In September 1939, as the clouds of war gathered over Europe, Ken Davis sailed away from the Island on the luxury cruise ship Monarch of Bermuda .

Mr. Davis, who was then aged 14, worked as a bell-hop on the famous liner until it became requisitioned as a troop ship for the United States for the forthcoming battle with Hitler's Nazis.

Although he has fond memories of Bermuda, he has waited 62 years before returning.

Two weeks ago, spurred on by reading a newspaper article in his native Newfoundland about another seafarer from the province who once became captain of the twin ship, the Queen of Bermuda , the 77-year-old Canadian decided it was time to visit once more.

Reading the article took him back to those glamorous days when he sailed on weekly voyages from New York to Bermuda between April 1938 and September 1939, serving celebrities such as Bing Crosby and Shirley Temple.

Back then, the Island's roads were quiet as everyone rode bicycles or travelled by horse and cart.

And Hamilton, which has grown into a bustling commercial centre, seemed like a small country town to Mr. Davis in 1939.

As a teen he spent his spare time swimming in Spanish Point and admits he took the Island's beauty for granted.

Now he is enjoying the chance to explore those other parts of the Island he never got a chance to see.

He told The Royal Gazette : "When the war broke out us kids were under-age and were a liability so we were shipped back home.

"When I read this article in Newfoundland, it took me right back to Bermuda and running Two Rock Passage into Hamilton.

"At that time there was just horses and carriages and bicycles. I remember the hot dog stands and sasparilla, and swimming in Spanish Point.

"I don't see much change except in Hamilton, which has built up into a metropolitan area whereas before it was just a rural town.

"I'm really enjoying myself. As kids, we took those things for granted, but now I'm travelling end to end to places I didn't know existed. We used to sail past Dockyard but now I've had the chance to visit it for the first time.'' Mr. Davis retired in Ontario after a career in construction and selling health foods.

He said: "I came back to do some reminiscing and I'm really enjoying it.

"As a kid I was wide eyed, but now I'm seeing it through mature eyes and it really sinks home that this is such a beautiful little Island.'' Time passages: Newfoundlander Ken Davis worked as a bell-hop aboard the luxury line Monarch of Bermuda 1939. As war clouds gathered over Europe, he was shipped home to Canada, never to return to Bermuda until this week.