Spectators at the Peppercorn Ceremony in St. George's were treated to sunny skies and warm weather at the annual event.

The ceremony, first held in 1816, takes place in King's Square.

Dignitaries included Acting Premier Paula Cox, Governor Sir Richard Gozney, Bishop Patrick White, Opposition leader Kim Swan, Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling and Mayor of St. George Kenneth Bascome.

The 398-year-old ceremony saw Freemasons Martin Weeks and Richard Moulder present Sir Richard with a single peppercorn for a year's tenancy in the Old State House on behalf of the Lodge of St. George.

The State House was the original seat of Government until it moved to Hamilton and Governor Sir James Cockburn granted use of the building to the lodge.

Mr. Bascome was overcome with emotion when delivering his speech.

"I believe it went quite well," he said later. "I was a little bit upset in the morning when I looked out and saw that it was raining. This is my 16th year participating and the first year as mayor. It's never been cancelled in my 16 years.

"It was an honour for me in my first year to welcome the Governor and Lady Gozney to this magnificent event."

More than 500 people turned out to witness this year's payment. The Bermuda Regiment treated students, tourists and senior citizens to 17 ear-piercing shots signalling the Governor's arrival the shots were fired towards St. George's Harbour.

Sir Richard said: "In the year since I last received a peppercorn from the Accountant General of Bermuda, we have seen exciting events here.

"None of us will forget July 28 filling the time capsule, the trip to rendezvous with the site of the Sea Venture wreck and, as it turned out, with a Norwegian cruise liner almost bent on replicating the shipwreck 400 years earlier, and the inauguration of the World Heritage Centre.

"Four months later you and your predecessor and the Bermuda Regiment welcomed HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and helped to show them St George's. They were impressed. They enjoyed meeting the leaders of St. George's, the east enders, and seeing, not for the first time but for the first time restored, the replica of The Deliverance."

Sir Richard thanked Mr. Bascome and the Corporation of St. George for planning the celebration.