Gamble on Saturday.

The event, at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, also marked Worldwide International Red Cross Day.

Governor Thorold Masefield was among the 75 guests and Mr. Gamble's son Alan and daughter-in-law Clare made a surprise trip from England to attend.

The evening ended with a cedar plaque presentation to Mr. Gamble by Governor's wife Jennifer Masefield.

Mr. Gamble, 74 and director of the Bermuda Red Cross for 15 years, said: "I was absolutely floored when I found out and that was when I arrived at the club on the pretense of attending a special birthday party for one of our members.

"At the end I said I may as well retire now but they said that was not the object of the exercise!'' COLLEGE HONOURS LOYAL EMPLOYEES EDC College honours loyal employees The Bermuda College honoured loyal employees in the school's second annual long service award ceremony recently.

English lecturer Alison Masters, purchasing officer Denise Hansford-Smith and chef lecturer Fred Ming all achieved the distinction of 25 years of service.

There were also three recipients in the 20 year category, with bookstore and library assistant Wendy Eve, senior personnel and accounts assistant Marie Franklin, and secretary Anita Thompson.

Fifteen year achievers included Daurene Aubrey, Emancia Outerbridge, Oliver Pitcher, Sheridan Talbot, Roy Wright and Charles Zuill.

Those at the decade marker were Walton Brown, Robert Burgess, Angela Samuels, Ann Seymour and Llewellyn Trott.

And five-year honourees included Jamie Bacon, Robin Mello-Cann, Julia Saltus and Craig Scott.

College president George Cook and chairman of the board of governors Randolph Horton MP both credited the college's continuing success to the hard work and dedication of its employees.

HAMILTON OFFICE BLOCK APPROVED PLN Hamilton office block approved Approval has been granted for the building of a new five-storey office block in Hamilton and a new tee at a Smith's golf course.

The Development Applications Board has approved plans by Bermuda Properties Ltd. to build a substitute tee for the 11th hole at Marriott Castle Harbour Golf Course.

The change is part of the controversial $65 million Hotel revitalisation scheme which has been challenged by environmental groups.

The board has directed BPL to plant two Royal Poincianas and two False Ebony trees on a cleared strip of Ship's Hill, "in the interests of visual amenity''. This planting is to be approved by the Government Conservation officer who must also approve the replanting of endemic Bermuda Cedar, Olivewood, and Palmetto on the south west slope of Paynter's Hill.

And Corner Development Company has received permission to demolish the building at 29 Par-la-Ville Road and put up an all new office block.

The building is where the New Queen Restaurant operated for nearly 20 years.

PLANNING DEPT. TO HOST `THINK TANK' PLN Planning Dept. to host `think tank' The Planning Department has invited a host of professionals to come to a one-day "think tank'' this week.

The "largely technical'' meeting on Thursday will bring architects, engineers, surveyors, institutional clients, and anyone who works with the Department on a regular basis, up to date on current projects.

And participants will be allowed to offer suggestions for improvements to the planning process.

There will also be a discussion on the General Development Order regulations, the new City of Hamilton Plan, the planned review of the 1992 Bermuda Plan and the new Bermuda Residential Building Code.

Interested persons should contact the Director of Planning at 295-5151.

Honoured: Jennifer Masefield presents plaque to Frank Gamble.