And in a world where common courtesies are often forgotten, his special touch stands out -- so much so, in fact, that he was recently honoured with an Extra Mile award.

Pleased though he was to be recognised, Mr. Furbert is modest about his achievements.

"I don't think I do anything different. I just try to do my job well,'' he said.

Yet his customers at the East Broadway Shell station really enjoy his service and, like Mr. Johnny Barnes further down the same road, look forward to his cheery smile and friendly greeting.

"Some go by and toot and wave, and they tell me that if I don't see them they don't feel too good,'' he admitted.

Mr. Furbert's career with Holmes, Williams & Purvey, who run the Shell station on East Broadway, stretches back many years, though just how many he doesn't say.

"I don't recall how long. I find life is better when you don't put a time on anything,'' is how he puts it.

He began at the Warwick service station, which is near his home, and when the company relinquished that operation, Mr. Furbert transferred to East Broadway.

An interval in construction followed, but when that took a down-turn, he returned again to Holmes, Williams & Purvey, working first in its vehicle preparation department and then in the car showroom.

And then came an opportunity to dispense gas and goodwill at East Broadway, which Mr. Furbert accepted with alacrity.

"When they asked me I said, `Gladly,' because I love to be with the public and see people. You have friends when you work in situations like this. You get to talk to people and ask how they are and if they enjoyed their work day,'' Mr. Furbert explained. "It doesn't make any difference who the person is, I treat everyone the same. It makes the service more personal. I like to look up and see a smiling face.'' And if he doesn't see one when the customer arrives, he does his best to make sure he sees one when they leave.

Mr. Furbert insists he's not doing anything out of the ordinary by being nice.

Rather, he says he is a product of his upbringing and the area in which he grew up and continues to live.

"As a child I was always taught to speak and say `Good morning' or `Good afternoon' to people regardless of who they were,'' he explained. "Everyone from South Shore is like that, I feel.

"Although we expect everyone to say `Good morning' or `Good afternoon,' we have to realise that some have been brought up differently to us. We were more of a close-knit community. I try to share those values with everyone. It's especially nice to surprise visitors by greeting them first.'' Indeed, it was for his friendly attitude towards visitors that Mr. Furbert won his Extra Mile award.

He feels that if people seem less courteous and friendly than they were in years gone by, it is because they have "more responsibilities and pressures today.'' Bearing in mind that he works 12-hour shifts, how can Mr. Furbert remain cheerful for so long? "If you are going to be out here you might as well enjoy it,'' he laughed.

"I spend more time here than at home -- at least it seems that way -- so I like to treat people the way I like to be treated myself.'' And what does this "people person'' do when he is at home? Why, he spends many hours talking to more people! A keen citizen's band (CB) operator for at least 25 years, Burlington Furbert enjoys nothing better than tuning in to friends and strangers around the world.

"If you like people you like CB,'' he said. "It is an interesting hobby, and I find it very relaxing. It makes me a better person, talking to people from all walks of life and from all parts of the world,'' he said.

"CB is about people communicating. They sound as if they're right next to you, and you feel like you want to offer them a cup of tea!'' In fact, Mr. Furbert delights in telling his fellow CBers about the Island.

"Local CB operators are ambassadors for Bermuda so far as tourism and business people are concerned. It's free publicity for the Island,'' he noted.

"Most people don't believe Bermuda is not in the West Indies. It's surprising how many still don't know exactly where we are in the world.'' "Meeting'' old friends over the airwaves brings him pleasure.

"It's nice to be able to hear someone that you haven't heard from for a long time,'' he said. "You look at your log book and you find it is someone you talked to ten to 15 years ago and it makes you feel great, knowing that they're still alive.'' And, since his many CB friends can't see him, Mr. Furbert makes sure he puts a smile in his voice.

"When I am not cheerful I'm sleeping -- which isn't a lot!'' he laughed.

Surprisingly perhaps, given the commitments on his time, Mr. Furbert also loves to cook, though he is typically modest about this aspect of his life too.

"I don't think I'm a great cook but it is one of the things I enjoy,'' he said.

Walking is his favourite exercise, and he thinks nothing of walking it from his Warwick home to Hamilton.

"You get to appreciate Bermuda when you walk,'' he explained. "Going along in a vehicle you take things for granted. You see and you don't see.'' SERVICE WITH A SMILE -- That's the philosophy Mr. Burlington Furbert lives by in going about his daily life. Recently honoured for the way he makes visitors feel at home in Bermuda, Mr. Furbert says all people are special.