sun, directing Hamilton's traffic may not be every constable's idea of bliss.

Especially if you are perched in the historic blue and white birdcage at the head of Front Street, wearing a "bobby'' helmet and white gloves, the object of apparently endless fascination for hundreds of camera-toting visitors.

But P.c. John Lynch-Wade enjoys it so much, he volunteers for the special duty whenever he can.

"There's a certain magnetism about being on the birdcage,'' grins this gentle giant of a man, who at 6-foot-5 seems almost too tall to fit under the white, Bermuda-style roof that tops the cage.

The sight of a Policeman directing traffic at the busy junction was for years, one of the most popular tourist sights on the Island. When the build-up of heavy traffic caused Queen Street to be made a one-way street, however, it became increasingly difficult to justify the manpower needed to keep it going.

Then, earlier this year, a delighted Corporation of Hamilton was informed that a former regular British visitor, the late Mr. Fred Bradfield, had made provision in his will to pay for a Police officer to man the popular tourist spot during the summer months. For the last three months, the Island's visitors have once more been jostling to `shoot' the unarmed officer attending to his high-profile duties.

"I volunteered because I love working with people, but I must admit I never realised it would have this sort of effect,'' says the officer who seems to have tranformed the act of directing traffic into a triumph of public relations.

Even locals pause to watch the almost balletic motions of pristine white-gloved hands pointing, gesturing, even occasionally saluting as P.c.

Lynch-Wade poses for an endless stream of onlookers. Sometimes, he allows a tourist to borrow his helmet, to pose for that special holiday "snap''.

Incredibly, in this fervour of photography, he never misses a beat, traffic-wise, as the cars and bikes obey his smiling directions.

"People ask how can I stand there talking and directing traffic at the same time, but it's all part of the training,'' he enthuses."I think it's great for tourism and a big boost for the Bermuda Police.

"We are judged by our standards and we are considered to be one of the best Police services in the world -- this is fact, not just my opinion! So I like to think I'm helping this image,'' says the St. Kitts-born officer who first joined the Bermuda Force in 1974, served for 12 years and then returned to the fold in 1991. He is married to Bermudian schoolteacher, Donna, and they have three sons aged 14, 9 and 4.

"I find that people are actually waiting for me to arrive at the birdcage now,'' he laughs, "and I'm told they go around, asking what time am I coming on duty. As soon as I appear, cameras swing into action -- instamatics, polaroids, zoom lenses, video cameras.

"They start arguing about whose turn it is, and then they ask me to pivot.

It's a 360-degree turning situation, with people even whistling to get my attention. They're dashing between the cars so that they can pose on the birdcage. Then I have to tell them to `hang on there, we don't want you to get run over.'' Sometimes, he says, people will stand there for an hour or more, just watching him, and they often join him in the cage for the express purpose of having a chat.

"They like to tell me all about their holidays. One chap offered to bring me back some bird-seed, but I told him I only eat sesame seeds.'' Most of all, he says, visitors like to play at directing the traffic. "I go along with it, although I'm directing from the background. It's really a novel thing for them, and they love to go back and tell all their friends they wore the bobby's helmet.

"I'm often told that the Police are not friendly in other places. They tell me, `we could never do this in the States -- even less, try on their caps!'' P.c. Lynch-Wade feels that the restoration of the birdcage has been a big plus for the Island's visitors: "I feel they go back home and tell people all about it. A lot of them come and say goodbye when they're leaving and tell me they are looking forward to seeing me again when they come back next time.'' Most of all, he says, the tourists love it when he gives a personal salute for the camera. "Of course, it's just a gesture on my part, a way of saying, `have a great holiday!' But of course, if I'm seen saluting for one tourist, all the others want me to salute for them, too....'' Are there ever, amidst all this amity, occasions when he has to exert the force of the law? "Sometimes I have to speak to drivers for failing to stop. They tell me they're sorry, but haven't got used to seeing a Policeman back in the cage.

That's about the only infringement I've had to deal with.'' On the whole, he adds, the traffic regulates itself: "But when pedestrians see an officer on duty, they try to dash across there and then I have to direct them to the traffic lights. I tell them, `let's work together on this, so you can enjoy the rest of your holiday.' "Of course, if it's an elderly person, I hold up the traffic to help them across the road, because some of them are barely making it on their own.'' Recently, he says, an older lady instructed her husband to take her picture as she snuggled up to the Police officer: "There she was, burrowed into my shoulder, like lovers on a winter's night. She gazed lovingly at me and told her husband to shoot. But somehow she moved just as he took it, and she got really mad at him because it was a disposable camera. But a few minutes later, they were back with a new one, so we went through the whole thing again.'' And how does this officer, away from the birdcage, deal with those involved in serious crime? "Well, of course, unpleasant situations do arise and have to be dealt with, but I think it has to be done calmly. It's my job to enforce regulations and the law. But a smile can soften the edge in a difficult situation. If people are angry, they get very `hyper', so if the officer allows himself to get angry, it doesn't help the situation.'' The interview comes to an abrupt end as he reaches for his helmet and leaps out of the chair: "Look at the time! I'd better get down to the birdcage.

Everyone's going to be waiting, and wondering where I've got to!'' THAT HOLIDAY FEELING -- Posing with tourists is all part of the job when P.c.

John Lynch-Wade is on duty at the birdcage. He said: "This guy is a retired Police officer. He took a great fancy to my hat!'' THIS WAY, PLEASE -- P.c. John Lynch-Wade on traffic duty in the birdcage.