This will include a Jewellery Luncheon to be held in Tucker's Town, and an Appraisal Day at the Bermuda National Gallery. The highlight of the festivities will take place on Saturday, May 14, when Lord and Lady Waddington will host The Bijoux Ball, a black-tie dinner dance at Government House.

Christie's has announced that items from its upcoming Sale of Important Jewels, to be held in New York in June, will be on view on all three occasions. Head of the auction house's Jewellery Department, Mr. Simon Teakle, will be giving a talk about the individual pieces and their history.

Christie's spokeswoman Ms Kirsten Schabacker says that Bermuda residents will be able to bring their "treasures'' in to be valued on Appraisal Day.

Specialists from Christie's Jewellery, Silver, Paintings and Decorative Arts departments will be on hand to provide verbal appraisals.

Says St. John benefit committee member Mrs. Jane West, "It's been at least 10 years since Bermuda held a similar event, involving one of the major auction houses. This time, we will have the perfect venue -- the National Gallery -- where people will be able to bring things in to be valued. The Gallery has been very supportive, providing the 30 volunteers needed to co-ordinate the event.'' Christie's points out that past Appraisal Days in the US have unearthed such unexpected items as a Burmese ruby and diamond Tiffany brooch which had been relegated to a closet and thought to be made of glass. It later sold for $385,000. Another find was a rare set of photographs by famed New York photographer Alfred Stieglitz (he was also the husband of artist Georgia O'Keefe). One of the photographs subsequently sold for $24,000. In England, recently, an old china pot, used for years as the back door stop of a Devon cottage, was discovered to be a Ming dynasty vase, worth thousands of dollars.

"So,'' says Mrs. West, "this is the perfect opportunity to go through your closets, or dust out the attic! And it will all benefit St. John's, which is a very deserving charity.'' Sponsors will be allowed to bring four items to the National Gallery for appraisal and dinner ticket holders to the Ball may bring two items per person.

In addition, says Mrs. West, the auction house will be happy to conduct private home appraisals for special collections: "Christie's would like to establish a presence here,'' she explains, a sentiment echoed by company Vice Chairman Mr. Stephen S. Lash.

"The Island's long, rich history of art appreciation and the recent opening of the Bermuda National Gallery make the relationship between Christie's and the people of Bermuda a natural one, which we look forward to developing further over the years.'' The Bijoux Ball, which, because of limited seating is by invitation only, will, says Mrs. West, be a "strictly black-tie affair. It should be very elegant in the beautiful setting of Government House, with a five or six course dinner, wines and champagnes. Winston De Graff's orchestra will be providing music throughout the dinner and there will be harp and flute music for the cocktail hour.'' Everyone attending the Ball, says Mrs. West, will receive party favours, including some unusual beach jewellery, fashioned by Lindsay Anderson from Christie's famous catalogues, which are then laminated for durability.

The St. John Ambulance Brigade, the Bermuda branch of which was established some 50 years ago, has been described as "the insurance policy you didn't know you had and don't have to pay for.'' The Governor, Lord Waddington is the current President of the Council of St. John, and Mr. Barrie Meade is Chairman.

The distinctive uniforms of the volunteer Brigade are a familiar sight on almost every public occasion in Bermuda, or wherever large crowds gather, whether it's the Queen's birthday parade, Cup Match, power-boat racing or the Agricultural Show. Devoted primarily to providing first aid to the sick and injured, the Brigade is a branch of the oldest Order of Chivalry in the world, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, which was founded in the 12th century.

Besides being on call 52 weeks out of the year, the Brigade also offers courses in first aid to the general public from their headquarters at Dunrossil House on Point Finger Road.

Proceeds from the three-day Christie's event will be used to build an extension to house the Brigades' three ambulances, and a purpose-built classroom for the CPR and first aid courses.

Membership of the Brigade, which currently numbers about 125 members, covers every age group in Bermuda. Children, who are called `Badgers', may join from the age of six, while Cadets are between 12 and 16 years. Regular Brigaders are all over 16 -- and may be as old as 70.

The `Jewel of the Isle' Ladies Luncheon will take place on Thursday, May 12, and Appraisal Day will be held at the National Gallery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Bijoux Ball will be held at Government House on Saturday, May 14.

Anyone requesting further information on the St. John charity benefit is asked to contact 293-1011.

APPRAISAL DAY -- Family treasures, such as this Chinese bowl may be more valuable than you think. Christie's auction house will be holding an appraisal day at the Bermuda National Gallery.

WHAT PRICE THESE JEWELS? -- That necklace or bracelet, hidden away in an old drawer, may turn out to be a valuable heirloom. In May, there's a chance to find out, when auctioneers from Christie's come to town.