that is set to eradicate polio throughout the world has received recognition via a posthumous international award.

Rotary International has raised almost $500 million for the PolioPlus programme which has resulted in one billion children being vaccinated and 90 percent of the world being free of the infection.

The programme, which is recognised by the United Nations and the World Health Organisation, is on schedule to eliminate polio completely by 2002.

The man who did the preparatory work for the campaign was the late W. Jack Davis, the well-known Bermuda-based businessman, who was president of Rotary International from 1977-78.

Mr. Davis -- a former chairman of Hamilton Rotary Club, director of Pearman, Watlington and Co., and Salvation Army advisory board member -- died in 1981.

Mr. Davis was born in Ontario, Canada, and carved out a successful business career on the Island after arriving at the age of 22.

This week, a former Rotary International chairman, Bill Skelton, flew to Bermuda to bestow a posthumous award on Mr. Davis for his work on the PolioPlus campaign.

Mr. Skelton presented the award to Mr. Davis' daughters, Libby Webb and Marni McAllister, at a ceremony at The Club in Hamilton on Tuesday.

The presentation was attended by Governor Thorold Masefield and his wife Jennifer.

Mr. Skelton, who was Mr. Davis' understudy in 1977, said: "I presented this prize on behalf of the 1.2 million Rotarians around the world and the one billion children who have been immunised who would never have known his leadership.

"It was under Jack Davis' leadership that all the pieces were put together for Rotary to go on an immunisation project. The plan that he had founded was activated the year after he left office.

"Jack had great vision, but he also had the ability to take that vision and transfer it into an action plan.'' Mrs. Webb, who flew in from Andover, Massachusetts, said: "It is such a great honour. Rotary only hand this award to a very few people that they feel have made a difference.''