Liberation Day

This year on May 8 Guernsey celebrated 65 years of Liberation. The islands population turned up in force to join in the party. An estimated 20,000 people were in town on the day, one third of the population. I organised to have a few hours off work in the late afternoon and went into town to see what it was all about.

I arrived in time to watch the cavalcade of cars, marching bands and floats pass through the main street. Islanders waved Guernsey flags and partied into the night. Disappointingly I had to return to work but I enjoyed the few hours and I was impressed by just how much it means to everyone.

The island celebrated sixty five years to the day that the island was freed from the Germans who had occupied the land for four years, ten months and seven days. Many of the islanders left to go to England when the Germans arrived, those who stayed lived in very poor conditions with food being rationed and many locals having to work as slaves.

Reminders of the German Occupation are still visible throughout the island. At Jerbourg point there is a concrete forte during WWII with the NAZI sign still readable. The Germans built forts across much of the coastline although they were never invaded. There are also a number of Occupation museums on the island. None of which I have visited after experiencing the liberation celebrations I now have a greater understanding and interest so I plan to visit the museums soon.

The Monday prior to Liberation Day was also a Bank Holiday Monday and I spent my day off taking part in a photomarathon. I was given a disposable camera and twelve topics and had six hours to interpret the topics any way I wished. My imagination on the day was lacking so not surprisingly I did not win. I was fun to be a part of it and my photos along with the other 70 participants photos were on show at the Information Centre. The competition was part of a month long photography festival in St Peter Port. Professionals displayed there photos in section of town, some of which were excellent and some I found quite random and boring.

While Guernsey and the Channel Islands were celbrating their Liberation the rest of the UK were trying to decide who would lead them as Prime Minister. Gordon Brown's party did not win enough votes to keep power and David Cameron's Conservatives also didn't win enough votes for a victory. So it was left for Nick Clegg to decide after a few days of meetings to take David Cameron's side making Cameron the new leader.