The Premier and community paid tribute to a retiring Elder of the First Church of God yesterday.

Ruth Anne Lambe was honoured at the 11 a.m. worship service and at an afternoon banquet at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

Premier Ewart Brown sent a letter to the Pembroke church, praising the work of Mrs. Lambe, who is married to church leader Bishop Vernon Lambe.

Dr. Brown said: "It is my humble pleasure to offer the thanks of a country to Elder Ruth Anne Lambe. I join with thousands of other Bermudians who want to wish this young lady a happy birthday and a restful retirement. She has personally touched so many lives.

"For 28 years her love and attention was paid to the church pre-school shaping hearts and minds into strong young people and upstanding citizens. Her students are chefs in kitchens, business executives in Hamilton, they are mothers and fathers in happy, strong homes from one parish to another.

"You can't go far in our country without finding someone who knows firsthand of Mrs. Lambe's angelic spirit the way she selflessly shared herself. If it was not through the church pre-school, it was through the ministry at First Church of God. She has been her husband's partner in ministry for more than three decades.

"The compiled life work of Mrs. Ruth Anne Lambe is so vast, so profound for this community, it is impossible to wrap one's arms around it in the same way that she has wrapped her arms around us.

"Mrs. Lambe is like an angel among us. And I say thank God for it."