helped keep Bermudian cultural traditions alive, were each awarded MBEs in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.

Retired chief justice Sir James Astwood was further honoured by Her Majesty by being made a Knight Commander of the British Empire.

And six Bermudians were awarded the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour for outstanding volunteer and charity work in the community.

Sir James served as Chief Justice of Bermuda from 1977 until his retirement earlier this year.

He spent the greater portion of his legal career in the West Indies after graduating from Gray's Inn law school in England. From 1963 until he returned home to Bermuda in 1974, Sir James was a resident magistrate in Jamaica.

The former Senior Magistrate and Solicitor General of Bermuda was made a Knight Bachelor in 1982 and represented Bermuda abroad a number of times at legal conferences. He attended Berkeley Institute before going abroad to university.

Mr. Edward (Teddy) Tucker (MBE) has devoted his life to exploring the underwater floors of Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies. He joined the Merchant Marine Navy in 1941 and two years later the Royal Navy.

During World War II, Mr. Tucker's diving skills were used in salvaging and patching-up operations underwater.

In 1948, he started commercial offshore diving for non-ferrous metals and over the years, he has located a number of wrecks and sunken treasures.

In fact, he has hauled more than $250,000 worth (in 1959) of treasure from the seabed around Bermuda, his most important and valuable find being the emerald and gold Tucker Cross which was worth $75,000.

Mr. Gordon Alwyn Ashford (MBE) has served as a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board for 34 years and during most of that time headed the Red Shield Committee which developed the Army's annual successful Red Shield Appeal campaign.

The retired businessman is also chairman of the LCCA charity and served as president of the SPCA. He was chairman of Age Concern and an active freemason and member of Wesley Methodist Church. Miss Ruth Thomas (MBE) has served as Cultural Affairs Officer for Government since 1988. Prior to that, she was a teacher in the public primary school system since 1957.

The past chairman of the Bermuda Arts Council was instrumental in developing its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Miss Thomas currently serves as a chairman of the Debutantes Ball Committee and is a member of the Women's Advisory Council and trustee of numerous other arts organisations including the Bermuda National Gallery and the Menuhin Foundation.

She created the annual Premier's Concerts which showcase Bermuda's young talent. And she hosts Bermudian Profiles on television in between a running a Bermudian drama company.

The following received the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour: Mr. C. Orville Bascome is best known for his family-run lime kiln business, which he recently stopped running.

The East Ender is active on the St. George's Parish Vestry and Parish Council, known for its work in caring for the sick at the Parish Home, and he is an honorary member of the St. George's Cricket Club.

He is also a former member of the Bermuda Reserve Constabulary (known as the Special Police during World War II).

Mrs. Alice Jean Howes, who lost her sight at an early age, is an inspiration to many Bermudians.

She regularly takes her message of self respect and determination to the Island's schools. And she is a keen musician who often gives up her time to entertain groups of senior citizens and other community groups.

Mrs. Lucy Willitts, owner of L'Ecole after-school programme, has been associated with the prison ministry since 1975 and this year became a godmother to a child born to a mother serving a prison term.

In her spare time she is a volunteer for Agape House and the Extended Care Unit at the hospital. Recently she headed the Bosnia war victims fund raising campaign in Bermuda. And her travels include living and working with Mother Theresa in Calcutta.

Mrs. Claudine Wilson volunteers for a number of charities and is a founding member of the Bermuda Botanical Society.

She was instrumental in the development and enhancement of the Visitors' Centre at the Botanical Gardens. She has acted a Steward for several years at the annual Agricultural Exhibition and is an active KBB member.

Mrs. Kim Young, a former nurse, retired this year as an outspoken head of the Women's Advisory Council.

She served as director of volunteers at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital between 1982 and 1987 and is currently chairperson of the Patient Care Committee.

She was also a teacher at Teen Services, a crisis counsellor at the Women's Resource Centre, a member of the Sexual Assault Review Committee and is currently a member of the Domestic Court Panel.

Mr. Calvert (Kelly) Zuill, known as Mr. Gospel, has devoted 30 years to the development of gospel music in Bermuda.

He developed the annual Gospel Treat to Mothers and Fathers and has brought in a number of overseas gospel performers. He works as a gospel music announcer on 1230 Radio.

Mr. E. (Teddy) Tucker MBE The Hon. Sir James Astwood KBE Mr. Gordon Ashford MBE Miss Ruth Thomas MBE Mr. C. Orville Bascome Mrs. Alice Jean Howes Mrs. Lucy Willitts Mrs. Claudine Wilson Mrs. Kim Young Mr. Calvert (Kelly) Zuill.