Brothers Paul and Vernon Bowers on their visit to Alderney more than 50 years after they first holidayed there on a school trip. (0843002)

TWO brothers returned together to Alderney this week more than half a century after their first visit. Paul and Vernon Bowers, from Royton, near Oldham, came to the island on a school trip as teenagers in August 1954.

Having lived in Jersey for the past 23 years, Paul has revisited on several occasions. Vernon, however, hadn’t been back since enjoying a two-week holiday there with his brother and 20 school friends 55 years ago.

The pair decided to spend three days in the island after seeing Blue Islands’ free flights offer.

Vernon, who was 14 in 1954, described his reaction when staff at St Aidan’s and Oswald School announced the trip to Alderney.

‘It was very unusual in those days to go on a school holiday, especially to a place like Alderney. When the headmaster told us where we were going, my first reaction was “where’s that?”’

The pair set off for the Channel Islands in the middle of their summer break.

Paul, who is a year older than Vernon, said: ‘We were meant to get the train to Southampton but ended up travelling down by coach. We then flew from Eastleigh to Alderney. The plane only took six people at a time so it had to fly backwards and forwards four times to get us all to the island.’

Paul and Vernon, along with the other boys in the party, stayed at Jean’s Cafe, in Braye Street, which is now Bumps restaurant. Girls from the school, as well as the staff, resided at the Belle Vue.

Many of the Oldham party, including Paul and Vernon, enjoyed fishing trips to Burhou, numerous football matches and all of the island’s beaches. They also sat through a States meeting, went to the cinema and took a day trip to France.

‘We played football against the school team and won 4-0. We then played the island team and lost 4-0,’ said Vernon, who still lives in Royton. ‘I remember us all getting a lift to the second game on the back of a lorry.’

The brothers also remember visiting Cherbourg – aboard somewhat unconventional transport.

‘We did lots of things we’d never done before. We went on a submarine, which was called The Alderney, and got to go to Cherbourg. It was a very enjoyable trip and definitely warmer there than it was in Oldham.’

Despite the happy-go-lucky atmosphere, the trip was tinged with sadness.

‘We were on our way back from Cherbourg when the boat started going round in circles,’ said Vernon. ‘It was looking for something but no one would tell us what. We got back to the breakwater and there was a lot of confusion. We then found out that two young local lads had drowned while canoeing earlier that day.’

Despite Alderney being the only part of the British Isles that was home to a concentration camp during the Second World War, the brothers weren’t introduced to the island’s dark, recent history.

‘We didn’t know about the concentration camps but I remember seeing the gates to Camp Sylt,’ said Vernon. ‘I didn’t know what it was and our teachers didn’t mention it. Somebody said something about the war and a local person said it wasn’t talked about. It seemed as if people wanted to wipe it from their memories.’

Paul said: ‘It was only nine years since the war ended when we visited, but it could have been 50 years for all we knew. There was no sign of it.’

The brothers agree that the island hasn’t changed much since 1954.

‘The beaches are exactly the same, as is the breakwater and the harbour,’ said Paul. ‘Victoria Street seems shorter but that’s probably my memory playing tricks.’

Vernon joked that Braye Hill had appeared from nowhere since his first visit.

‘I don’t remember it – that certainly wasn’t there in 1954. And if it was, it definitely wasn’t that steep.’