One of Bermuda's top lawyers and the former Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment topped a group of 13 individuals named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

But this set of honourees could be the last as British Prime Minister Tony Blair prepares to scrap the "Empire'' honours.

Saul Froomkin QC and Lt. Col. David Burch were appointed Officers of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Mr. Froomkin, who was born in Canada, was Bermuda's Solicitor General from 1978 to 1981 and Attorney General from 1981 to 1991. He is currently a partner in the law firm Mello Hollis Jones and Martin.

Lt. Col. Burch, a former insurance executive, retired from the Bermuda Regiment last year and is currently slated to run for the PLP in Smith's South in the next General Election.

Meanwhile, Bermuda Hotel Association executive director John Harvey, Patient Assistance League and Services (PALS) founder Hilary Soares and long-time civil servant Lynn Place became Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).

In addition to his duties with the BTA, Mr. Harvey serves as chairman of the Roads Advisory Council and deputy chairman of the Board of Public Works in the Ministry of Works and Engineering.

Although she is best known for founding PALS, Mrs. Soares has also provided valuable service to the community during her seven years as administrator of Agape House -- Bermuda's only facility care of the terminally ill.

The third MBE recipient, Mrs. Place, has racked up 34 years of continuous Government service of which the last 20 years spent in a senior administrative post with the Bermuda Police Service. Mrs. Place has worked for the last five Commissioners of Police.

Eight individuals were named as the recipients of the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour: Fritz Reiter, the Lobster Pot restaurant owner and the driving force behind the annual Lobster Pot Pro-Am golf tournament (see sports); Former Vasco Da Gama Club soccer coach John Rebello (see Sport); Maude Jackson, one of Bermuda's early entrepreneurs and one of the founding members of the Bermuda Business and Professional Women's Club; Joan VanPutten, a 30-year veteran of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and a member of the Bermuda Girl Guide Association Council; The former general manager of the Bermuda Bowl, Anthony (Eugene) Vickers who is currently a Chief Superintendent in the Bermuda Reserve Constabulary and the president of the Warwick Community Education Council which he helped establish in 1979; Queen'sHonours William (Bill) Williams who is credited with having launched the water sport industry -- water skiing, small boat cruises and glass-bottom boat trips -- in Bermuda almost 50 years ago; Sadie "Marguerite'' Place, the current head of the Bermuda Woman's Christian Temperance Union which has been active over the years with scientific temperance instruction in schools and youth groups; and Veteran cabby Roderick Simons who is the owner/operator of The Wheelchair Taxi Service.

According to overseas reports, this crop of honourees may be the last under the title "British Empire''.

The Sunday Times reported last week that Tony Blair planned to get rid of the Empire honours introduced by the Queen's grandfather George V.

It was suggested that the Empire honours would be replaced by new Commonwealth honours.

Seven members of the Bermuda Police Services were also recognised in the honours list.

Superintendent Alan Bissell, Det. Superintendent Victor Richmond, Det. Ch.

Insp. George Jackson, Ch. Insp. Vendal Bridgeman, Ch. Insp. Phillip Every, Ch.

Insp. Gertrude Barker and Ch. Insp. Norrell Hull were all awarded with a Colonial Police Medal.

All the Birthday Honour recipients have been invited to attend Monday's Queen Birthday Parade on Front Street.

The annual fanfare -- which will feature the Bermuda Regiment, the Bermuda Police and Fire Services and the Bermuda Cadet and Sea Cadet Corps -- will get underway at 10.30 a.m.

In the event of wet weather, the Governor Thorald Masefield will make a decision whether to cancel the parade by 9 a.m. The cancellation announcement will be broadcast on local radio stations.

Rehearsals for Parade will disrupt a Sunday morning church service.

The congregation of the First Church of God will have to take a special route to attend their Sunday morning service at Number One Shed in Hamilton, said Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt.

Churchgoers should approach Front Street from the direction of Pitts Bay Road or Par-La-Ville Road.

The congregation will be able to park in the Number One Shed Car Park, but will be directed into the car park via the western gate.

The dress rehearsal for Monday's parade will take place between 8 and 10.30 a.m. Mr. Sherratt also reminded other motorists that Front Street, between Bermudiana Road and Parliament Street, will be closed to other traffic from 8 to 10.30 a.m.

David Burch, OBE Saul Froomkin, OBE John Harvey, MBE Lynn Place, MBE Hilary Soares, MBE