Children at a west end school have done Bermuda proud after writing dozens of heartfelt letters to a tourist who was attacked outside his hotel last week.

The 11-year-old pupils at Sandys Secondary Middle School decided to write to 68-year-old American visitor Mr. Storms, who had to be taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital after the attack on Sunday of last week.

Their get well letters were taken by a teacher to the hospital and presented to long-time visitor Mr. Storms before he left the Island and returned home.

But English teacher at the school Erlor Dean, who suggested the idea, said he was thrilled to be able to take so many well wishes back with him.

Mrs. Dean said: "I had talked to the pupils about the events of September 11 and we had talked about how that had caused tourists to refrain from travelling, which meant the number of people coming to Bermuda had gone down. Everyone agreed that we had to cherish the ones that we had.

"So when we heard this happen, I suggested some people might want to write to Mr. Storms to tell him that not everyone in Bermuda was like his attacker.

"But they all wanted to do it, in all four M1 classes. We got so many lovely letters, hoping that Mr. Storms was feeling better, I was very proud of them. And the standard was very good, too.

"The children said they hoped he would return to Bermuda and said that people in Bermuda were very caring people."

The letters were taken to the hospital on Friday, and Mr. Storms said he was very touched by the huge effort of the students.

One letter, by student Dunae Richards, said: "I feel badly about what has happened to you. The person that did that to you, I think, is a disgrace to Bermuda."

And a pupil named Anwar wrote: "I'm sorry you got beaten up by some bad Bermudians. I hope you won't change your mind about coming back to Bermuda. It isn't that bad."

Mrs. Dean added: "I think Mr. Storms was overwhelmed by what they had done. He was more than pleased to receive them. We hope to have made a difference."