It was a small advertisement on page 38 of Monday's Royal Gazette . But it spoke volumes, especially to Bermudians in their senior years.

It read: "Webb's Upholstery. After more than 60 years we have decided to make a change and have decided to close shop. We will miss meeting and serving so many of our valued friends and customers we have made during this time -- too many to remember. So, we say thanks for your friendship and loyalty. We want to wish all well this year and in the future.'' It was signed by C.H. Webb with an additional note that customers should collect items left for repair.

Charles H. Webb is 86 years old. Yet when a newspaper reporter went to find out more about what was behind this intended change, Mr. Webb was busy at work behind a 30-year-old Singer sewing machine.

Even in his planned retirement after more than 60 years running his own business, he intends to keep one machine in his garage "in case I need to sew something for my friends.'' He pointed to another work stand in a corner and remarked, "That sewing machine is even older than 30 years. In fact, I bought it second hand. It was old then.'' When Mr. Webb calls something old, you can't take it lightly. Hidden behind a friendly personality and a still active lifestyle is a man who has lived through the trying years of two world wars, and who has seen governments and politicians come and go.

He has seen the rise and fall of city buildings and city businesses, together with a significant evolution in Bermuda society. Born in 1912, he was too young to be recruited for the First World War, and just about too old to be drafted for the Second World War. During the years of the latter conflict, however, he did serve in the Home Guard, which established patrols to protect the wireless station and the power and telephone utilities.

He laughs as he hoists an easy chair from the floor onto a work-bench, like a young man 60 years his junior would do.

He doesn't miss a beat as he turns and recollects: "The Home Guard. It was a funny thing. At least, I guess, I learned how to shoot a rifle. But we were walking up and down guarding places, with rifles, but no bullets. Only the leader was allowed to have bullets. You felt like a fool.'' But today, anyway, he looks back on it with amusement. This week, he was just winding up the remaining matters of a lifetime career -- nine-to-five, six days a week.

"It is the work around here that has kept me young,'' he smiled. "I'm finishing up some work now. I've sold the building and I want to be out before February 1. The only additional work I'm taking on is those things I know I can finish before I close.'' His advertisement was designed to warn many customers who have left many items to be fixed -- many items that have long been repaired -- that their last chance to retrieve their goods is at hand.

He'll have no choice but to sell off the remaining items after that, or probably give it away to be sold by the Salvation Army's thrift shop. It is surprising what quality can be found among the clutter.

Webb ready to weave retirement into schedule He has re-upholstered or repaired boat covers, car covers, car seats, handbags, a lot of luggage, slip covers, golf bags, car tops for convertibles and many other items.

The tiny building, in a state of disrepair, stands directly opposite the Hamilton Fire Station building on King Street. He remembers watching the Station go up.

"We've been at this location for 30 years,'' he said, "and that was before the Fire Station was built. There was a dwelling house there before.'' Mr. Webb's first career was as a harness man for many years. But before the first shot was fired in what was to become the Second World War -- before he began serving in the Home Guard -- he had already gone into business for himself.

He was long ago in Washington Alley -- long before the Washington Mall -- and later on East Broadway, before moving up to his present location on King Street, where he bought the one storey-building that was once a home.

The eldest of 13 children (seven boys and six girls), Mr. Webb and his late wife had two children (a girl and a boy). He concedes he is living a happy life, with continuing independence. He still drives his own car, and, at 86, doesn't see giving that up in the foreseeable future.

And when he retires, he reckons a little travelling might be in order, perhaps to the Caribbean, to see relatives. His father and mother came from Nevis and St. Kitts, respectively.

He also intends to get an occasional round of golf in, after having been too busy in recent years.

"I'll find something to do,'' he said. "I can paint one blind on the house today, and one tomorrow. Then, I can paint the rest of the house. If I need more to do, I can go and paint my other house.'' Having had friends and customers across the spectrum of Bermuda life, he accepts that change can often be good. But he is less than impressed with the disrespect shown by a small element of Bermuda's young.

Saddened by the publicity Bermuda recently gained from the gruesome Middleton murder, he said quietly, "People need to have more respect for each other.

That was a terrible thing. It would never have happened in years gone by. It has to be related to the drugs that have been coming into society. But even with that, we know it still is not normal in Bermuda.

"We all know Bermuda really is a safe place. Despite the negative talk about Bermuda internationally right now -- people here know Bermuda is fine. We've been solid for a lot of years. And we still are.''