As Bermudians we generally like to think of ourselves as a pretty sophisticated and switched-on bunch. Asked to describe our life on this tiny little Island when abroad, the standard answer tends to focus on Bermuda?s keen sense of community and neighbourliness ? the fact, so the oft-used phrase goes, that ?everybody knows everybody?.

But just how much truth is there really in all this? Determined to find out, took to the streets this week to put this assumption to the test and armed with the photographs of 14 prominent Bermudian males ? most of who are rarely out of the media spotlight for one reason or another.

The 14 included: Premier Alex Scott, politicians Glenn Blakeney, Dale Butler, Ewart Brown, Grant Gibbons, John Barritt, Jahmal Simmons and Michael Dunkley, football legend Shaun Goater, cricketers Charlie Marshall and Janeiro Tucker, soon-to-be winter Olympian Patrick Singleton, photographer Ras Mykkal and movie star and Bermuda resident Michael Douglas.

20 local residents (15 men and five women) were approached at random in Hamilton and asked to name those photographed ? with some having considerably more success than others.

Here are the results: Patrick Singleton: 6 167513: 118131517811417

Alex Scott and Michael Douglas were predictably the best known of the group with 17 of the 20 correctly identifying them ? although perhaps the biggest surprise of all was that three people had no idea who Bermuda?s esteemed leader and biggest celebrity resident actually were.

Politicians ? for good or bad ? command the lion?s share of column inches and broadcast time and their faces were therefore familiar with the majority of those asked. That?s not to say that the answers were flawless. One individual mistook Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons for former Government Minister Tim Smith, brother of outgoing Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith, while a number of people had trouble telling the difference between Glen and Eugene Blakeney ? the latter a former MP.

Shadow House Leader John Barritt was the least well known of the Opposition parliamentarians ? despite now being a veteran of public service ? while in general the United Bermuda Party members were less recognisable than their Government rivals.

On the sporting front, one of the Island?s greatest ever footballers, Shaun Goater was easily the best known personality while Bermuda national team vice-captain Janeiro Tucker ? a member of the Island?s triumphant World Cup qualifying squad ? was not far behind.

Skeleton (bobsleigh) star Patrick Singleton was identified by only six people ? despite being one of the chosen few sportsman to be featured in popular photo spread this month. Former Bermuda skipper Charlie Marshall, meanwhile, was considered the most anonymous sportsman by those questioned.

Finally, photographer Ras Mykal ? whose sporting images appear regularly in various publications as well as the internet site bermynet, was only marginally better known.