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2011

Liberation Day 2011

On the 9th May, the choir once again contributed to the celebration of the Island's Liberation in 1945. The picture below shows the choir alongside La Ronde Concert Band

Jersey Liberation hymn

A hymn that was written at the end of the Nazi occupation of Jersey to celebrate the islands liberation was broadcast for the first time on June 23rd 2011 when members of the choir went to the BBC Radio Jersey studio to sing it.

The words to the Liberation Hymn were written by the Reverend Frank Killer of St Marks Church and set to the tune St. Francis (Lasst Uns Erfreuen - frequently sung to All Creatures of Our God & King).

The rarely played hymn was suggested as a possible anthem for Jersey by BBC Radio Jersey listener Barbara Frost.

The hymn was first played on the original Liberation Day on 9 May 1945.

Mrs Frost called the BBC to suggest it after hearing it played for the first time at the All Saints Church in St Helier during the liberation day celebrations in 2011.

The Jersey Festival Choir heard her comments and wanted to perform the hymn so BBC Radio Jersey found the music used and tracked down the words thanks to another listener, Joyce Le Riche, who had a copy.

The festival choir were then invited into the studio to perform the hymn live accompanied by BBC Radio Jersey breakfast presenter Roger Bara on the piano, see below. Follow this link for the full BBC Radio Jersey story