KPMG employees and Bermuda High School students rolled up their sleeves and got down to the mammoth task of repainting 175 naval crests in Dockyard.

Yesterday's voluntary effort to spruce up the crests, which depict visiting ships from as far back as last century, was part of KPMG's annual 'Make a Difference Day'.

Just a skeleton staff remained in the office as 125 employees joined with 72 grade eight students from BHS.

Joanne MacPhee, senior manager, marketing said: "It's a particularly significant and historic event because no single group has ever attempted to repaint all of them in one day, but much more important is the fact that this will be the last time they will ever be repainted as these fabulous memories of our maritime history are doomed to be destroyed as Dockyard is developed within the next few years.

"The project will mean that the Maritime Museum and others interested in our maritime history will have one last opportunity to catalogue and record all these coats of arms for future generations."

Mrs. MacPhee added that the project caught the imagination of others too.

"One lady came jogging by off the cruise ship and said 'I'm an art teacher, can I help?' She's been here all day," she explained.

In addition, local artists Margaret Potts and Maggie Godet helped the volunteers with the more intricate elements of the crests, and Keen Services loaned a forklift truck and staff members to help reach the tricky spots.

As of yesterday afternoon, the volunteers planned to stay until sundown in the hope of completing all the work.