The Liberation Flag Mast at St Peter's Port.
LIBERATION DAY PARADE - GUERNSEY
The Liberation Day parade in Guernsey – This year on the day before the Liberation Day parade (which was attended by Murray Whitcher every year from 1990, when 12 Group drill flight took part in the afternoon cavalcade, until 2013 without missing one), we had the honour as per his last wishes of spreading some of his ashes on the island.
This was done at a spot that was special to both him and his late wife Joyce, and where, a few years ago, he had spread some of her ashes. For anybody who should be visiting the spot is at La Table des Pions, Pleinmont, also known as The Fairy Table.
Special thanks must go to Hilary Daniel, who travelled over to Guernsey for the day especially for the ceremony. Despite the less than perfect conditions, a small service was held with both12 Group and 9 Group Standards, as well as the ROCA National Standard present. The pictures below show the scattering of Murray’s ashes, and the view from the site out to sea, with the Hanois Light just visible in the cleft in the rocks. While that was a wet and windy day, fortunately the following day was bright sunshine. However the weather did have quite an effect on us.
Hilary was unable to return home on his flight that evening and one member of our party, who was due to arrive in time for the ashes scattering, and was to be the third standard bearer for the ROCA on Liberation Day, had his flight delayed by 24 hours. He got to St Peter Port just in time to help pack away the standards after the Parade. He also missed the curry lunch with the Ghurkhas and Chelsea Pensioners (Hilary happily sitting in for lunch in his place). Chris Shire
The Liberation Day parade in Guernsey – This year on the day before the Liberation Day parade (which was attended by Murray Whitcher every year from 1990, when 12 Group drill flight took part in the afternoon cavalcade, until 2013 without missing one), we had the honour as per his last wishes of spreading some of his ashes on the island.
This was done at a spot that was special to both him and his late wife Joyce, and where, a few years ago, he had spread some of her ashes. For anybody who should be visiting the spot is at La Table des Pions, Pleinmont, also known as The Fairy Table.
Special thanks must go to Hilary Daniel, who travelled over to Guernsey for the day especially for the ceremony. Despite the less than perfect conditions, a small service was held with both12 Group and 9 Group Standards, as well as the ROCA National Standard present. The pictures below show the scattering of Murray’s ashes, and the view from the site out to sea, with the Hanois Light just visible in the cleft in the rocks. While that was a wet and windy day, fortunately the following day was bright sunshine. However the weather did have quite an effect on us.
Hilary was unable to return home on his flight that evening and one member of our party, who was due to arrive in time for the ashes scattering, and was to be the third standard bearer for the ROCA on Liberation Day, had his flight delayed by 24 hours. He got to St Peter Port just in time to help pack away the standards after the Parade. He also missed the curry lunch with the Ghurkhas and Chelsea Pensioners (Hilary happily sitting in for lunch in his place). Chris Shire
Photos
taken on Liberation Day show us forming up ready for the march from the car
park by the weighbridge, past the flag mast before the inspection by the
Lieutenant Governor Air Vice Marshall Peter Walker. He was a former RAF pilot & remembered
taking part in an aircraft exercise, where the ROC were plotting aircraft over the UK. During
the exercise an American 'enemy' pilot, tried sneaking down the Pennines. Peter Walker was waiting, somewhere off
Scarborough, listening to the progress of the bandits and they
arrived just when and where the ROC said they would.
After the inspection where we are joined by the Chelsea pensioners who never miss the opportunity to visit Guernsey. We marched along the sea front to Town Church for the Service of Thanksgiving. After the service we marched off along High Street to Smith Street, where the politicians left us, and then back down Smith Street turning left into The Pollet by Lloyds Bank to Moores Hotel where we enjoyed a curry lunch with, among others, the Ghurkhas and the Chelsea Pensioners. A memorable two days for us all. Chris Shire
After the inspection where we are joined by the Chelsea pensioners who never miss the opportunity to visit Guernsey. We marched along the sea front to Town Church for the Service of Thanksgiving. After the service we marched off along High Street to Smith Street, where the politicians left us, and then back down Smith Street turning left into The Pollet by Lloyds Bank to Moores Hotel where we enjoyed a curry lunch with, among others, the Ghurkhas and the Chelsea Pensioners. A memorable two days for us all. Chris Shire
