Two of the Island's most famous distance runners were the guests of honour at Port Royal Primary School yesterday as part of the school's ongoing Heritage Month social science studies.

Twins Neville and Neil Virgil took those in attendance on a stroll down memory lane with their witty accounts of past experiences and rivalries running in the annual Bermuda Day Marathon Derby that celebrates its centennial event next Monday.

To date the pair remain the only twins to finish first and second in the road running spectacle, having achieved the remarkable feat in 1964, with Neville breaking the tape in a winning time of one hour, 23 minutes followed 35 seconds later by Neil.

Neville won again the following year.

Two-time winner Neville said it was an "honour" to be invited to lecture the students who sat attentively throughout proceedings.

"It was a great experience that took me down memory lane and an honour," he said.

"The kids were very interested in what we had to say and a lot of them had questions to ask afterwards, which was very exciting.

"I was very happy to be invited there and it was nice to see the young people. I wish more runners would come and go to the schools and teach the history of the Bermuda Day Marathon Derby."

Twin brother Neil also took great pride in sharing some of the Island's proud history with the students.

"It's important that kids get to know their history. It was a privilege to be able to share some of Bermuda's past with the students as well as the teachers who seemed just as enthusiastic," he said.

In addition to learning more about the Virgil twins, students at the Southampton school have also studied the history of various other Bermudians who have all contributed to the Island's proud history through the years.

Port Royal School Social Science coordinator and daughter of Education Minister Elvin James Zonique Swainson explained: "Every year we focus on Bermuda heritage and things that are important to the community and this year I thought it would be great to have the Virgil twins lecture the kids.

"I thought it would be great to have the twins come in and speak to the kids to compare today's Bermuda Day Marathon Derby to what it used to be like during their era."

The Virgil twins have also been invited to take part in the school's 'Sir' Stanley Burgess Day festivities this Friday, which will encompass a mock Bermuda Marathon Derby as well as a host of traditional pastimes such as fishing and cherry-picking.

n Reliving marathon memories – Sport, Page 23

n Estwanik's love for running – Sport, Page 21