Prisoners to assist with construction of SS Vega float for Liberation Day Cavalcade
February 17, 2023
The Channel Island Occupation Society is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the SS Vega's first visit, which brought crucial food parcels to starving islanders during WWII. Plans include a large replica float for the Liberation Day cavalcade and a permanent plaque at Cambridge Berth, where the SS Vega first docked. The ship, which made six visits from 27 December 1944, delivered nearly half a million parcels of Canadian and New Zealand food, potentially saving thousands of lives as German supply lines were cut off. Richard Heaume, the society's founder, approached Les Nicolles Prison for assistance in constructing the float.
Les Nicolles’ head of education, training and regimes Dave Le Feuvre – who is also on the CLIP committee – described the idea as ‘a great project for our guys to get involved with". He further noted that "it would be really beneficial to the prisoners, and it would provide them with an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the community, which is what we’re all about".
CLIP Director Andrew Ozanne said prisoners were able to take great pride in a project which they could see through to fruition and, if somewhere suitable could be found for storing the completed float, he would be keen to see it being used in future Liberation Day celebrations.
To hear more about this story, go to Plans to remember Vega visits from 80 years ago | Guernsey Press