heritage, says the outgoing president of the National Trust.

In her speech to the Trust's 23rd annual general meeting on Wednesday, Mrs.

Patsy Phillips said the demolition of the old A.S. Cooper Building on Front Street remained "a sore subject for some''.

The 200-year-old building, known as Trader's Gate, was recently demolished by the Bank of N.T. Butterfield.

"Many did not feel that the Trust objected long enough or strongly enough,'' Mrs. Phillips said. "However, we had in actual fact been in contact with the Bank of Butterfield for more than a year and a half and had full and frank discussions which included a series of possible options.'' "The truth is that the Trust just does not have the authority to dictate such matters,'' she said. "However, Government does have this power.'' A Bermuda law empowers Government to compile lists of buildings of special architectural or historical interest, which can then be protected, she explained.

"We can now welcome the fact that action has at last been taken to assemble such a list, but we strongly urge that this be followed with moves to preserve listed buildings all over the Island without delay.'' Mrs. Phillips said the Trust had come of age, and "the fact is that making the transition from childhood to adulthood can be a traumatic exercise.'' Ms Amanda Outerbridge had settled in well as the new director after the departure of Mr. Alwyn McKittrick, Mrs. Phillips said, adding her thanks to Mr. W.J. (Jimmy) Williams, who came out of retirement to act as director during the interim.

At the time of the turmoil, Lt. Col. Michael Darling was asked to chair a committee of past National Trust presidents to review the structure of the Trust. It has since reported to the National Trust council.

Mrs. Phillips reported on the purchase of three more acres of Devonshire Marsh, which "completes our holdings of the eastern section of this magnificent piece of marshland''.

The Trust hopes to sell Pond House on the northern side of the property to finance the purchase, she said.

At the western end of the marsh, the Trust has signed a ten-year lease with Island Construction Company, with an option for a five-year renewal, she said.

At the end of the arrangement the company is to restore the land to "attractive open space''.

Mrs. Phillips highlighted some of the donations the Trust received over the past year, like a segment of the marshland from Mr. Benny Rego.

Members of the Smith family presented the Trust with the Ship's Inn property at Darrell's Wharf in Warwick, and the STARR Foundation had pledged $250,000 over five years for the restoration of Bridge House, she said.

Corange Ltd. pledged $100,000, and a number of insurance companies had banded together to raise $750,000 for the Trust's historic properties, she said.

Mrs. Phillips said the Trust was pushing ahead with plans for a slave display "to observe this integral part of Bermuda's history''.

Leaving the council after six years -- three of them as president -- Mrs.

Phillips described it as "the most stimulating and fulfilling job a person could hope for''.

Mrs. Patsy Phillips.