Base lands back to their roots.

The new name for the former US Naval Air station in St. David's is to be the old Island tag of Southside.

The name beat out more than 250 entries in the Name the Base Contest.

And the winning entrant was Eloise Millett of Lighthouse Road, St. David's, who chose the name because that is what St. David's people used to call the south shore area before the arrival of the US military in 1940.

Miss Millett said: "Naming it Southside reminds us of old St. David's and reassures us that it is coming back to us.'' And she donated the competition's $500 prize to St. David's Primary School -- so that it too will come back to the people of St. David's.

BLDC chief executive officer Carl Musson told The Royal Gazette : "Renaming the property Southside is an important step toward shedding the military image of this property.

"Southside was selected because of its historical suitability for the site and because it is a part of old St. David's.' Mr. Musson also said the company plans to create a St. David's-based citizens' committee to compile a list of old St. David's names that can be applied to various features and areas within the 415-acre Southside property.

He also said the BLDC was planning on preserving some of the US military names which have become part of Bermuda's history.

RECLAIMING THE NAME -- Eloise Millett (centre) won the Name The Base Contest after proposing the area reclaim its historical name "Southside.'' From left: Bermuda Land Development Company chief executive officer Carl Musson, St.

David's Islander Gary Lamb, Miss Millett, St. David's Islander Anthony Paynter and St. David's Primary deputy principal Willa Tucker.