As crowds gathered across St Helier today to mark Liberation Day, Express spoke to islanders and visitors about what 9 May means to them.

For many, it is a day of remembrance – honouring those who lived through the Occupation and celebrating the freedom that came in 1945.

Others spoke about family memories, community spirit and the importance of keeping those stories alive for future generations.

From people who remember Liberation Day itself to younger islanders experiencing the celebrations today, there was a shared feeling that the occasion still holds a special place in Jersey life…

Dave Power, Royal Navy veteran enjoying a cup of tea outside the Dog & Sausage before heading to join the parade

“I’m not an islander, but I’ve been here 35 years, and as a Falklands veteran, I know what it means to people to regain their freedom after being occupied. Given what people in Jersey went through during those five years, Liberation Day is definitely worth celebrating.”

Malcolm Hall, drummer for the Band of the Island of Jersey, and his son Harry (14), who plays the cornet

Malcolm: “I’ve only missed a couple of years since I moved here in 1974. It’s a day that really represents what people went through, both Islanders and the prisoners who were here from Russia, Poland, etc – they weren’t treated very well at all.”

Harry: “Everywhere has their big day in history, and this is Jersey’s – it’s great to get people together and celebrate.”

Sam and Glenda, visitors from Kent, England in the Royal Square

“We planned a trip to Jersey, and intended to visit the War Tunnels, but we didn’t know this was on – we just struck lucky.”

Ian Vautier, giving out programmes at the Weighbridge

“It’s about respect for our elders, those who died or were captured, and the freedoms we now have – it’s part of our heritage.”

Therese Le Breuilly (94) and her daughter Michelle Fielding, in the front row of the public seating at Liberation Square

Therese: “I wouldn’t miss it – it’s an emotional day, and I’m very patriotic.”

Michelle: “Mum was here during the Occupation – it was only four of her 94 years, but it was a memorable time for her, and she talks about it all the time.”

Bob Hambly (89), in Liberation Square with daughters Ella Lemoucheux and Debbie Bertram

Ella: “Dad was in St Helier on 9 May 1945, just behind the Queen Victoria railings, having been here throughout the Occupation. He said it was a sunny day, like it is today – we wouldn’t ever want to miss it.”

Marion Rossler, who was five months old when the Occupation began and five years old on Liberation Day

“Celebrating freedom and the respect I have for my parents.”

Elise Wetherall, a Parish of St Helier employee who helped organise the Liberation Day breakfast, and St Helier senior ambassador Scarlett Camacho

Elise: “Liberation Day to me is a fantastic celebration of the local community, and I really enjoy being able to be involved with it every year and being part of the team that organises it. It’s always fantastic to see everyone come out and share their stories.”

Scarlett: “To me, Liberation Day is representing the community and showing off that you’re grateful for what the people in the past have done for you and where we are now. It is a celebration of life and remembering those that are no longer with us.”

Anthony Blythe and Karin Porteous were attendees at the Liberation Day breakfast

Anthony: “It’s a remembrance of the sacrifices that thousands of people made to come and liberate the island. The sacrifices that the inhabitants had to go through during the five years, and the fact that people today can live in a free, democratic society.”

Karin: “It’s the day that all of us were given our freedom.”

Frances Harris, who is the daughter of former Liberation Day breakfast organiser Leo Harris, and her son Laurence Newton

Frances: “Liberation Day means my dad! I grew up with all of these stories – from my earliest memory, we’d only have to be out, and he’d say, ‘Can you see that over there? That little thing?’, and he’d have the whole story. So for me, it’s everything involved with my dad, which is why I still come in here; it’s his legacy and he loved it, and he really wanted us to come here every year. I’ve just grown up with his stories, he was just the best raconteur. He never regretted it, even though he didn’t understand how serious it was at the time, for him it was an adventure he would never have wanted to have missed.”

Laurence: “I’d say it’s about how people had to work around extreme odds to survive, and all the stories of people doing amazing things in ordinary circumstances.”

Pastor Ifeoma Onubogu 

“This is my third Liberation Day in Jersey. We come from England, where there is nothing like this. Sharing the experience of how the Second World War came to Jersey is very important to me, particularly in the world we are living in today. There is lot of injustice going on and seeing how Jersey dealt with it can teach us a lot.”

Dodie Noel

“Liberation Day means a great deal to me. It is very important for all Islanders. My husband was Jersey-born, and I come every year. The service today was very uplifting; it brings back lots of memories.”

Jane Rueb

“This day is always special because my dad was here on the day in 1945 with my grandparents and his siblings. This year in particular is special because the poem that was read out during the service was written by him, Michael Vautier. It brought a bit of a lump to my throat, and the youngsters who read it out in Jèrriais and English both did a fantastic job.”

Terry Le Main

“Liberation Day means a hell of a lot to me. I was here as a five-year-old with my father at the end of the Albert Pier and he put me in the arms of the first soldier who walked up the ramp. I don’t remember the day itself, but I certainly remember the Occupation because we had a huge German camp next to us in St Martin.”

Kendal Hawkins (34) and Richard Lamkin (32) with their dogs Shadow and Sid

Kendal: “I think it’s a great time for people to celebrate and to show a sort of nationalism of Jersey, but in a good way not a right wing way.”

Yann Kremer (30) & Chloe Rondeau (31), a French couple visiting the Island

Yann: “The thing that struck me is people seem to be really celebrating it.

“I come from a region that was also liberated at the end of the war where it’s commemorated by remembering the death.

“It’s very different but I really like the way it’s done here with more joy.”