A former Deputy Governor of Bermuda has received the Royal seal of approval in the New Year Honours list. Tim Gurney made waves with the news he has been awarded an OBE by The Queen. The high-flying civil servant went from living in paradise to what many would consider hell on earth.

For he took the plunge and left the serene surrounds of Bermuda in summer 2003 ? to take up a diplomatic post in war-torn Afghanistan. Known for his hobbies of diving and boating during his five-year stint on the Island, his switch to the Middle Eastern embassy saw his days packed with military meetings and talks with warlords amid iron tight security.

The former Deputy Governor ? who had a brief stint as acting Governor before Sir John Vereker took the top job ? did take a picture of Tobacco Bay with him to remind him of his less dangerous posting in Bermuda. The painting was given to him by Government as a leaving gift. Mr. Gurney was expected to stay in Afghanistan for up to two years. His OBE confirmation in , England, listed him as former deputy head of mission at the British Embassy.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of a grandmother who is facing jail for smuggling cannabis into Bermuda after she failed to turn up to Supreme Court yesterday.

Priscilla Delores Williams 60, was convicted last month of importing and possessing more than $8,000 worth of the drug which she brought in from Jamaica hidden in a case of rum on January 5, 2005.

When Williams, of Bulkhead Drive, Warwick, was found guilty, Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves granted her $10,000 bail with a surety and warned her not to attempt to leave the country.

She was meant to turn up at the arraignment session at Supreme Court yesterday so that a date could be set for sentencing. When she failed to do so, Chief Justice Richard Ground ordered the warrant.

A 54-year-old Sandys man was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired by alcohol over the festive period after his car was involved in a traffic accident with a motorcycle. The incident occurred at around 9.15 p.m. on December 30, at Hook 'n Ladder Lane, Sandys when the man's car was in collision with a cycle ridden by a 32-year-old Southampton man. No-one was injured.

Police have released more details about the disturbance at St. George's Cricket Club on Monday night, when an injured man was arrested. The 26-year-old St. George's man had been found in the changing rooms nursing facial injuries at about 5.50 p.m. but declined to make a complaint to Police.

However an hour later Police had to be called again and he was arrested for conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. He was cautioned at Hamilton Police Station and later released. reported yesterday how minor clashes were reported after the Dudley Eve Champions Cup, attended by as many as 3,500 fans.

A nasty flu bug has been laying residents low since Christmas Day and has been described as particularly powerful by those who have suffered its effects.

Medical experts are still waiting for the latest reports on instances of flu during the week between Christmas and New Year, but have noted a rise in cases in the two weeks leading up to the Christmas week.

Flu meant many of David Skinner's family were unable to celebrate the festivities to the full. chief photographer said: "It was a lonely New Year's Eve. We had a family get-together but eight people were missing because they all had the flu."

And the flu bug laid low Rebecca Zuill and her family for an entire week. She said: "We got it on Boxing Day and all four of us went down with it. It started out as a bad cold and a feeling of having a lack of energy and then a loss of appetite. A couple of us got a bit feverish and were bedridden."

Mrs. Zuill said her husband had been told by the doctor that there was a lot of flu around at the moment.

How widespread the flu bug is has yet to be assessed as the Health department is awaiting its weekly updates from GPs.

Senior Medical Officer Brenda Davidson said: "In the week leading up to December 17 there were 22 cases of flu, and in the week to December 24 there were 11. We haven't had any reports of severe flu at this stage but we won't have the full figures back until next week."

She said the department still has some flu vaccine available.