected] or by calling 01481 734874 (emails/calls will not be monitored on bank holidays).

• Recipient name
• Recipient address
• Recipient date of birth/age
• Recipient's telephone number
• Recipient email address

If you are applying on someone’s behalf, or someone else is collecting on your behalf, please also include the following additional information:

• Your name / name of person collecting the hamper
• Your telephone number / telephone number of person collecting the hamper
• Your email address / email address of person collecting the hamper

When do we collect our hamper?

Staff from Collas Crill will be handing out the hampers, which will be available for collection from Beau Sejour between 8.30am and 11:30am on Friday 9 May.

A few pointers:

• There is no need to come earlier than 8.30am - it's not 'first come, first served' as we have enough hampers for everyone who has registered.
• Hampers are only available for people who have registered.
• Only one hamper per person can be claimed.
• Whether you are the recipient or collecting on behalf of someone else, you must bring ID with you when you come in to collect your hamper.
• Unless you hold a Blue Badge there is strictly no parking or waiting at the entrance area of Beau Sejour. Please use the main car park. If you need assistance carrying your hamper to your car, this is available.

Friday 9 May will begin with the siren sounded from Victoria Tower at 8:59am, in remembrance of those who fought in the Second World War.

This will be followed by a two-minute silence before the sounding of the 'all clear' siren.

The historic Guernsey Schools Relay Race will be back on the seafront in St. Peter Port again this year with races for boys and girls representing all the island's secondary schools.

The Bailiff of Guernsey, Sir Richard McMahon, will lay a commemorative wreath at the War Memorial at 10.50am.

Guernsey will welcome over 100 visiting military personnel as part of this year’s Liberation Day parade.

The three services will all be represented with contingents from HMS DARING, Princess of Wales Royal Regiment and 201 Squadron, all of which hold affiliations with Guernsey.

The parade will be led by the Royal Marines Band Scotland.  A contingent of Ghurkas and the ever-popular Chelsea Pensioners will also take their place in the parade.

The visiting military will be joined by the Island Cadet Guard, Elizabeth College Combined Cadet Force and representatives from the Sea Cadets, Air Cadet Force, Army Cadet Force and RAF Air Cadets and a contingent of local veterans representing all three services.

The parade will be inspected by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Richard Cripwell CB, CBE and The Bailiff, Sir Richard McMahon. before parading an extended route along the seafront to the slaughterhouse roundabout and back to the Town Church. 

Aircraft notes

P8A Poseidon 

201 Squadron is a maritime reconnaissance Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth. which currently operate the P8A Poseidon. 

Boeing’s Poseidon MRA1 (P-8A) is a multi-role maritime patrol aircraft, equipped with sensors and weapons systems for anti-submarine warfare, as well as surveillance and search and rescue missions.  

The Poseidon’s comprehensive mission system features an APY-10 radar with modes for high-resolution mapping, an acoustic sensor system, including passive and multi-static sonobuoys, electro-optical/IR turret and electronic support measures (ESM).  This equipment delivers comprehensive search and tracking capability, while the aircraft’s weapons system includes torpedoes for engaging sub-surface targets. 

A400M 

The AIRBUS A400M Atlas has taken over primacy as the predominant RAF air movements platform since the recent decommissioning of the Hercules C130. 

The A400 has played a major role in recent RAF operations, most notably Operation Pitting, the Kabul evacuation in August 2021, where the UK Government with little notice deployed UK Armed Forces to initially evacuate 2.5k entitled personnel. Given the challenging nature of the evacuation due to the precipitating security conditions, 15,375 entitled personnel were eventually evacuated. This became UKAF biggest operation since the Berlin Airlift. 

More recently the A400 demonstrated its utility once again by participating in Operation Polar Bear, the recent Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) in Sudan. Doing much of the heavy lifting, the A400 contributed to the evacuation of more than 2,000 people. Its short take off landing capability renders it suitable to these type of operations, particularly accessing what would be otherwise difficult and unorthodox runways impossible for other aircraft. 

This year's church service will be led by the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Reverend Tim Barker, with the Rector of the Town Church and Catholic and Methodist colleagues.

The Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Stephen Lake, will be the preacher.

All are welcome. There will be seating available in the Town Church on a 'first come, first served' basis. No tickets are required.

The service will be livestreamed on the Liberation Day website and will be broadcast in the tea tent on The Albany where seating for 150 people will be available, and in the marquee at L'Eree.  

North Beach will host the main stage, sponsored by The Co-operative, featuring live entertainment from local and visiting musicians throughout the day and into the evening.

There will be a food and drink village, two Crown and Anchor tables,  stallholders and charities pitches and seating for around 750 people.

The programme for the stage is as follows:

Families can look forward to a packed schedule of free, fun-filled entertainment at the Children's Zone on Crown Pier, thanks to the support of Waitrose Rohais and Admiral Park.

At the heart of the excitement is a charming vintage fair from Downs’ Steam Fair, a family-run company with a rich history dating back to 1850. Children are invited to step back in time and experience the thrill of classic rides on the pier, including a chair-o-plane, helter-skelter and carousel, as well as an Austin cars ride, featuring ten genuine 1950s Austin J40 pedal cars. These timeless attractions promise to bring endless joy and thrills from a bygone era.

The Children’s Zone will also feature activities and events to spark creativity and imagination. A crafts and tea tent, generously run by Trinity Church, will sit alongside an arts area, climbing wall, skateboarding, bubble shows, games, princess appearances, face painting, hair braiding, biscuit decorating and more. 

Complimentary tea and coffee provided by Trinity Church will be available on the pier, with a designated seating area and a small buggy park. 

Pedro Gamerio, Branch Manager of Waitose Admiral park, said:

'Our engagement with the community is particulary important to us and the Children's Zone was an obvious fit to support this Liberation Day. Crown Pier will offer a safe and relaxed spot for families to have fun with their children completely free of charge. From creative activities to classic fairground rides there is someone for everyone to enjoy across all ages.'

Five vintage lifeboats, two local and three from the UK, will be moored in the marina alongside the newly refurbished Flying Christine. You are very welcome to walk down on to the pontoon and speak to the owners.

The visiting vintage lifeboats, City of Bradford III, James and Catherine Macfarlane and Mary Irene Millar, will arrive on 4th may.

Guernsey Military Motors and Cycles will set up an encampment of British military vehicles and motor cycles for the afternoon.

The Cavalcade military vehicles will form up a static display on the Albert Pier from 3.30pm with the vintage cars and tractors parking on the road in front of the bus terminus.  With over 300 military vehicles, vintage cars and tractors taking part in the Cavalcade it will be a spectacular sight.

The vehicles on the Albert Pier will leave at 6pm travelling back along the seafront to the Weighbridge.

Sponsored by The Old Government House Hotel & Spa and supporting GROW Limited, the tea tent will serve two purposes throughout the day, catering for all ages.

Positioned on The Albany, a livestream of the Liberation Day church service will be shown at midday.

From 1pm the tent will provide a quieter area to sit down and relax with refreshments available throughout the afternoon.

General Manager of the Old Government House Hotel, Andrew Chantrell, said

‘Liberation Day is about coming together to celebrate and remember Guernsey’s history. In honour of collaborating, we are very much looking forward to inviting the GROW team into the OGH kitchens to jointly make the scones and cakes as part of the preparations and to running the tent with them on the day.’

All proceeds raised in the tea tent on 9 May will be given to the local charity.

James Ferguson, Chef Consultant at the GROW Cafe, added:

'Preparing all the cakes and then running the tent on the day is a great opportunity for the GROW team. I am very proud of the fantastic work they do to run the cafe at GROW and this will build on that experience and allow the public to see the confidence and skills this has enabled them to develop.’

A dedicated Heritage tent will provide an opportunity to explore the island’s Liberation and heritage with films, photographs and documents  and contributions from Guernsey Museums, the Language Commission and Find My Past.

Both the morning parade and afternoon cavalcade will make use of the whole seafront with the route going all the way down to the Castle Pier roundabout. This is to ensure there are as many viewing positions as possible.  

