officer Mr. Kenneth Richardson who resigned after 28 years because of ill health.

Mr. Richardson has quit his post as Cabinet Secretary because he feels that a second brain operation last May has prevented him continuing to put the required energy into the job.

"I came to the realisation I was not sufficiently recovered from my last operation to perform at the level the job demands,'' Mr. Richardson told The Royal Gazette .

"The fact is I have difficulty with my speech. Sometimes the right word doesn't come to me. I can't articulate. Also, my stamina isn't back to what it was.'' Despite his optimism for recovery and his determination to return to his post at the centre of Government, Mr. Richardson finally, reluctantly saw the writing on the wall.

"My doctors advised I would make a complete recovery in time, but that the immense stress of the job would likely aggravate my problems and slow down my progress,'' he said.

"I was intending to go back. I worked extremely hard to get myself back into shape. I loved the job. Quite honestly, it was more than a job to me. It was most of my life. Even after my illnesses.

"But eventually I came to the realisation it was in the best interest of the Government and myself to retire. It was difficult decision to come to grips with.'' It was a decision that ended his 28-year life in the "silent profession''.

Mr. Richardson's career started in 1964 as a secondary school teacher.

Three years later he was appointed administrative cadet in the Colonial Secretary's Office. It is clear from that time on that he was regarded highly by senior officers. Time and again, he was enrolled in special courses to enhance his administrative skills and expertise.

Mr. Richardson feels his career really began to come together in 1973 when he moved into the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs. There, as personal assistant to the Permanent Secretary, he became involved in mediation of labour-management disputes for the first time -- a field that ultimately gave him his greatest satisfactions.

A high point was late one night in the midst of the 1981 general strike. Mr.

Richardson walked alone to union headquarters where thousands of anxious, angry and frustrated workers were gathered. He carried a proposal that would ultimately end the stand-off.

Instead of jeers and anger, the crowd parted and workers shouted encouragement to the tall, gentle man.

"People were so encouraging,'' he remembered. "They didn't show any animosity at all. That was probably one of the most satisfying moments of my career.'' It was as a mediator that Mr. Richardson earned his unalloyed reputation as a man of integrity and fairness. Those qualities were mentioned frequently when politicians paid tribute to him on Friday.

When asked what he hoped his legacy to the service might be, he mentioned hard work, honesty, tolerance for all opinions, steadiness and the ability to work with all socio-economic groups.

Because of the sensitive position Mr. Richardson held, it is difficult to get a fix on precisely what he did as Cabinet Secretary. But a review of the post's responsibilities provides insight into the pivotal role he played in Bermuda life during the past nine years.

Secretary to the Cabinet has three primary functions: Permanent secretary to the Premier, where he acts as chief advisor on governmental and policy matters.

Head of the civil service. Mr. Richardson took a particular interest in in personnel management. "As far as I'm concerned, it's the heartbeat of the public service.'' Officer responsible to the Cabinet which involves the security and custody of all Cabinet documents -- a duty requiring him to initiate government action on any decisions. The position allows for an advisory role to Ministers. At its best, the secretary "saves Ministers from themselves.'' Mr. Richardson qualifies the statement saying: "No matter how expert we think we are in the civil service, we must continually remind ourselves that we have not been elected.

"We express our views about the policy being developed. It is politicians who have been elected to decide how the country should be run.'' After 28 years in Government, Mr. Richardson has some rather favourable views of Bermuda and its public servants.

He thinks the country is healthy despite the content of public dialogue.

"I think our society is very self-critical. When we Bermudians go overseas, we've got nothing but praise for our country. The country is very well served by its politicians and public servants.

"We've never had any sort of big scandal in the public service, or any scandal of any serious consequence.

"I think every group whether on the extreme left or right thinks they're working for the best interests of the country. I have been close enough with people from all organisations and all walks of life. We have a lot of good people.

"And even when you think of the short time we've been integrated, we don't have the real bitterness between groups. All the people I've met have Bermuda's best interests at heart.'' Mr. Richardson can also look back on a career with satisfaction of a job well done. His CBE in 1989 and a plaque from Friswell's Hill United (his old neighbourhood) are awards he relishes.

But it was in the day to day communications with people, that Mr. Richardson took his greatest professional and personal pleasure.

"I got to know people right across the socio-economic spectrum,'' he said.

"This has been one of the nicest rewards of my career.'' As he ponders the future, Mr. Richardson's first priority is to get better so he can do something with the rest of his life.

"I need to do something, something less strenuous,'' he said. "I'm not a person who can sit around and do nothing. I've had a very busy life and I've been very fortunate in my career.'' Mr. Kenneth Richardson.