The son of a Welsh-born roads engineer is set to carve out a new path of his own -- as a member of Bermuda's Senate.

For retired top civil servant Walwyn Hughes, who sat behind Senators during budget debates, is moving one step forward to take up a seat at the table.

Dr. Hughes, who ended a 40 year career in the Civil Service as Financial Secretary in 1994, said: "It's a step forward -- or a seat forward. I spent many an hour in there advising a Senator at Budget time.'' Dr. Hughes, 64, took his seat in the Senate last Friday at the start of the new session, replacing Dr. Norma Astwood as one of the three Independents in the upper house.

But he insisted he did not suffer from first-night nerves during his maiden speech.

He laughed: "I'm too old to be nervous at this stage -- it was challenging and exciting rather than nerve-wracking.'' Dr. Hughes, the son of a Welshman who arrived on the Island in 1928, attended Whitney Institute, then Cornell University and the University of Florida, where he graduated with a Masters degree in Agricultural Science then a Ph.D.

in entymology -- the study of insects.

He joined the Civil Service, spending 30 years at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, attaining the rank of director before moving to the Ministry of the Environment as Permanent Secretary and then to the Finance Ministry.

Dr. Hughes -- who has also served as vice-president of the Bermuda Bio Station board is a director of the Bermuda Land Development Company and is chairman of the board of governors of Warwick Academy.

And he said his experience to date would come in handy in the cut and thrust of Senate debate.

He added: "My background is biased in certain ways -- I'm an environmentalist, I guess, because my whole life has been in that area.

"And through my years in the Finance Ministry, I have become very interested in the economy and the financial workings of the Country.'' The holder of both the MBE and CBE in recognition of his service to his Country he said: "I have been in public service all my life -- I see the Senate as an extension of my public service role.'' Dr. Hughes said his first impression of the Senate as a front-liner was favourable.

The father-of-four explained: "It seems a nice environment -- I think it will be a comfortable environment but I'm sure that party politics are stated just as forcefully there as anywhere.

"My role is not that one, of course. Mine is to use my better judgment and independence to do what I think is the best with the individual issues that come along.

"I don't have a mandate or a driving need to talk about some legislation rather than another. I'm interested in the whole process. And I hope I will bring an open mind and all of my experience. I don't come with any cross to bear and I hope to be a good, independent Senator.'' Hughes