t. George?s Foundation chairman, J. Henry Hayward, who assumed this role on November 18, 2004, is busy accomplishing goals on behalf of our ancient St. George?s, a World Heritage Site.

As former mayor and current president and CEO of Meyer Group, Mr. Hayward has proven his dedicated leadership and organisational abilities time and again. Certainly he is an asset when it comes to the restoration of the ?Queen?s Warehouse? and other town matters related to St. George?s being a World Heritage Visitors? Centre.

Mr. Hayward is very pleased about Phase 1 Restoration of the World Heritage Visitors? Centre on Penno?s Wharf.

?Significant progress has been made to restore the World Heritage Visitors? Centre. The Bermuda Government will be donating around one million dollars over the next four years. It is exciting to be working with and have Government?s support on this project,? said Mr. Hayward.

The area is attractively tiled and there are several planters, palms and Victorian lights on the historic building.

?We are trying to get out of the habit of saying ?Queen?s Warehouse?. We are very pleased by the renovations done during this phase by AJ Lewis Enterprise Limited which includes general contract work to restore and improve the existing building to an ?as new? condition occupancy, although it was actually built 1860.

?Work projects include plumbing, electrical, concrete placement, elevator, new staircase and painting, as well as installation of new doors and windows,? said Mr. Hayward.

According to the history in the Bermuda National Trust?s ?Bermuda?s Architectural Heritage, St. George?s?, Deputy Military Storekeeper William Penno?s wharf cashed in on the furious burst of commercial activity associated with turning the blockade of the Southern States in the American Civil War. During this time it is suggested that Penno?s Wharf was part of the furious burst of commercial activity associated with running the blockade of the American Southern States in the Civil War.

Mr. Hayward knows Bermuda?s history and explained that the Blockade Runners came from the South bearing cotton for mills in England.

Those vessels were constantly discharging a lot of various cargo at Ordnance Island, St. George?s. While goods from Europe included ammunitions and materials destined for American Southern Ports. During this era, 1860-1865, Penno?s Wharf was appropriately large and utilitarian.

Today it has most definitely been handsomely renovated by AJ Lewis Enterprise and should certainly impress tourists and raise Bermuda?s national pride.

The Heritage Centre Floor Plan will feature the following:

On the first floor will be a Children?s Discovery Area, orientation area, a trip planning area, retail shop and an administrative and catering room.

The second floor will feature a changing gallery, resource areas, chronological exhibits and a theatre.

?The upstairs area will be able to seat about 250 people and there are plans to lease out the area for Destination Management activities, wedding receptions and other groups. Catering will be arranged through the Foundation,? advised Mr. Hayward.

Just recently on March 9, Mr. Hayward and Louis Mowbray, chairman of the World Heritage Committee, spent a full day in Richmond, Virginia learning about the historic relationships between Bermuda and Virginia.

?We were brought up to date on their 2007 plans and we are working on bringing events together locally to celebrate this time,? Mr Hayward said.

The pair were exposed to all sorts of documents related to Jamestown, Williamsburg, York Town and Bermuda. Jamestown was founded in 1607, two years earlier than St. George?s.

?This common history is highly interesting and I personally feel this common history between us will attract considerable visitors attracted to Bermuda from a cultural tourism view point,? said Mr. Hayward.

The Foundation will be working with organisations including Government on Bermuda?s 400th Anniversary for year 2009. The Wreck of the Sea Venture will be commemorated.

Another historical fact which Mr. Hayward appreciates is that Lyme Regis, Dorset, England is twinned with St. George?s, Bermuda.

During our Peppercorn Ceremony this April 20, the Mayor, Town Crier, and other dignitaries from Lyme Regis will be present.

This year a special committee of 14 people has formed the Twinning Association in St. George?s. If you are interested in joining this group, ?feel free? advised Mr. Hayward.

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The officers include: J. Henry Hayward, chairman

Mayor, E. Michael Jones, vice-chairman

Joan Davis, secretary

Mariea Caisey, treasurer.

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Admiral Sir George Somers, formerly Lyme Regis? mayor and MP, was shipwrecked on Bermuda?s Eastern shores enroute to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1609.

During our Peppercorn Ceremony this April, Town Crier, Richard Fox, from Lyme Regis will be in attendance.

Sir George Somers claimed the Islands as a British colony, set about building two new vessels, then sailed to the New World settlements. He died after returning to Bermuda in 1610. Matthew Somers, his heir and nephew, cut out his uncle?s heart and buried it in Somers? Garden, St. George?s.

Mr. Hayward advised that a new free Walking Map of the Town of St. George has been developed by the Foundation and LookBermuda and is available at the Visitors? Service Bureau.

?The map will assist our visitors as they tour St. George?s, listing an array of retail businesses, restaurants, hotels, museums and forts which can be visited,? advised Mr. Hayward.

Another very interesting aspect of St. George?s is the actual probability of what?s happening with the old Club Med site.?It has been proposed that the old hotel will be levelled and an architecturally compatible structure replace that. The facility will hopefully provide about 200 jobs to our community within two or three years. We hope to be hearing more about this plan within a few weeks.?

?The Renaissance Group have submitted a proposal for the St. George?s site being referred to as the ?Project on the Hill?,? concluded Mr. Hayward.