A very special Occupation survivor has been asked to take part in the 2025 Liberation Day Cavalcade – Timothy the tortoise.
She was given to fellow Occupation survivor Maggie Cull in 1941.
The tiny tortoise and the young girl were both living in Guernsey when the Germans were in charge. They both remained on-island during the entire war and they still live together in St Martin’s.
With Timothy believed to be one of the very few surviving animals from that era in Guernsey’s history, Ms Cull was asked if they would both take part in the cavalcade, as a mark of respect to their experiences, and to signify their resilience.
Ahead of the parade, Ms Cull explained how she and Timothy were first connected all those years ago.
“My godmother luckily lived next door and gave me a very tiny tortoise as a christening present. We did not expect it to survive, but I named it Timothy.
“It took 25 years to be told by a vet that she was a female, but 85 years on we still call her Timothy!
“We both lived in Guernsey throughout the war, so we’re delighted to be included in the 80th year parade,” added Ms Cull.
Ms Cull and Timothy’s inclusion in the 80th-anniversary cavalcade is a poignant reminder of the island’s wartime experiences, as well as their own, but it is far from the only adventure that Timothy has endured or enjoyed during her lifetime so far.
A couple of years ago, the intrepid wanderer went missing for around five days, sparking a search across the island.
It’s not known where she went for the best part of the week, or how she got home.
At the time, Ms Cull said Timothy was spotted “bang in the middle of the garden, exhausted!”
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