which immediately endears you.

But the men of the Corporation of Hamilton -- that former bastion of male domination -- had better be on their toes.

For the latest addition to their ranks, Miss Sonia Grant, is a real `toughie'.

And, despite becoming this week the first woman common councillor on the 200-year-old Corporation, she is not one to lose her head in euphoria.

"I don't think I'm brash. I believe in being persistent, and gently persuasive,'' she said with a laugh.

"You shouldn't be fooled, though. I do have a great deal of toughness.'' So, yes, her male colleagues can expect to be hit by a charm offensive over the coming months.

But getting her way by a sweet exterior is probably Miss Grant's only concession to femininity in her new role in public life.

"I do admit being a woman probably helped get me elected, but quite honestly I don't think it will make any difference now.

"It's not something I really think about. It's everybody else who is talking about me being a woman on the Corporation.'' And she added: "I don't feel any pressure at all. I'm just really looking forward to the time ahead. I'm going to enjoy it.'' Miss Grant, whose popularity can be testified by the vast array flowers decorating her law office since her election triumph, has the perfect background to make a huge success of her new job.

And, she hopes, blaze a trail for other women.

Born in 1951, she was raised in Hamilton with her younger sister, Michelle.

Her daily walks to Central School -- now Victor Scott -- built in her a passionate love of Bermuda's capital.

"Hamilton is very familiar to me, and I can still remember Sunday afternoon strolls through Victoria Park.

"I remember the parades, and shelling peanuts on Front Street, a street which hasn't changed that much.

"A lot of the old buildings in the City are still here, although the use of some of them has changed.'' She added: "I think Hamilton is probably even prettier now. I believe the Corporation has done a marvellous job, making sure the City is as green as possible.'' Miss Grant is also keen to pay tribute to her late father, Mr. Phillip Grant, who was a carpenter, and her mother, Marjorie.

"They gave me a very good upbringing, and worked well together. I did not see any delineation between a man's work and a woman's work.'' Miss Grant's first ambition was to be a teacher.

She gained a degree in Economics in Canada, and a post-graduate certificate of Education in England.

But after a spell teaching at Sandys Secondary School and Berkeley Institute, where she was chairman of the board, she switched careers.

She studied law in England, now specialising in probate at Hamilton firm Richards Francis & Francis.

A training in teaching and law is likely to stand her in extremely good stead.

And it should be a comfort to the hordes of people who put their cross against her name on Tuesday evening.

"A legal knowledge is important because so many things are grounded in law,'' she said.

On a personal note, one of Miss Grant's pet ambitions is to bump up the number of registered Corporation voters.

She would like the voting age lowered from 21 to 18, and people to be allowed to vote by proxy.

But she will take up the cudgels for other people's worries just as fiercely.

And she has drawn up a 40-page list of concerns raised to her on the doorstep during her hectic election campaign.

She has pledged to articulate all these worries in a letter to the Corporation.

A lot of anxiety centred on the docks.

"There is some concern that the docks will be moved from Hamilton. People feel Hamilton came about through a need for centralised docks.

"Seemingly there has been some suggestion that a park will be created in the area.'' The lack of short-term parking for shoppers is also near the top of the list.

And some businesses expressed unease at the amount of vagrancy in North Hamilton.

But Miss Grant feels the Corporation has a very limited role to play in tackling loitering.

"I think it's up to the people in the area to get together and do something about it.'' She takes the same view about drug abuse -- and the problems of working mothers.

"The provision for children for working women is really something for employers to deal with rather than the Corporation.'' Asked how she will juggle her double life -- as lawyer and councillor -- the response is immediate.

"Very easily, I can't see any problem.'' She added: "I'm really looking forward to my new role, to seeing how the City operates and how it functions.

"I admit I have got a lot of learning to do.'' SONIA GRANT -- This week became the first woman common councillor on the 200-year-old Corporation of Hamilton.