A MAN who moved to Australia almost half a century ago has returned to visit his brother in Blackburn - the first time he has been in Britain for 48 years.

But Edgar Chase, 66, said he could not tell how much things had changed.

"I used to live in a coal-mining area near Barnsley and we did not travel about much anyway," he said. "Holidays were one day in Blackpool or Cleethorpes."

He is staying with his elder brother Kenneth, 72, and his wife Valerie in Scarborough Road, Blackburn.

They took advantage of the recent sunshine to visit the Lake District but Edgar said he actually preferred the cooler weather after the the heat of Australia.

He was impressed by the national park, saying: "To me, it is the most beautiful place I have ever been to."

The brothers grew up with their parents and eight other children in a Yorkshire cottage. Edgar said: "I emigrated because I thought there were better opportunities in Australia.

"Quite a lot of us were moving out at that time."

He became a prospector for a while in the gold fields but made more money when he found minerals used to make tungsten carbide. He added: "It was an adventure more than anything else, as I was able to travel around. "I made £1,000 from the minerals, which was a large amount of money in those days."

Kenneth also left for Australia in 1952 but on holiday in London 18 years later he met Valerie and eventually moved back to Britain.

Edgar's will also be visiting two other brothers and he plans to see a relative in Southampton before he goes home.

Valerie said: "They are a lovely family, always in touch even though they are so far apart.

"It is wonderful how they have all kept together."

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