WHEN Lawson Mapp painted heraldic crests for the new City Hall building in Hamilton, he had no idea that he would one day be sitting in its offices as mayor.

And little did the Mayor know that he'd be called on to redo the work he'd completed as a 20-year-old signwriter's apprentice, 42 years later. However, when one of the crests needed repainting, the Corporation of Hamilton decided that the Mayor was the only choice.

"The heraldic crest needed to be repainted because it was very faded and we thought it was appropriate to get the Mayor, who did it the first time and is one of the only people who does that kind of work, to repaint it," said Corporation secretary Roger Sherratt. "We carefully moved it from its old position and reinstated it on the outside of the new portico which is currently under construction, and it now looks as fresh as the day it was put there in 1960."

According to the Mayor, who today runs his own signwriting company, Mapp Signs Ltd., bringing the crest's colours back to life was a simple task.

"I am a signwriter by trade and I still have my business so it wasn't as if it were a skill that I hadn't practised for a while," he said. "They brought it to the shop and I worked on it there. When the building was constructed back in 1959/1960, I was working with Harry Green, a professional signwriter. I was about 20 years old then and little did I know that one day I would be sitting behind the mayor's desk."

The crest in question sat above the western exit door on the inside of the City Hall Theatre. Like the others - which sit at various entrances inside City Hall - and a larger one which is set on the western side of the building front, it was designed by William Harrington. The crests were then cast in England before being returned to Bermuda and inset.

"I'm sure the Mayor will tell you that never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he'd be mayor of Hamilton in the building where he'd painted the sign," said Mr. Sherratt. "(While an apprentice) he painted the heraldic shield and the Corporation of Hamilton crest on the then new City Hall building. They were really the only bright colours on an otherwise all white building."

It was decided to move the crest so that it graced the new portico which is now being constructed on the building's western side, said Mr. Sherratt. The planned move drew attention to its diminished colouring, and the Mayor was called in to help. "In 1960 (when City Hall was built) it was quiet on the roadway between the theatre and the carpark. There's now more noise heard inside the theatre from both pedestrians and vehicular traffic from outside and so the Corporation created this enclosed portico.

"We have also had problems, for many years, with rain pouring into the western theatre door. It's a very large door and no matter what we did, rain would seep through and flood part of the theatre. We realised the need for there to be some sort of cover. It also has wheelchair access and could always be used as an entryway to the theatre if there are other activities going on in the City Hall foyer.

"We liaised very closely with the Historic Building Society and the Development Applications Board because City Hall was considered a unique and historic building and we wanted to make sure that the design of the portico fitted the image of the building. It's been produced in a very similar style to the front portico, even to the detail of the actual plastering, so it has exactly the same look as the rest of the building.

"We're delighted with the portico and with the design by Cooper & Gardner and the construction work by Century Construction. We believe that when it's finished in two or three weeks, it will look as though it has been there since 1960."