This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mann

LIBERATION DAY is go. Thousands of islanders are expected to descend upon Town today as organisers cross their fingers for good weather.

And they are already looking to next year, with plans to make it a more community-based event.

Liberation Celebrations working party chairman Deputy Mike O’Hara was confident things would go well and urged people to take part.

‘Come down and enjoy yourselves. Liberation Day is for you - it’s the biggest day Guernsey has, without a doubt, and we want people to simply enjoy it,’ he said.

‘A tremendous amount of planning has gone into it, even more this year because we’ve have different things like the LibJam.

‘Everything is in place and all we need now is good weather.’

There is a packed programme of entertainment, but it remains uncertain how people will react to the lack of a funfair and the Home Department’s decision to restrict on-street drinking.

‘All we want now is for everyone to enjoy themselves and for all the people who have done the hard work to get their just reward,’ said Deputy O’Hara.

He added that people had been supportive of the changes.

‘They felt it was getting a little staid with the funfair. They wanted a change. They got that and hopefully next year we will change it a bit more.’

Deputy O’Hara wanted more community spirit, with events such as a Floral Guernsey festival incorporated.

He also supported parishes putting up bunting - an idea that came in by letter.

‘We want people to call us as a committee and tell us what they want to see.

‘It will be nice to get some feedback in the next few months to say try this or that.’

Planning for the day was a year-round job, he said, with thoughts already turning to the 65th anniversary in 2010.

Some events today are dependent on the weather.

There were concerns yesterday that the Flying the Flag competition, which involves teams racing up and around the SeaGuernsey mast on the Weighbridge roundabout, could be cancelled.

But the necessary winches were in place yesterday evening and assuming it remains dry and calm enough, organiser Paul Staples said it would go ahead.

North Beach was already buzzing yesterday as the skaters, BMX and mountain bikers and trials bike riders took to the ramps for LibJam.

It continues today and more than 600 people have signed up to take part.

Article posted on 9th May, 2007 - 12.00am