One of Bermuda's best known taxi drivers, Shirley Franks, has died at the age of 73.

A family member told The Royal Gazette: "Shirley was a great ambassador of Bermuda and loved to serenade the tourists. He was an avid tour guide and received many letters from visitors overseas. Many visitors returning to the Island would request him as their operator."

Mr. Franks, who drove taxis in Bermuda for more than 50 years, was best known for his yellow cab, which he used to operate around the Island in the late 1990s.

The family member said: "One would know Shirley was coming by the special tooting of his horn, the fringe at the top of his taxi, and his greeting 'Ship A-Hoy'."

Mr. Franks attempted to introduce the idea of the yellow cab to add variety to the Island's tourism industry, but although the cab stood out, it didn't catch on with the other taxi drivers and he remained the only one to operate the United States-inspired hired car.

In his 51 years of driving taxis, his strangest experience on the road was May 24, 1996.

He was taking tourists on a sightseeing tour and was driving over Lighthouse Hill onto Middle Road, but forgot about a race that was going on and that Middle Road was closed to traffic.

Race spectators on both sides of the road began clapping for the taxi, continuing all the way to Burnt House Hill, to the delight of his passengers.

In a 1996 interview with The Royal Gazette Mr. Franks, who was three times voted the best taxi driver in Bermuda, said: "When I take tourists out sightseeing, I sing Bermuda songs and when I take Christian folk, I sing gospel."

He also made appearances on ABC's Good Morning America and was a guest on radio stations streamed across the United States, Canada and even Russia.

He retired in December 2005 due to failing health.

He was a dedicated member of the Devonshire Seventh-day Adventist Church and the family member said: "Shirley loved to witness for the Lord and whenever he called the talk shows he would have a little sermon.

"He greeted all with a smile and he had a great personality."

Mr. Franks is survived by a daughter, Vickie, three sons Stevie, Audi and Paul, his sister, Grace-Ann Smith and numerous other relatives and friends.

The Ministry of Tourism and Transport last night extended its condolences to Mr. Franks' family. A spokeswoman said: "Mr. Franks was one of our community's most well known and respected individuals. With his trademark yellow cab, he will always be remembered as being a true ambassador for Bermuda's tourism industry.

"During his years of service, he exuded an energy and enthusiasm that was infectious and he will be sadly missed by all of us in the Ministry."