While evidence of his vision, artistry and guiding hand remain, his role as Corporation of Hamilton horticulturalist has ended. After 40 years of dedicated service, during which he transformed City parks, docklands and Fort Hamilton through beautiful landscaping and greenery in an otherwise traffic-clogged world, George Odgen hung up his metaphoric trowel on December 20 "with relief".

It was not that he regretted one day of his tenure; rather, having reached the official retirement age of 65, he was anxious to do other things in life.

"I felt that after 40 years it was time to move on, and I think it is good for the City to get new ideas and new blood," he said of his decision.

Affectionately known as "Mr. George" to many of his colleagues, the horticulturalist was a familiar sight zipping around the City on his beige moped, supervising and advising on the myriad projects carried by the sixteen-strong Bermudian and Portuguese team whom he led.

"They are a good group of men," he said.

Not many people realise just what an enormous contribution Mr. Ogden made to beautifying the City and its parks, nor yet how large his "portfolio" was.

When he arrived here in January, 1962 the Corporation's approach to horticultural enhancement was still in its infancy, and the lone previous incumbent, Mr. Roy Thomas, had spent most of his tenure attending to the grounds around City Hall and in Par-la-Ville Park.

"The gardening procedures were very primitive. We didn't have flower pots and I used go around collecting old paint tins to plant things in," Mr. Ogden recalled. "Edging the grass between the gardens and the lawns was never done, so we made the paving and lawns level so that the edgings could be properly maintained, and I introduced some of the first edging machines in Bermuda. The effect is much neater."

From those early days huge strides have been made, and today Mr. Ogden looks back on a very long list of accomplishments with pride.

"My employment has seen the designing and landscaping, including paving, of all parks and garden areas in Hamilton," Mr. Ogden said. "Parks have been established at Fort Hamilton, the Waterfront (the area from No. 8 Dock to the ferry terminal) and Barr's Bay. I also designed and established the Corporation's plant nursery at 'The Willows'."

It is there that between 20,000 and 26,000 flowering plants were sown or raised for planting each year according to Mr. Ogden's pre-ordained schemes.

Car parks are not known for their aesthetic beauty, but in the case of City Hall Mr. Ogden defied convention and planted the big trees dotting the area to soften the effect of both the Tarmac and the big office buildings behind it. At the multi-storey Bull's Head, he filled the planters along the top storey perimeters with lush greenery, and the ground level flower beds at the entrance and exits with regularly changing displays - again to add visual softening to an otherwise utilitarian structure. Plantings at Elliott Street and Cavendish car parks were other pleasing examples of Mr. Ogden's long-term vision and efforts to soften man's encroachment on nature.

Under the horticulturist's aegis, more than 830 new trees were planted along City Streets, making a grand total of 1183 altogether. In City Hall pool, there were 120 pots of water lillies to care for.

In addition, Mr. Ogden also oversaw the City Hall lobby flower displays, as well as those inside Nos. 1 and 6 docks, the ferry terminal, Bermuda Chamber of Commerce and Perot Post Office. Despite being Government property, the National Library also fell under his umbrella; and whenever heads of state or royalty were in town, extra special floral displays were organised. In addition, with the Corporation's blessing, he helped to organise floral displays at the airport for a visit by the Queen.

Despite these impressive achievements, Mr. Ogden remained a very modest man who not only preferred to work quietly behind the scenes, but also was at pains to stress that credit for beautifying Hamilton was not his alone, but that of his entire Parks Department team.

Little known, perhaps, is that for years the special floral arrangements which graced the Mayor's parlour and the Corporation offices were also his handiwork. As with most things he did, however, Mr. Ogden successfully passed on this art to interested members of his team, among them former employee Neville Richardson, and now Joe Aguiar.

"When I encouraged Neville Richardson to enter the last International Design Symposium held here I didn't realise what I was doing. He won. Fortunately, I also won too, which I was pleased about because it would have looked awful if he had won and I hadn't!" Mr. Ogden remembered. "As for Joe, he is very artistic, and has been doing the City Hall arrangements for some time now."

The horticulturist also spent many evenings voluntarily giving lectures and demonstrations for Parks Department staff at his home "to try and encourage them to know more about their profession". As a result, at his retirement he was confident that the legacy of those lessons would continue pay dividends in the years ahead. In fact, with the Corporation's approval, he generally assisted young people with horticultural training both privately and with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the 1970s and 1980s as a member of its Selection Committee, and also as an apprenticeship scheme lecturer.

Born and raised near Liverpool, England, horticulture was in Mr. Ogden's genes. Both his father and grandfather were keen gardeners, and he also received great encouragement from his school teacher mother.

"I am greatly indebted to her," he said.

His active interest in horticulture began at primary school, where students were encouraged to use its plots to grow vegetables. His first job on leaving school at 15 was in a plant nursery, and he also attended night classes to gain his general educational qualifications. As a teenager, he had his own allotment (a small plot of public land) and also maintained the family garden, winning many awards for both. At 16 Mr. Ogden began an apprenticeship with Lever Brothers, working on major landscaping schemes at Port Sunlight, while studying at night for his Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Junior Certificate.

Called up for National Service at age 18, Mr. Ogden joined the Royal Air Force, and served in northern Germany. Again, he used all of his spare time to study for his RHS General Certificate in Horticulture, and gained a First Class pass.

Upon completion of his National Service, he returned to Lever Brothers to complete his apprenticeship, following which, as one of only sixteen finalists out of many applicants, he began a two-year RHS Wisley Diploma course at the RHS garden in Wisley, England, ultimately passing with honours.

Three years later, on January 4, 1962 Mr. Ogden arrived in Bermuda to take up the post that he would fill for 40 years, and for which he would receive several honours: the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour for his role in the beautification of Hamilton in 1992; a Certificate of Recognition from the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs "for the continuous application of Fine Craftsmanship to the Enrichment of Bermuda's Heritage"; and the Bermuda National Trust's 2001 Silver Palmetto Award (its top honour).

While his career at the Corporation of Hamilton was extensive, it is by no means the sum total of his busy life. Married to Sandra, an operating room nurse, and the father of two daughters, Mr. Ogden also found time for public service. He was a member of Government's Parks and Beaches Committee, and remains an active member of the Bermuda Parks Commission. His input was also sought for the landscaping of Dockyard before it was developed, and he and his wife organised the planting of a long border below Commissioner's House. The couple are members of the Bermuda National Trust, where Mr. Ogden served on its Gardens and Nature Reserves Committee for years. He also assisted with landscaping designs along East Broadway.

While he could be forgiven for wanting to rest from his labours after such a busy public life, the horticulturist has no plans to put his feet up. Instead, it seems he will be busier than ever. Among other things he will continue working with Mrs. Betsy Mowbray on a new Garden Club of Bermuda book to replace its 'Bermuda Jubilee Garden,' and also devote more time to art (he loves to paint, and has entered several Bermuda Society of Arts exhibitions). As a member of the Bermuda Orchid Society he will continue to pursue his interest in that species, as well as in palms.

Together with his wife, they plan to travel more to visit their daughters and new grandchild. They will play more bridge, and continue their involvement with the Bermuda Philharmonic Society and the Anglican Cathedral, of whose Sunday School Mr. Ogden was superintendent for many years, and also assisted on its Building and Grounds committee.

Looking back on his long career, the founding member and Fellow of the British Institute of Horticulture had nothing but praise for his former employer.

"The Corporation has been a very good employer, and I am most appreciative that they allowed me to do what I so enjoyed doing, but I won't miss the work because it is time to do other things."

But don't look for him on that well-known moped.

"It is going to be retired today," he said on December 20.

The end of an era, indeed.