Warren Muggleton
Sports reporter

Roll up, roll up, Jersey Reds are on the bus!

The Championship-winning side are celebrating their historic achievement as part of the Liberation Day parade.

It has started raining but the spirits are high on the top deck of the open-top bus.

They were crowned Championship champions for the first time in their history after a 43-15 win over Ampthill at St Peter last month.

Barbara Frost was 12 years old when the Germans occupied Jersey.

She said on the day the war ended, she was “exhilarated, I don’t think I’d slept all night”.

“When we woke up to the drones of the planes, they were coming over like black dots in the sky, we didn’t care if they were going to drop bombs on us… to us it was a sign that it was near the end, there was never a minute in our family we doubted that we would win the war."

The now 95-year-old said everyone headed to the Royal Square, now known as Liberation Square, to celebrate.

“We just wanted to be in amongst the thick of it… the atmosphere was just so wonderful, everybody with big smiles on their faces after so many years of feeling and looking glum and not knowing what the future held."

Tim Hunter
BBC Radio Guernsey

Lt Will De La Mare is the Commanding Officer of HMS Puncher that has been visiting the island across the coronation weekend and Liberation Day.

Islanders have come together at Liberation Square to honour Jersey's 78th Liberation Day.

But who is in St Helier celebrating?

You can send us your pictures to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk

Ron Perchard is a Lieutenant in the Sea Cadet Corps, and will be marching alongside them and other military cadets.

He was just six when the island was liberated.

“My father took my sister and I down to West Park by what used to be the Pav, there we saw the troops coming ashore in transport, which turned out to be the dukw’s, they were throwing sweets at us.”

On Liberation Day 2023, Mr Perchard said “if it rains, it rains”, and the parade will march on to the cheers of islanders.

Jersey's Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore has addressed the States Assembly and islanders: "It is so important that we take time to remember this period in our history and not allow the painful experience of our occupation to be forgotten.

"We mustn’t forget that the occupation took place within living memory, ending 78 years today, and there are people in the world today who are still experiencing similar deprivation.

"Occupation is, we know, not unthinkable and unfortunately not unrelatable.

"Today, we are reminded that our freedom, liberty and democracy, which we so cherish and for which our forebears fought so hard, is precious and not to be taken for granted."

Freddie Miller
BBC Jersey political reporter

About 60 people of all ages have taken their seats in the public gallery in Jersey's States Chamber, where the annual Liberation Day States sitting is under way.

Some are in uniform and are proudly displaying their medals, many of the ladies are wearing hats.

Outside in the Royal square, hundreds of young cadets in a variety of uniforms have assembled.

Ahead of them are people carrying parish flags - hundreds more people are watching on.

Freddie Miller
BBC Jersey political reporter

The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, enters the States chamber dressed in his ceremonial red and white robes.

He's accompanied by the Lieutenant Governor, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd, who is marking his first Liberation Day since taking up the role.

Ahead of the two men walks an usher, carrying the Royal Mace. They take their seats, and the sitting begins.

Following the customary roll call, the Dean of Jersey, the Very Reverend Mile Keirle, leads the Assembly in prayer.

With the special States sitting now under way, the Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore is addressing the assembly, and the island, as Jersey marks 78 years of freedom from occupation.

The traditional parade has taken place along the seafront in St Peter Port.

It leads to the Town Church, where a service of remembrance will start from 11:00.

Ahead of the military parade from 10:00 BST Guernsey Concert Brass performed in St Peter Port.

The traditional church service follows at 11:00 and can be hear on BBC Radio Guernsey on 1116AM and on DAB on BBC Radio Guernsey Extra.

Music and entertainment is being put on at Castle Cornet, with free entry from 11:00-16:00

After the cavalcade a static display of the military vehicles, vintage cars and tractors involved will take place along the seafront from 15:00-17:00.

There will also be a 1940s-themed concert on Crown Pier between 17:00-21:00, which will be followed by a fireworks display.

Events have also been planned across the island, external.

Islanders who were in Jersey during the occupation have began to arrive ahead of the parade and Liberation service at 10:30 BST.

BBC Jersey political reporter Freddie Miller said there was a steady stream of young cadets - dressed in camouflage and other military uniforms - making their way through St Helier, towards the Royal Square.

Later, as drums beat and wind instruments play, they will be amongst the people who march to Liberation Square, following the conclusion of this morning's special States sitting.

La Ronde Concert Band has also begun playing music alongside the Jersey Festival Choir in the build up.

Access to the Weighbridge is now blocked, external, and buses arriving in town are parking at the bottom of Pier Road.

Jersey's Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq said despite the fog and chance of a shower, he hoped islanders could "keep calm and carry on".

He said: "Well, I suppose we can call it the wartime spirit, I actually would refer to it as the Jersey spirit.

"We've always been a resilient people, a bit of weather has not normally put us off, I just ask people to dress accordingly and to take care as they move across what might be slippery pavements and surfaces."

Celebrations to go ahead despite weather concerns

The air raid siren at the top of Victoria Tower sounded at 09:00 BST to mark Liberation Day across the island.

The siren is the last operational one in the island after the rest were decommissioned in 2010 and it was retained for use on public events.

Islanders will be coming together to mark and celebrate the 78th anniversary of the end of the German Occupation during World War Two.

A traditional breakfast was held for occupation survivors, evacuees and deportees at the town hall, and people have been invited to head to Liberation Square for the parade and Liberation service at 10:30 BST.

The chief minister will make a statement in Jersey's States Assembly at 10:30 BST, after which members of the government will head to Liberation Square.

An afternoon tea and raffle will be held at the town hall from 15:00 BST, and families of forced workers during the occupation will come together at the Westmount war memorial to lay wreaths and flowers.

Music and celebrations will be held at Weighbridge Square during the afternoon.

While events are happening in Jersey and Guernsey to mark Liberation Day it is all quiet in Sark and Alderney.

Sark was liberated a day later than Jersey and Guernsey on 10 May so the island will marks the anniversary on Wednesday.

Alderney residents returned later in the year - this is marked on Homecoming Day on 15 December.

Jersey's bailiff hopes islanders will be able to enjoy Liberation Day - despite the weather.

Sir Timothy Le Cocq looked at weather reports at 06:00 BST to decide if the traditional events could go ahead.

Despite the fog and chance of a shower, he said the parade and service in Liberation Square should happen as planned.

The bailiff urged those heading out to be prepared for the weather and wear some warm and waterproof clothes.

While the weather currently isn't the best - fog and drizzle - across the islands plenty of events are due to be held to mark 78 years of freedom.

On this day in 1945, five years of occupation ended in Guernsey and Jersey.