of nine individuals on this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Mr. Wilkinson, a founder of law firm Cox and Wilkinson, was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Canon James Woodcock Francis was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Canon Francis is Canon Residentiary of the Most Holy Trinity in Hamilton. He is also Human Rights Commission chairman.

Seven people were awarded the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour, among them were charter member of the Hamilton Lioness Clubs in Bermuda, Roberta Jane Amaral, outstanding community member Rosalyn Harriet Jones, Jean Marion Kelly for her community work and recent introduction of the talking newspaper, and charitable organisation fundraiser Norma Elverine Agnes Nottingham.

Others were, "the mother of the Gombeys'' Mabel Cecilia Place, volunteer Joan Sheila White and scout/cub scout leader Donville O'Neal Yarde.

Mr. Wilkinson's was first elected to the House of Assembly in May, 1968, representing Paget West. He served on several Government boards and committees and was chairman of the Public Funds Investment Committee from 1972 to 1989.

He was a cabinet minister in the 1970s, serving as Member of Executive Council for Tourism and Trade in 1972, then as Minister of Planning and Environment from 1976 to 1977.

Mr. Wilkinson, a director on several company boards, was Deputy Speaker of the House from November 1979 until elected Speaker in February, 1989. As Deputy Speaker, he was chairman of the Private Bills Committee. He remained as Speaker until he retired from politics at the time of the general election in 1993.

Canon Francis this year enrolled at Payne Theological Seminary -- he graduated from Payne with a Master of Divinity Degree in 1958 -- to pursue his interest in divinity.

He was ordained as a deacon in 1959 and ordained to the priesthood in 1960.

His work started as Curate of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Cincinnati in 1959. In 1971, he was appointed director of Christian Social Relations for the Diocese of Ohio in Cleveland, a position he held until 1974.

He then went to work in Detroit where he worked until 1985 when he returned to Bermuda to become Canon Residentiary.

Canon Francis was appointed Fire department chaplain and chairman of the Human Rights Commission in 1986. Two years later he was made chairman of the Board of Education's action team on Racial Equality and a member of the Advisory Council for the Adult School of Education. He is also a dispute arbitrator for Government.

Mrs. Amaral has been a Lioness for 20 years. In 1980-81, she served as the organisation's president. A Lioness of the year three times, she was given the highest Lions Club award when made a Melvin Jones Fellow.

Since 1978, Mrs. Amaral, co-owner of Woodlands Garage Ltd., has been chairman of the Pre-School Sightscreening Project. She is also a Bermuda Education Assistance Trust trustee.

Canon Francis is awarded an OBE For over 20 years, Ms Jones has been helping her community.

She believes giving is the essence of Christianity.

The victim of a stroke in 1975, she emerged from a coma partially blind and deaf and unable to walk but fought her way back with a renewed faith.

When she regained her sight and got back on her feet, she decided to dedicate her life to God and to helping others.

Known in her Khyber Pass neighbourhood for cooking, she shares big pots of soup with neighbours and the homeless. She also cooks for the Hands of Love homeless programme. At Christmas, she takes bags of food and home-baked pies to neighbours.

Mrs. Kelly, who has always taken a keen interest in helping make the community a better place to live, recently introduced the talking newspaper.

In 1995, during a visit to England, she became acquainted with talking newspapers for the visually impaired. The first audio tape was distributed in Bermuda in 1996.

She has worked with the former National Alcohol and Drug Agency. In 1993, she was selected by the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse as volunteer of the year.

Mrs. Nottingham is arguably one of Bermuda's best and most innovative fundraisers. The Pembroke Rest Home and Lefroy House are among the organisations she has helped.

Since 1977, she has assisted Choy Aming with the children in the carnival section of the annual Bermuda Day Parade.

She sold 5,000 raffle tickets enabling several people to visit Italy.

Another effort raised over $8,000 for an individual needing medical treatment.

Her goal is to hold an international show to raise money for people in need.

Mrs. Place has for many years been associated with the Gombeys, one of the Island's best-known cultural art forms.

Matriarch of the Place family, she continues her association with the Gombeys through Place's Gombey Troupe, established by her late husband, Reginald Place.

The troupe has performed throughout Bermuda and in Connecticut, Jamaica and North Carolina.

Mrs. Place fashions the intricate hand-made costumes.

Of the eight sons in the family, four carry on the dance tradition. Grandson Andre Place is leader of the Place Troupe.

Mrs. White has been a volunteer most of her life.

She has served as treasurer of St. John's Church in Pembroke for 20 years and has the distinction of being the first female Church Warden in Bermuda.

For 30 years, Mrs. White has been an active member of the Hospital Auxiliary.

In 1994, she was recognised as Pink Lady of the Year.

Mrs. White's fundraising efforts include work for the Bermuda War Veterans Association, the Bermuda Branch of the Red Cross Society, the Sunshine League and the Sandys Boat Club.

She has also given her time to the Nurses Alumni Association and the First Bermuda Company of the Boys Brigade.

Mr. Yarde has contributed to the community through his involvement in scouting.

A 15th Scout Group leader for several years, it was his interest in education and general welfare of the Island's young people that led him to serve as president of the Victor Scott Primary School Parent-Teachers Association for two years.

He has also supported the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Bermuda for over a decade.

A successful netball coach and member of the Bermuda Police Service, police officers have referred youngsters to Mr. Yarde for counselling.

David Wilkinson Canon James Francis Mabel Place Jean Kelly Norma Nottingham Roberta Amaral Rosalyn Jones Joan White Donville Yarde