club meetings, let alone international shows.

In fact, at the recent international flower show at City Hall, where he was a competitor, bearded Neville Richardson was mistaken for a worker, which made all the sweeter his sweeping victories in one division.

Soft spoken and self-effacing, Mr. Richardson is not one to trumpet his talents, so his approach to competing in such a major event was characteristically laid back.

Not for him was the task of sending in entry forms months in advance, meticulous forward planning, endless rehearsals at home, or armfuls of fancy mechanics.

Instead, he submitted his entry form at the last moment, and right up to the night before he was to execute the design he had no idea what form it would finally take.

"I couldn't decide which way to go so I said to myself, `I will just approach it as it comes','' he related. "The night before, I thought about something and I said, `That's enough, I won't think any more about it'.'' Mr. Richardson's successful quest for flowers came just five minutes before closing time on the day before he was to create his masterpiece, when he bought the last dozen carnations the florist had. Happily, the colour was perfect. Some of his plant material was gathered, on a whim, on the morning of the competition.

"That's how I am,'' he smiled. "I prayed about it the night before and on the day of competition I just did what I had to do.'' In fact, Mr. Richardson even left it to the Garden Club of Bermuda to decide which category he would enter because his mind was not on winning but simply participating.

"I wanted to enter just to meet the specifications and do exactly what was asked,'' he said. "I thought it would be nice to have the exposure.'' The specifications for his category included incorporating an apricot-coloured open framework pyramid into the overall design, which had to conform to specific measurements and be viewable from all sides.

For Mr. Richardson, it was a real challenge.

"I had never worked inside a frame before, and the arrangement had to be created from the inside out,'' he related.

On the morning of the competition, he arrived at City Hall so cool, calm and collected that he spent the first part of the allotted four-hour creative period helping other competitors.

"Then I sat down for about half a minute, came to grips with myself and said, `Now here we go','' he related. "I didn't panic, I just put my energy to work.'' Approximately two and a half hours later, when the arrangement was done, Mr.

Richardson walked quietly away, to return to his regular job with the Corporation of Hamilton, where he is the official flower arranger.

As such, his duties include creating fresh arrangements for the mayor's parlour, the administrative offices, City Hall's foyer and art galleries, Perot Post Office and the Visitors' Service Bureau. Whenever there are special events, like the Queen's visit, he is also responsible for all those arrangements too.

It may seem an unusual career for a man with dreadlocks, but Mr. Richardson has always loved nature, and his natural flair for flower arranging was spotted and encouraged by his boss, Corporation horticulturalist Mr. George Ogden, with whom he enjoys a good rapport.

"I made up my mind when I was real young that nature was the point I would start from to make my career in life, and this is just a part of it,'' he explained, "but I never thought I would do flower arranging. I always enjoyed it, but never thought I could make much use of it.'' When Mr. Richardson finished high school he joined the Department of Agriculture's apprenticeship scheme, which he completed in 1982 with distinction.

"I surprised myself because I was more interested in agriculture than horticulture,'' he related, "but since there wasn't too much in the field of agriculture in Bermuda I took the horticultural route. I have really enjoyed it.'' His successful approach to Mr. Ogden for a job has led him along unimagined paths, including entering floral competitions.

"He pushed me until I got to a level of confidence that I could meet what was demanded and what was comfortable for myself,'' he said.

A quiet man who enjoys communing with nature, Mr. Richardson has had to strike a balance between the tranquil and people-oriented aspects of his work.

"The job has taught me to appreciate both sides of this world,'' he said.

"It's like standing in the midst of a fire and staying cool.'' Before he became the Corporation's official flower arranger, Mr. Richardson helped the then- incumbent, Mr. Joel Cassidy, who also taught him "what he knew about decorating''.

A good art student at school, this seemed to mesh well with Mr. Richardson's artistic talents -- so much so, in fact, that when Mr. Cassidy resigned, Mr.

Ogden turned to him and said: "It's your responsibility now, Neville; you're going to have to hold the fort.'' Over the years, Mr. Richardson's skills have grown, with Mr. Ogden's guidance, to the point where both men competed equally in the same category at the recent International Flower Show.

Courses in Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arranging) and modern flower arranging have helped to shape Mr. Richardson's creative style at City Hall.

"I didn't like the traditional European arrangements, which are very rigid,'' he explained. "I am strict about mechanics but I like being free. You have to be very flexible with your styles.'' No doubt, his present course in floral design will also influence future creations, as will the numerous books on flower arranging which he studies.

Because of budget restrictions, Mr. Richardson uses whatever plant and floral material is available on Corporation property for his arrangements, and readily credits his mentor, Mr. Ogdon -- himself an experienced arranger -- for inspiration and influence in this sphere.

When the two men found themselves competing in the same International Flower Show at City Hall recently, it was with genuine pride, not rancour.

Since Mr. Richardson said winning was not a consideration for him, the surprise and pleasure at their dual success was all the greater.

Whereas Mr. Ogden entered "The Challenge of Rhythm'' division, Mr. Richardson accepted "The Challenge of Proportion.'' So good was Mr. Richardson's entry that he not only took the blue ribbon (first prize) for Class A1 "Related to Quantity,'' but was also judged "Best Overall'' in both divisions within his category.

In a day that included not only regular duties, but a funeral, evening lock-up duties at Victoria Park and ultimately an evening class, news of his victory came late.

"I thought I'd pop in at City Hall on my way to evening classes and see what the judge's comments were,'' he related. "As I entered I noticed people I knew were very excited.

"I thought that someone had broken my arrangement, but as I got nearer they were congratulating me and I thought, `What is this? They must be joking','' he related. "They were saying, `You did it, you did it, we're so proud of you'.'' It wasn't until he stood in front of his magnificent entry that the truth sunk in.

"I had to pinch myself,'' Mr. Richardson said.

So, too, did Mr. Ogden, who arrived later and was also similarly confused by the flood of congratulations engulfing him.

"He thought he was being congratulated him as my supervisor. He didn't realise he had won too. It was a wonderful moment for us both,'' Mr.

Richardson said.

The Corporation flower arranger feels that positive spin-offs from the International Flower show include a greater acceptance and enjoyment of his modern arrangements by colleagues, and more importantly, the emergence of a greater community respect for plants and flowers.

"Nature is the real boss,'' he said. "You have to respect it.''