Eight Bermudians, including a native New Yorker, were awarded the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour during a ceremony held at Government House on Tuesday night.

Miss Margaret Tricker, originally from New York, said she was "very thrilled indeed'' after being presented with the award, because there were no awards for volunteerism in the US.

Miss Tricker, who has lived in Bermuda for 32 years, worked with the Patients Assistance League for more than 12 years and is now the organisation's donations secretary. She also does volunteer work for Meals on Wheels.

Eighty-five-year-old Mrs. Maisie Pearman, who retired from Warwick Secondary School last year, said it was "very nice to have reaped the reward''.

Mrs. Pearman worked with young people for years, especially in the arts, and is still active in the community helping raise money for charities and churches.

Mr. Ivan Gibbons, a founder member of the Southampton Rangers Club, contributes to the community as a builder, sportsman and churchman. For the last 10 years he has been literature evangelist with the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

He said it had been a pleasure to serve the community and was "very grateful to those who made it (the award) possible''.

Mrs. Amy Cook said she was "very honoured and very surprised'' to have received the award.

Mrs. Cook works with the Bermuda Hospital Auxiliary and proves herself to be a friend of visitors to the Island by letting them stay at her house while their friends or relatives are getting medical attention.

Mr. Alan Warner, who has dedicated his life to the preservation of Gombey dancing, said it was "great to see the Gombeys being recognised for something other than hooliganism''.

Mr. Warner is Captain of the Warner Troupe of Gombeys which won one of the major trophies in the Annual Bermuda Gombey Heritage Competition. He also works as a filing custodian at the Bank of N.T. Butterfield.

Mrs. F. Katharine Robinson, one of the original founding members of Meals on Wheels, was also awarded for her service to the community. She continues to work for the organisation as the group's building committee's chairman.

She said she was "quite surprised'' and "quite chuffed'' about the award because she had never thought about it. "It was nice to be recognised but I am too interested in what I am doing to bother.'' However she stressed : "I do appreciate it.'' Two sporting event organisers were also recognised during the ceremony.

Recently-retired Bermuda Electric Light Company administrative assistant Mr.

Richard Tucker has been involved with the May 24 Marathon Derby for more than 30 years.

He said he was happy to see the number of years he had contributed to the community being recognised.

World Rugby Classic president Mr. John Kane said he was "absolutely delighted'' with the award which he looked upon as "an award to all the individuals involved with the World Rugby Classic''.

Also receiving awards were: Police 30 Year Clasp: Insp. A.J. Smith, Insp M.B.

Pett, Sgt. S. Shaw and Sgt. R.H. Beech.

Police 25 Year Clasp: Sgt. G.M. Babb, Det. Sgt. D.H. Cutts and P.c. G.

Murrell.

Police 18 Year Medal: Sgt. H.E. Vidal, Insp. E.C. Gibbons, Sgt. S.G. Marcus, Sgt. T.A. Spencer, P.c. E.M. Trott and P.c. R.E. Pearman.

Regiment Second Clasp: WO2 E.L. Bean and CSgt. M.M. Davis.

Regiment First Clasp: Sgt. J.J.J. Van-Lowe.

Fire Second Clasp 30 Years: Lt. M.J. Mullan.

Fire First Clasp 25 Years: Sgt. D.R. Burrows Snr. and Sgt. S.J. Hayward.

Prisons 25 Year Clasp: Principal Officer R. Richardson.

Prisons 18 Year Medal: Prison Officers F. Durrant, F. Pitcher, L. Talbot, Divisional Officer D. Smith, Chief Officer G. Tucker and Principal Officer D.

Zuill.

YEARS OF SERVICE -- Recipients of The Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour were acknowledged at Government House on Tuesday evening. Shown, from left to right, are Miss Margaret Tricker, Mr. John Kane, Mrs. Maisie Pearman, Mr. Ivan Gibbons, Governor Lord Waddington, Mr. Alan Warner, Mrs. Amy Cook, Mr. Richard Tucker and Mrs. F. Katharine Robinson.