Early days of Aurigny recalled by daughter of one of its first pilots

THE daughter of one of Aurigny's first pilots has revisited the island after 35 years away, bringing some photographs from the earliest days of the airline.

Christine Herring's father, Bert Lane, a former RAF pilot, was part of Aurigny when it first took off 45 years ago.

After coming out of the service, during which he flew in the RAF's Red Pelican aerobatic team, the forerunner of the Red Arrows, Mr Lane went on to teach flying at Staverton Airport in Gloucestershire.

It was there he met businessman and pilot Sir Derrick Bailey, who owned Glos Air at the time.

Mrs Herring, who lives in Cheltenham, said: 'In the late-60s Sir Derrick said he was thinking of starting up an airline in the Channel Islands.

'British United Airways was finding it impossible to keep its Alderney to Guernsey route profitable and Sir Derrick learned that they were going to pull out. The local people welcomed Aurigny as they wanted more of a regular "bus service" that they could hop on and off. Sir Derrick thought he could provide it.'

The first plane to operate under the Aurigny Air Services banner was a twin-engined Britten Norman Islander, and more aircraft were soon acquired.

Mr Lane, Charles Poole, Butch Catchiside and Bob Haymer were the first pilots.

'They were all living on Alderney without their families at first and "survived" in a holiday let in Platte Saline,' she said.

'They called it The Piggery, this is probably a reference to the fact that three or four men lived in it, with perhaps not much time for housework and washing, rather than a reference to the accommodation.

'It was all very basic when they started out and they had masses of work including sorting out tickets, bookings and even luggage loading.'

Eventually Mr Lane's wife, Irene, joined him in Alderney and they bought a home in Champs Beauli off Longis Road.

Chris visited three or four times yearly and she cherished her memories of time spent at places like The Albert, where Sybil and Drew McQueen made sure the pilots had a good meal whenever they were off duty.

The Islanders gave way to three-engined Trislanders, whose seats could be removed.

'There was once a huge St Bernard dog that needed an operation in Guernsey. They had to tie him onto a made-up stretcher and it took a great deal of manoeuvring to get him in the plane,' said Mrs Herring.

'Dad was very proud of his part in helping to get Aurigny off the ground and it was lovely to revisit a place that was such a huge part of his and Mum's life.

'There are some things that haven't really changed much. Shame about the Albert as I would have liked to have a quick one in the bar.'

Mr Lane died in 2006, but his wife, 87, lives near her family.