Padiham links to Guernsey Liberation celebrations
I read with interest the article and picture about the Liberation Celebrations in Guernsey sent in by Maureen de Jersey.
Maybe your readers are not aware that HMS Pearl, Padiham’s adopted ship was, along with HMS Bulldog, the two Royal Naval ships that sailed into Guernsey when the Channel Islands were freed. The crew of the Pearl went every year to the Liberation Celebrations and were treated like royalty.
They also came to Padiham annually for a reunion for many years. Sadly, some of the crew have passed away now and the remaining ones are getting frail but I keep in touch with a few of them and they always say how they have happy memories of Padiham.
Pauline Devanney
Padiham