This Is Guernsey

By Thom Ogier

Brothers Bill, left, and Roger Eborall will be living in separate parts of the island from today for the first time since 52-year-old Roger was born.

ROGER EBORALL, 52, is today leaving the only home he has known.

And he lost the neighbour he has had all his life – eldest brother Bill, who has lived at Mont Arrive even longer, 72 years. While the family once occupied most of the small States estate, 73-year-old Bill – the oldest of 19 children – is now the only Eborall there.

‘We love it here. It’s all we have known. It’s our home,’ he said. ‘Our relatives have been together in five of these houses at a time. It’s the Eborall community.’

While Roger is happy with the home he, wife Susan and children Richard, 29, and Amy, 13, move into today, Bill does not yet know where he and wife Olive will be living.

Bill said: ‘About eight years ago they said we had to move into a smaller place because the children had gone. I said, “fair enough”, but it never happened,’ he said.

‘Now they are telling me to move again, but they haven’t found us anywhere to go and I’m worried.’

His parents, Muriel and Sydney, raised four of their children in 1, Mont Arrive, during the Occupation and lived there until their death.

Sydney died 26 years ago at the age of 70 and Muriel remained in the house until her death at 95 in July last year.

She had continued working as a French translator at the Tomato Marketing Board until she was 71.

During the Occupation, German soldiers lived next door.

Bill said: ‘I remember them giving us food like German bread when we were starving, but by the end it was the same for them too,’ he said. He was once chased home by a German guard.

‘There used to be a mine up there and when the Germans gave the workers soup, I took a pan to try to get some.

‘I ended up throwing something when I was caught. My mother hid me and said I had been in bed sick and then an officer we knew protected me.’

He was glad his mother did not have to see them move.

‘She wouldn’t go to hospital so we kept her here and my brother, Podge [Roger] and his wife looked after her right the way through,’ he said.

Roger, who is a roofer, said: ‘If the houses weren’t coming down, we wouldn’t move, ever, even if they are a bit cold.

‘There have been great times here and so we’re sad to leave. There are a lot of memories here and 70 years must be the record,’ he said.

‘Those brought up in this house, let’s see: Bill, Joan, Vera, Elvina, Beryl, Micky, Molly, Ted, me and Deena.’

He said he would find it strange no longer to be a part of such a supportive community.

‘If anyone has ever had a problem, the others help out.

‘Though I feel apprehensive about leaving I love the new house they have found for me, it’s ideal,’ he said.

The brothers agreed that despite the recent stress, they were grateful to have had a States house.

They joke that they will be happy to see the back of one another.

But they will continue to spend time together, even though it involves more than just popping next door.