Residents have united in their praise of the clear-up and repair efforts of Bermuda Regiment soldiers.

Teams fanned out across the Island again yesterday to help to remove debris and patch damaged roofs ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Gonzalo.

And onlookers were quick to thank the troops for their dedication and effort.

They included Governor George Fergusson and wife Margaret, who have been visiting areas and families affected by the storm and who stopped to talk to a Regiment team outside Christ Church in Warwick.

“The Regiment has done a fantastic job,” Mr Fergusson said. “The first Immediate Response Teams were out on Sunday and were on standby before that.”

The Governor also visited the Corday family of Somerset, where a Regiment team on Monday used tarpaulins to make their wrecked roof wind and watertight.

“They were very pleased to see the Regiment there,” Mr Fergusson added.

Elsewhere, health visitor Diane Gledhill, who looks after babies and young children in the community, watched a team clearing debris from a road in Paget.

She said she depended on accessible roads to get to the youngsters in her care.

“It’s absolutely wonderful — the Regiment is doing a great job and we’re very grateful,” said Ms Gledhill, of Somerset. “It’s a huge job and a lot bigger than people realise.

“What has struck me is the great sense of camaraderie — everybody’s helping everyone else. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Retired Bermuda College English teacher Catherine Ziepniewski called on the Regiment after a massive tree toppled on to the roof of her home in Frithcote Lane, Warwick.

US-born Ms Ziepniewski, 66, and her husband William were unable to deal with it themselves.

“The soldiers have been very polite — they’ve been right out there, nose to the grindstone ever since they arrived,” she said. “I can’t say enough about the Regiment. They’ve been very pleasant to deal with.

“Nobody thinks about the Regiment until a disaster happens — that’s silly. They remind me of the National Guard at home, who always turned out in an emergency. It’s important to the community.”

Works and Engineering truck driver Malaika Butler-Douglas, who teamed up with a Regiment crew to remove a huge tree which blew over into the grounds of Christ Church, said that “the guys and the girls from the Regiment are doing a really good job”.

Ms Butler-Douglas, who gained her heavy vehicle driving qualifications while serving in the Regiment more than a decade ago, added: “They’re very helpful and they just want to do everything they can to clean up.”

Christ Church elder Roger Oldfield said the Regiment had been “fantastic”.

“Even on Sunday we saw their efforts,” he added. “It was good to see. The Regiment have been very supportive of the public wherever and whenever they’ve been required, whether it’s a member of the public or the Government. They always come to the wicket when you need them.”

Another squad commanded by Lieutenant Gordon Emmerson worked along Middle Road, cleaning up roads and public areas such as the ground around Warwick Post Office and Warwick Pre-School.

Pre-School administrator Jennifer DeRosa Holder said she “was elated — so happy to see them”.

“They just came and they had fun while doing it and they even vacuumed water from a flooded classroom floor,” she added. “They were delightful to have around and they made the area as safe for the children as possible.

“I don’t know what will happen if Hurricane Gonzalo hits on Friday but I’m sure the Regiment will be there.”

Postmistress Tamara Tucker said: “I was grateful — they cut down a tree for me and cleared the passageway. People are very happy to see the Regiment out there cleaning things up.”