Seating for 500 people will be provided at The Albany bus terminus for those who require it, including those with limited mobility, carers and sunflower lanyard holders. There will also be a reserved area for wheelchair users. Limited seating will also be available outside the Town Church, by the Victor Hugo seat.  

Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there will be volunteer marshals monitoring these areas to ensure seating and spaces are being used by those who need it most. Users are asked to be mindful and give up their seats if there is someone less able to stand.

The new Youth Commission venture ‘The Bus Stop’ will be stationed at the end of the bus terminus with activities for teenagers, including traditional games, video games and refreshments thanks to the support of Fort Group. Camilla's cafe will be serving smoothies and will have cakes to decorate.

The Children's zone, sponsored by Waitrose Rohais and Admiral Park, will extend on to Castle Pier with bouncy castles, a craft tent run by Shiloh Church and a dance zone ensuring plenty of entertainment for children and families.

There will also be a number of local stallholders and food concessions.

Enjoy the activities as you make your way up to Castle Cornet where a day of music and family activities is taking place

A 21-gun salute will be fired by local military veterans.

1pm: Beat the Retreat, BADOTSA

A Beat the Retreat performed by the Bugles and Drums of the Stedfast Association whose members are all former Boys Brigade Band from across the United Kingdom and beyond.

4pm: The Vibettes

The Vibettes bring back the sound of the 1940’s delivering those close vocal harmonies that are so well known of that time.

Covering songs from artists that continue to be so well loved of that era, such as The Andrews Sisters, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Vera Lynn and many more! The classic up tempo swing beats and boogie woogie can't fail to get you into the vintage swing.

With close to 350 entries, the 2025 Liberation Day Cavalcade sponsored by Rok will be biggest ever. In addition to the pre-1946 military vehicles, cars and tractors, the Cavalcade is joined by parish, charity and family floats, decorated bicycles and wheelchairs, pedestrians, community groups and visiting and local musicians.

Kevan Nelson, Director at Rok said:

‘We’re excited and proud to be sponsoring this year’s cavalcade, which plays such an important part in the Liberation celebrations for so many people. Guernsey’s occupation and liberation is a significant part in the island’s history and with all the visiting vehicles and the opportunity for the community to take part it promises to be a very fitting and special celebration.’

Military vehicles, vintage cars and tractors

Floats and pedestrians

If you are watching the Cavalcade on the St Peter Port seafront please follow directions from the Police, Civil Protection and marshals and stay on the pavement. The Cavalcade will be travelling on both sides of the road so this is for your safety.

Static displays

Guernsey’s skies will roar with the sound of history this Liberation Day, as a fleet of Second World War aircraft present a spectacular display of wartime aviation. 

Included in the 80th anniversary programme is ‘Ready for Duty’ (R4D), operated by the Dallas-based Commemorative Air Force and the last aircraft of its kind that is still flying.  Built in 1944, R4D is the U.S. Navy’s version of the legendary DC-3 and C-47.  

The aircraft is embarking on a 12,000-mile journey to honour the service and sacrifice of American and Allied forces for VE Day and the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. The aircraft will carry several historic artefacts from World War II warships including items from the USS Yorktow, USS Texas and USS Laffey. 

R4D will be joined by a Hawker Hurricane and a Harvard to carry out flypasts on 9 May in Guernsey to coincide with the Cavalcade.  The Hawker Hurricane R4118 was built in 1940 and is the only Hurricane to have taken part in the Battle of Britain that remains flying. The FE511 Harvard was built in 1942 and was one of the allies’ most important training aircraft.

Aircraft notes

Hawker Hurricane 

Built in 1940, the Hawker Hurricane R4118 is the only Hurricane to have taken part in the Battle of Britain that is still flying. During its time in the Battle of Britain, the R4118 shot down five enemy aircrafts and was part of over 40 sorties. 

In October 1940, the Hurricane R4118 itself was shot down and had to be rebuilt before taking to the skies and returning to active combat in 1941. Over the next two years, it had to be rebuilt three more times after being used as a training aircraft and suffering major accidents. 

