And now former teacher Carol D. Hill has brought the compelling history of the Sunshine League to light in a new book entitled Rays of Hope.

Rays of Hope details the first 25 years of the Sunshine League which was founded in 1919.

It also tells the story of the terrible living conditions of many underprivileged families, the plight of the homeless children and the alarming juvenile delinquency in Bermuda in the early 1900's.

"It is a history that hasn't been told,'' she said. "The Sunshine League was Bermuda's first locally established social welfare association. The Salvation Army was active at the time, but it was imported from Canada.

"The lodges and churches did work, but they were not specifically established for this.'' Ms Hill said the Sunshine League held special meaning for her because of the lengthy association her family had with the charity.

"My aunt was Miss Agnes May who was the president for 25 years and another aunt, Miss Wenona G. Robinson, was the treasurer for 28 years, so I have a close family association with the Sunshine League.'' And it was from her family's vast collection of notes, financial statements and newspaper clippings that Ms Hill based her book, which contains more than 100 illustrations.

"I sorted through family papers, pictures and records on the League -- in fact there are pictures of the records and minutes I found in the back of the book.'' The 36-year teaching veteran admitted that tackling her literary labour of love was a lengthy and difficult project.

"I gave up many times while writing the book,'' she confessed. "I collected and assembled the information in the 70's. I had wanted to take off a year from teaching to write the book, but I never found the time.'' It was not until the 1990's that she finally sat down, sorted through the piles of information she assembled from various sources and began writing.

"The House of Assembly records, between 1924 and 1926, were also a lot of help,'' she explained. "That was when the League was petitioning the House to establish a Juvenile Court. Up to that time, children had to go to the open court.

"They also wanted to have probational officers and an industrial home and school for delinquent boys. That way the kids would not be thrown in the regular jail.'' During its first years in existence, the Sunshine League devoted itself wholeheartedly to remedying the variety of social ills that plagued the Island's youth.

"The first ten years of the Sunshine League were devoted to social work,'' she explained. "During the first ten years, they were trying to raise money for a day nursery, which was a dream of Agnes.'' "There was nowhere for mothers to leave their children while they were at work. They use to leave them at home, alone. It took something drastic to prompt Miss Robinson to open the nursery earlier than they wanted. I don't want to tell you what the incident was, you have to read the book to find out.'' She added: "It opened in 1929 in Middletown and consisted of a large room with a kitchen and a bathroom. It was not successful at first because people were not use to it.'' The book also contains endless material on individuals who played an important role in the development of the Sunshine League.

"The first social officer was an amazing person -- Etta Jones,'' she said.

"She took in homeless boys from under the shed on Front Street, where they slept at night, and taught them to read and write.

"Eventually they set up a Missions School on Smith's Hill where the boys and girls went for school.

"It became obvious that some women couldn't pick up their children at the end of the day so they added a room where the children could sleep at night. It later became obvious that some of the children didn't have anywhere to go, so they just stayed.'' Over the ensuing years, the demands being placed on the Sunshine League increased, prompting the need for larger accommodations. A 1932 move from Middletown to Court Street could not satisfy the Sunshine League's need for more space, so a few years later they moved once more.

"It continued to grow so and they needed larger quarters,'' she explained.

"They eventually moved to Dundonald Street, just below where they are now.'' Rays of Hope will be launched his Thursday at 5.30 p.m. at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. The event will feature dramatic presentations by Ruth Thomas, Gary Phillips and Grace Rawlins. Books will also be on sale.

All net proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Sunshine League, a private, non-profit organisation which provides a nurturing environment for young people who are unable to live with their families for a variety of reasons.

The reception will take place in the Harbour Room at the Number One Shed on Front Street in Hamilton from 5.30 to 8 p.m.

In addition to music, drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served at the free event.

To RSVP for the event call the BSBDC at 292-5570.

*** The Bermuda National Trust will host an evening of entertainment set in a historic Smith's Parish mansion house.

Jane Austen, A Candlelight Evening at Verdmont will take place on Saturday and Sunday at 7.30 p.m. The Saturday night performance is sold out.

The event will feature 18th century songs performed by the Pembroke Players, with Andrea Hodson on Harpsichord, historian David Raine discussing Austen's family connections in Bermuda and Nigel Kermode and Fiona Luck will dramatise some of Austen's work.

Tickets, which include refreshments, are $30 and are available from the Trustworthy Shop on Queen Street in Hamilton between 10 and 4 p.m. Tickets will also be available at The Bermuda National Trust Headquarters at Waterville in Paget between 9 an 5 p.m.

For more information 236-6483.

A Ray of Hope: Agnes May Robinson, one of the founding members of the Sunshine League and its president for the charity's first 25 years, was a ray of hope for many of Bermuda's less fortunate.