She loves parties and island music, and looks forward to her nightly rum and ginger. She's the "star'' of the supermarket where she shops, and the household where she lives.

In fact, Kathleen Mary (Katie) Hill loves life, and everybody loves her. Her laughter comes easily, and her eyes twinkle merrily as she talks.

None of which may be particularly remarkable -- except that tomorrow she will be 100 years old.

Even that makes Miss Hill smile because she knows she does not conform to the popular image of someone her age. She takes pride in her appearance, and enjoys regular sessions with the pedicurist and hair dresser. The skin on her face and hands is clear and smooth, and she has all of her faculties. In fact, she does not miss a thing.

Petite with snow white hair, Miss Hill's only concession to age is a walking stick. She is an avid reader, and enjoys watching television. British Broadcasting Corporation programmes are her favourites, which is perhaps not surprising since she was born in Bristol, England.

At age 12 her parents took her and her siblings, sisters Nora and Cicely and brother Leslie, to settle in Canada. The move didn't thrill Kathleen -- she hated the cold, for one thing -- but she finished her education and trained as a private secretary.

One day, her sister met a young lady from Bermuda, and it wasn't too much later that she and Kathleen took up her offer to visit the Island. The sisters loved it so much that they stayed for months, and in the end persuaded the whole family to relocate to Bermuda.

Miss Hill's first job was as a secretary to brothers Eldon and Kenneth Trimingham. A few years later, she joined the Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Ltd., as secretary to the General Manager, Mr. Jeffrey B. Astwood.

She soon established a reputation for excellence, so when Mr. H.D. (later Sir Harry) Butterfield returned from England and joined the Bank he asked for Miss Hill to be his secretary. It was a partnership which would last 31 years, during which time Sir Harry rose to become Managing Director. Later, he would go on to become Chairman of the Board.

From her office overlooking the corner of Front Street and Burnaby Hill, she guarded her boss's time and privacy like a hawk.

"I was the keeper of the gate,'' she laughs.

Every day, rain, blow or shine, the faithful secretary pedalled her cycle from her Paget home to the Front Street bank, where the doorman would park it in the basement. Miss Hill was never late -- and, incidentally, she never owned a motorised vehicle in all her life.

Today, her memories of a fine career are boosted by two special mementoes in her living room: a sterling silver tray which marked 30 years' service, and a photographic portrait of the late Sir Harry.

She doesn't need more memories apparently, for she has never set foot in the Bank since she retired.

In fact, retirement at 60 was not something she welcomed. Sir Harry knew that, but rules were rules. Instead, the kindly boss told her about a job as secretary to the Administrator of the King Edward Hospital, which she accepted with alacrity.

After the first incumbent returned to England, scandal enveloped his successor, and Miss Hill was eventually called to give evidence in Court.

"It wasn't very nice,'' she remembers. "I hoped all my friends around town didn't think I had anything to do with it because I didn't. They thought the world of me at the Hospital.'' When finally she retired for good, Miss Hill decided to return to her native Britain, and duly settled in Bournemouth. Independent as ever, she maintained her own apartment on Richmond Hill, not far from the famous seafront, and for the next decade or so went about the daily business of living as usual.

Eventually, however, Father Time caught up with her, and after she broke her hip, niece Deborah Harper suggested that she return to Bermuda, where she could still live independently in an apartment adjoining Mrs. Harper's home, but with family to watch over her.

"I jumped at the chance,'' Miss Hill laughs mischievously.

The arrangement has worked perfectly. Her compact and tastefully appointed home includes original paintings by her brother, knitted and crocheted work by herself, and an autographed copy of her friend James Thurber's book, `The Beast in Me.' From her living room she enjoys splendid views of the Great Sound. Her meals are prepared for her -- "I never did like to cook,'' she quips -- and three times a week her friend Brenda Harford arrives to lend a hand, and drive Miss Hill to the supermarket.

Her constant companion and fellow senior citizen is the household dog, Nikki, with whom she shares a very special bond based on mutual love and devotion.

As might be expected of someone who doesn't fit the conventional mould of what she laughingly calls "an old spinster'', Miss Hill speaks fondly of the days when she actively enjoyed the hotels and night clubs, and the wonderful musicians who performed there. She loved the same music the tourists did -- and still does.

`Maryann' remains her favourite song, and when asked if she still likes to dance, the response is: "Of course!' Humour regularly sprinkles her conversation, so in recalling her visits to the 40 Thieves Club, she jokes: "If you had a couple of drinks you'd have a job getting down those stairs!'' Miss Hill has always loved to travel, and would continue to do so, but says she now suspects people are reluctant to have her "because I might pop off!'' Although she never married, she was no stranger to romance or a broken heart, but all that is in the past. Today, she takes life as it comes and makes the most of it.

Small wonder, then, that she eagerly looks forward to being "the oldest swinger in town'' at the gala celebration her relatives have planned for tomorrow night. Among her guests will be nephew Michael and his wife, Anne, and niece Patsy Howard, who have come from Belgium and Rhode Island respectively to share the day.

"I like plenty of action -- why not?'' the former secretary declares.

Looking back over a century of life, Kathleen Mary Hill has much to be thankful for, and few regrets. When asked for her secret of reaching 100, she does not hesitate.

"Not being married, and having a rum and ginger every night.''