From 1943-1947, it was left in its packing case after being transferred to Bombay and then donated to Varanasi university for engineering instruction. It was left exposed to the elements until 1996, when it was bought by Peter Vacher and finally returned to the UK in 2001 and restored. 

Harvard 

The Harvard FE511 is a pristine example of the allies’ most important advanced training aircraft from WWII. Built by Noorduyn Aviation, Montreal in 1942, FE511 is one of over 15,000 T-6s of all variants built.  

The AT-16, Harvard 2B has been extensively restored and provides the perfect platform for warbird-experience flights and conversion training for pilots wishing to step up to piloting high-powered piston aircraft. 

C-47 Ready 4 Duty

The DC-3 was originally developed to carry 21 passengers, but the R4D-6S was no mere passenger carrier. Built as a warbird, the aircraft was modified to carry depth charges on external racks mounted under the fuselage between the main landing gear. Assigned to the U.S. Navy Atlantic Special Service Squadron R4D conducted airborne search radar and sonar evaluation as well as training airborne specialists and operators. 

During operational patrols in February 1945, R4D was one of 20 in a squadron that surprised a surfaced German U-Boat off the coast of Brazil and sank it. At the end of WWII, the aircraft was retained in service and assigned to Naval Headquarters Berlin. Later, it returned to the U.S. and served in an electronics warfare training role. The aircraft is now configured to demonstrate several World War II history lessons, including sub-chaser. 

The RAF Falcons will carry out a spectacular parachute drop and display at L’Eree at 3.30pm on 9 May as part of the St Pierre du Bois parish event.

The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team is the only centrally funded, professional, military parachute display team in the UK. 

Anne Thomas, event organiser for the St Pierre du Bois parish event, met two of the Falcons team during a recce of the site. She said: 'We considered two landing locations; the beach is the preference with the aerodrome as back up, both of which will work well for them as well those spectating.'

'We’re very hopeful that conditions will allow a beach landing with such an amazing backdrop but will assess the conditions with the team on the day. Either way, we’re extremely excited to have the opportunity to provide such an exciting and visual display for our community in a beautiful location and they will be a fantastic addition to our already packed day.” 

Islanders will get a flavour of the moment when Guernsey was freed from occupation in 1945, through a historical re-enactment of Force 135's arrival on the island.

Organised by the Guernsey Military History Company, the living history performance will recreate the arrival of Force 135, the British military task force who were responsible for the liberation of the Channel Islands from German occupation.

The event will feature HMS Medusa and Rummy III (HMS Flycatcher) with Guernsey Petroleum Distributors Ltd (GPD) sponsoring the fuel for the visiting craft.

Mat Broughton, from GPD and a representative of Guernsey Military Motors & Cycles (GMMC) said:

'It's a privilege for GPD to play a part in helping bring history to life for the community and we hope that this event will give people a real sense of what it was like when British forces arrived to restore our freedom 80 years ago.

'GMMC will have a display set up on Albert Pier all day, with vintage British WW2 military vehicles and motorcycles providing a glimpse into wartime life.'

Russell Doherty, Guernsey Military History Company and organiser of the re-enactment, said:

'Force 135 was the British military task force responsible for the liberation of the Channel Islands from German occupation, composed of elements from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.

'This re-enactment will be a moving tribute to those who lived through the occupation and a way for all generations to connect with this pivotal moment in Guernsey's history.'

A Spitfire MK9 will finish the aerial activity with a pass along the east coast at approximately 7pm.

The Spitfire is the most famous British fighter aircraft in history. It became a symbol of freedom during the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. It was the highest performing Allied aircraft in 1940. 

The crowds at the 1936 RAF Display at Hendon had a first glimpse of the prototype Spitfire in the New Types Park but it was not until August 1938 that production Spitfires began to enter service. By the outbreak of war, a year later, nine squadrons were equipped. In spite of vigorous demands from the France the Commander in Chief of Fighter Command refused to send any Spitfires to France during the German Blitzkrieg of 1940. The wisdom of that decision was clearly shown. By July 1940 RAF Fighter Command had nineteen Spitfire MkI squadrons available. 

