The ‘Occupation and Liberation’ weekend takes place on Friday and Saturday, 16-17 May and will include a series of free talks, tours and handling sessions. Islanders will have the opportunity to hear stories about the Occupation years and the time of Jersey’s Liberation, as well as seeing some of the Occupation collection pieces not currently on display at any of the charity’s visitor sites.

Among the highlights will be a talk by Liberation author and expert Mark Lamerton about 9 May 1945 and the incredible events and celebrations that took place on that day and those that followed. Jersey Heritage Exhibitions Curator Lucy Layton will also be discussing the research she carried out for the new ‘Life after Liberation: the road to recovery’ exhibition, which opened at Jersey Museum on 2 May.

Stuart Nicolle, Jersey Heritage’s Senior Archivist, said: “The ‘Occupation and Liberation’ weekend adds to the host of ways in which Jersey Heritage is sharing the stories of Liberation during the 80th anniversary year. As well as hearing about research into this momentous time in the Island’s history, people will be able to learn more about fascinating archive records from the Occupation years, and in a special Occupation-themed ‘Meet the Collections’, they will be to see on display some of the amazing items that came from this unique period.”

Anyone wanting to book a place for the free talks or tours should email archives@jerseyheritage.org or call 833300. ‘Meet the Collections’ is a drop-in event. (See end of release for full programme for the ‘Occupation and Liberation’ weekend)

The two-day ‘Occupation and Liberation’ event adds to the other ways in which Jersey Heritage is celebrating Liberation 80. At Jersey Museum, as well as the new exhibition, a ‘Language Room’ offers the opportunity to explore Jersey’s native language of Jèrriais and personal stories of language and identity, and to consider what you would take with you if you had to leave home, as many Islanders did as evacuees ahead of the start of the Occupation. Over May half term (27-30 May), there will also be a ‘Liberation Creation Station’ offering free family-friendly, creative activities to celebrate Liberation.

At Hamptonne, visitors can watch a captivating ten-minute projected film, ‘A Day to Remember’, which draws on archive film and an immense library of stills to share the anticipation of freedom, the final surrender on 9 May 1945 and the arrival of Force 135, set to clear away the aftermath of war and make the Island safe again.

To complement the film, a new small exhibition explores the surprising story of how Hamptonne and other Jersey farms almost collapsed during the Occupation, and how they thrived following Liberation. There are also two additional Living History characters at Hamptonne – housewife Olive Syvret, who provides an insight into rural life during the Occupation years, and tenant farmer’s wife Beryl Pinel, who shares stories from 1943 when Hamptonne was partially requisitioned by German troops.

Programme for the ‘Occupation and Liberation’ weekend

Friday, 16 May
10am: Introduction to German Occupation Records / The archive collections and how to access them

11.30am: Occupation Treasures Tour / A behind-the-scenes look at unique material held in the Archive strongrooms

2pm: Life after Liberation: the road to recovery / A talk by Curator Lucy Layton about researching the new exhibition

Saturday, 17 May
10am-4pm: Meet the Collections / Collection objects from the Occupation years

10am: What’s Your School’s Story? / The history of St Luke’s School

11.30am: Occupation Treasures Tour / A behind-the-scenes look at unique material held in the Archive strongrooms

2pm: Writing for Liberation / A talk by historian Mark Lamerton about researching 9 May 1945.

The Archive Reading Rooms are open both days from 9am-4pm for research.