Children all over the Island are looking forward to the biggest birthday party of their lives.

More than 2,000 nursery school children have been invited to a Johnson & Higgins-sponsored "fun day'' in Victoria Park on May 11.

Complete with puppet and magic shows, magic castle and candy floss, the fair will be one of hundreds of events taking place globally when the capital management company, formed in New York in 1845, celebrates its 150 years next month.

More than 100 Johnson & Higgins offices in 60 countries around the world including Bermuda, Latin America, the Far East, Europe, the Eastern Bloc and the United States will be closed for the day, but employees will not be sitting back on their laurels, local organisers say.

Employees will spend the day devoting their time and energy to the children of their respective communities.

Homeless and orphaned Japanese children from January's earthquake, spurned Ameraisian children in Korea and inner city kids from Chicago are among children singled out by J&H offices for special attention.

Other offices have opted for sports days, barbecues, trips to amusement parks and other events for children, needy or not.

Here, under-fives from every Government-registered school on the Island have been invited to participate in the "fun day'' in the park.

"We view kids as our experience for tomorrow,'' said organiser Mrs. Rosalind Gutteridge. "And we wanted to give something back. We also wanted to show them what we do -- kids who have never seen the inside of an office before.'' Other planned events include careers counselling for secondary school students, painting and repair work in community centres and the distribution of second hand books and toys to needy children. "A lot of time has been put into it but it wouldn't have come off the ground without the spirit of our staff,'' Mrs. Gutteridge said.

Community involvement is nothing new to this company, which says it has always taken an active interest in the world outside the office.

As founders of the End to End walk which raises about $80,000 a year for charity since it began eight years ago, J&H employees have been encouraged by the company which gives them time off for community activities.

"Our employees are very community spirited,'' said founder and chairman of Johnson & Higgins (Bermuda) Limited, Mr. Brian Hall.

"It is the way we've grown up. We have always taken a very active interest in the environment in which we do business.''