many topics which could have been developed, its former producer said recently.

Speaking at the weekly meeting of the Hamilton Rotarians, Lt. Col. Brendan Hollis said: "It's been four years and I haven't even scratched the surface (of topics to present). The key is to find the money to do it with.'' Lt. Col. Hollis comprised the one-man team behind the local series, `About Bermuda', during most of the time it was aired.

"The programmes are expensive to produce. More than $24,000 was paid to BBC in air time charges during the past three years. I was fortunate in that I was able to go to a number of company's for funding and this is where the credit, if there is any to be laid, should go.'' Lt. Col. Hollis said he was working as marketing manager at the Bermuda Broadcasting Company four years ago when he was asked to put together a pilot for a possible series on Bermuda.

The successful pilot soon became a monthly series -researched, written, edited and produced by Lt. Col. Hollis.

The idea behind the show was to develop a series dealing with Bermuda -- its history, culture and its people.

"We wanted it to be entertaining, educational and to leave people with a sense of pride and understanding about Bermuda,'' he said. "It's not just the history, but the Island itself and its people that make it fascinating.'' Lt. Col. Hollis said he was initially aided by his brother, who was an excellent photographer; Mr. Mike Smith at BBC who helped him with editing and his daughter, but is now to the point where he does just about everything.

He said he had a bit of previous experience in photography and was involved in setting up the Island's first television station but common sense played an important part in the success of the series.

He said he was greatly aided by the fact that "every aspect of our history is so well recorded and so well preserved'' at both the Government archives and the Bermuda library. The general public was also very helpful, he said.

"You have to decide what you want to achieve and then figure out how to go about it,'' he said.'' Lt. Col. Hollis said one show takes the entire month to research, write and produce with a great emphasis placed on visuals; vital aspects of a television series.

He said his greatest satisfaction was derived from finding things about the Island which are unknown to others and proving historical points.

"The ones of a military nature were probably my favourite,'' he said.

With the end of the last programme in December, Lt. Col. Hollis said it would be nice to produce two or three a year in the future if funding is available.

ONE-MAN SHOW -- Lt. Col. Brendan Hollis.