Once the RAF modified their tactics to properly counter the Luftwaffe, the Spitfire MkI proved to be the only British fighter capable of meeting the Messerschmitt Bf109E on equal terms. Often the outcome of a combat depended more on the quality of the pilot than his aircraft. 

Further improvements in performance were made by fitting new type propellers, known as constant speed units, and modifying the Merlin engine to run on 100 octane fuel. 

More Spitfires were built than any other British combat aircraft before or since World War II - 20,341 in total. The spitfire flying today is a MK9.

150 drones will illuminate the skies above St. Peter Port in a spectacular fusion of technology, art, and storytelling that celebrates the island’s history, resilience and liberation. A stirring selection of music from five larger works, selected by Jean Owen, will be knitted together to accompany the drone display, heightening the audience experience.

The drone performance is choreographed by FlightShows, a leading provider of aerial light displays, and will be the first public display staged in Guernsey. The 15-minute show has been uniquely designed for the island and will provide a memorable and modern twist to the traditional celebrations of Guernsey’s Liberation Day, with the drones launching from the East Arm of North Beach.

Jean Owen, who has arranged the musical accompaniment, said:

'We wanted to ensure the music would be recognisable as well as fit with the images that had been chosen. I thought of a number of pieces quite quickly and then had to work out if there were obvious places we could make cuts to fit the timings.

'The show will open Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and includes Holst’s Jupiter with the stirring melody of ‘I vow to thee my country’. Stravinsky’s Firebird might not be on everyone’s playlist, but the drama and excitement of the music makes a fitting conclusion for the final images. The music celebrates freedom and is complemented by the symbolism of a firebird, which is set free at the end of the ballet and is widely thought to symbolise hope to common people after suffering trials first.'

Richard Saunders, Butterfield’s Managing Director in Guernsey said:

'Each year the Liberation Day fireworks have always been a stand-out finale. So, to see 150 drones lighting up the sky this year creating what is sure to be an emotional performance to Jean’s selection of music above St Peter Port is going to be a wonderful addition on a memorable day.

'We are pleased to be able to contribute to the Liberation celebrations and do our part to support the community. I’m hoping it will be the perfect sign off to the celebrations across the island and I hope everyone enjoys the show.'

The drone show will be followed immediately by the traditional fireworks display which will be fired from La Vallette.

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The Liberation Concert will involve local musicians who will perform with the Biberach Youth Orchestra.

The performance on Saturday 10 May at 6pm in the Sir John Loveridge Hall, Beau Sejour, will celebrate the strong relationship that has been formed with Biberach, the town in Germany where more than 80  islanders were deported during the war. 

‘Music has played a key role in building our relationship with Biberach. Many of the musicians who are taking part in this concert have visited the town to perform over the years, and it is particularly important to involve our young people in this event’ Rachel Wright, conductor, said.

‘When I was choosing the programme, I wanted to find music that will remember, celebrate and commemorate our relationship with Biberach and the island’s liberation.  I have included Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer and Parry’s I Was Glad and also wanted to feature, Maynine, which was written by the late Chris Claxton for the 65^th anniversary and the mass Guernsey Sings event,’

The concert will feature works by other local composers Lydia Jane Pugh and Chris Claxton and songs written by Len Collins and Ernie Webster who were interned at Laufen Camp.

The concert is sold out.  Please check with Beau Sejour if any tickets have been returned.

PROGRAMME

The Corps of Drums from The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland 

Guernsey Choral and Orchestral Society, Biberach Youth Orchestra, Guernsey Chamber Choir, Bel Canto, Guernsey Music Service students from the Guernsey Youth Orchestra and Cantabile, and other local singers and musicians 

 Biberach Youth Orchestra 

Guernsey Choral and Orchestral Society, Biberach Youth Orchestra, Guernsey Chamber Choir, Bel Canto, Guernsey Music Service students from the Guernsey Youth Orchestra and Cantabile, and other local singers and musicians 

Cantabile 

Guernsey Choral and Orchestral Society, Biberach Youth Orchestra, Guernsey Chamber Choir, Bel Canto, Guernsey Music Service students from the Guernsey Youth Orchestra and Cantabile, and other local singers and musicians