Linda Steele came to Kindley to work as a hairdresser in the Base salon at Carter House. Her brother was the assistant fire chief, and her arrival honoured a promise made in the US that if he found her a job, she would come.

In time she met "The One" and married him in a ceremony at the Base chapel in 1966, followed by a reception at Tom Moore's.

"I still remember that I had to put 'Spinster' on the form for my banns," she says. "We were here for five years and lived in a little cottage near Swing Bridge owned by a Mrs. Smith. It was wonderful because we were newlyweds."

In time the couple returned to the US, and her husband served in the Vietnam war — something Mrs. Steele sums up as "a really bad time".

"I really missed Bermuda. When I left it was as if a big door had closed in my face. The people here were so friendly. [In the States] there wasn't the camaraderie we had here."

During their time in Bermuda, the Steeles befriended Sally Clements, and the teenager spent time weekends with them to have a break from caring for her ailing mother. They have been friends ever since, and the women were delighted to be together on the reunion visit.

"My husband had four sons from his previous marriage, and he always wanted a daughter, so we loved Sally like a daughter," Mrs. Steele remembers.

For years the couple tried to start a family, without success, then Mrs. Steele remembered something she had heard on the Island.

"They said there was a baby in every water tank, so we came back in January, 1972, and I became pregnant. Our son Jason was conceived at John Smith's Bay," Mrs. Steele said.

"When we came back in 1988 we took Jason to John Smith's Bay and told him the story, but he said that was too much information!"

Among the many memories the Texas resident had of living here was the unusual sight of women and men in full evening dress travelling on mopeds. She loved going to the 40 Thieves with her husband to enjoy the many fine singers and musicians who performed there, among them Ghandi Burgess, as well as the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people.

"There was so much talent in the '60s, and I bought so many records, which I still have — Rolf and Tino, the Talbot Brothers, Hubert Smith... I really missed the steel drums this time."

After several days of sightseeing, Mrs. Steele said that, while the Island had clearly changed in some ways, she still loved it.

"The nice Front Street stores have gone, there are more and bigger cars, and condos everywhere, and there are so many more people. When I was here the population was 30,000 and now it is 66,000," she said.

"Even though I came by ship, I do feel badly that these big ships are coming in and dumping 3,000 passengers on the Island."

Nevertheless, the widow said she had had "a great time" despite not being able to share the experience with her husband.

"I thought it would bother me coming back without him, but I was sitting in the park 'talking' to him when this beautiful bird landed next to me and I thought, 'He is with me wherever I go'."