Kind words and tears flowed on Saturday as Bermuda paid its last respects to Finance Minister Eugene Cox.

But although the verbal tributes spoke volumes about the high regard in which he was held, far more telling were the sheer numbers who turned out to pay tribute.

It was clear from the hundreds of mourners who packed out Hamilton Cathedral until there was standing room only, it could be seen in the crowds which packed the pavement opposite and with those who had marched from Alaska Hall to the Cathedral.

And it was evident in the numbers of people who braved the biting cold to line the roadside and witness the funeral procession as it snaked its way west to take Mr. Cox home.

His daughter Paula Cox summed up the feeling better than most in her Cathedral address.

She said: ?There are few, if any public figures about whom it can be said that after more than four decades in the political arena, he made no enemies, earned the mutual respect and appreciation of his entire community and was never heard to utter an unkind word about anyone, even his adversaries.?

Premier Alex Scott spoke of a gentleman with unique and rare qualities and said: ?We will never see his like again.

?Gene, my friend, your reputation is safe. You have sacrificed so much.?

Opposition leader Grant Gibbons spoke of the reserved man who had worked with courage and quiet determination in decades devoted to serving the country with honour and distinction.

?Thirty years is a long, long time but Eugene Cox served his party consistently.

?I hope this outstanding example by Eugene Cox will encourage others to get involved with public service and make a difference to the community.?

Party Chairman Neville Tyrrell told the congregation: ?We have witnessed greatness.?

Mr Cox?s economic advisor Dr. Andrew Brimmer spoke of a boss with outstanding character who always treated his staff with courtesy.

?I don?t know of a man more humble, resolute and respectful.?

This approach saw Mr. Cox get the best from his staff as he listed intently, asked probing questions and then came to intelligent decisions.

But his contribution had been far more than fine manners, said Dr. Brimmer.

He spoke of Mr. Cox?s pioneering use of zero based budgeting which was typical of his prudent approach.

The Minister was far from a shrinking violet on the international stage as he successfully fought off an attempt by the OECD to bracket Bermuda as a tax haven, said Dr. Brimmer.

Mr. Cox?s handling of the impact of 9/11 had been his finest hour, said Mr. Brimmer, as tax concessions were brought in to bolster retailers, small businesses and taxi drivers.

Financial Secretary Donald Scott described Mr. Cox as a dedicated nation builder who was intent on laying the financial foundations for an independent Bermuda.

?Even as his illness sapped his strength he pressed ahead with those objectives.

?He demonstrated the very best qualities for a Finance Minister ? a soft heart and a very hard head.?

Bermuda Monetary Authority Chairman Cheryl Ann Lister said her organisation?s role had been greatly expanded into a fully independent regulatory authority during Mr. Cox?s tenure.

?He was willing to think outside the box. He was a dedicated professional with integrity.?

Former running mate Dennis Lister praised the work Mr. Cox had done into building Sandys into a Progressive Labour Party stronghold, making it the only parish in which the party holds every seat.

Bermuda Industrial Union General Secretary Molly Burgess described Mr. Cox as a conservative in his politics but someone who was far from a conservative in his community activism.

?At Belco he fully supported staff training and he encouraged those who were able to get professional qualifications abroad.?

International business representative Robert Steinhoff said: ?I respected and admired Eugene Cox and I am in good company. He had an excellent understanding of international business.

?He was one of the most admired Ministers of our time.

?He was a role model for every politician, indeed for Bermuda.?

Former Premier Jennifer Smith gave fulsome praise for Mr. Cox who was her right-hand man throughout her time in the hot seat.

She spoke of the huge personal risk Mr. Cox took in campaigning for the PLP at a time when such a move sometimes led to mortgages being pulled and jobs disappearing.

?He had the courage to make a bold choice despite his wife and children.?

Ms Smith won huge applause from the congregation after concluding with the words: ?Because he lived Bermuda is a better place.?

Dame Lois Browne Evans said: ?Eugene was always a man we respected. Even in the cut and thrust of politics he was always a gentleman.?

She noted Mr. Cox had served under two women leaders but never once made a chauvinistic remark or joke.

And she noted that not one but two Governors had come to the funeral. They were current Governor Sir John Vereker and former Governor Sir Edwin Leather. ?That?s a great mark of respect.?

But she concluded by saying she hoped the party would now push for an independent Bermuda. ?Please take that up, make Eugene, myself and others very happy.?

Mr. Cox was far more interested in serving others than the trappings of power, noted his daughter Paula.

?Very few will know that it took the Ministry staff all of the five years to convince Minister Cox to spend money on new furniture for his office in the Ministry of Finance.

?He finally yielded in November 2003 but here, true to character, he was consciously preparing the office for his successor.?

But her father was far from austere, noted Ms Cox, and he had a love of family, good food, jazz, travel and literature.

He took an interest in young people and in honour of that the family has established the Cyril Eugene Cox Memorial Fund to provide overseas scholarships for Bermudians studying maths, science and engineering. Money is already flowing in.

Archdeacon of Bermuda Arnold Hollis praised Mr. Cox?s dedication to the church.

He said: ?I have never been able to see him in the congregation without thinking I was in the presence of a great man.?

He said: ?The attendance at this funeral service and the throngs that line the sidewalk are an indication of how well he how well he?s fulfilled his place.?

As the service concluded Mr. Cox?s coffin, draped in the Union Jack, was carried out by Bermuda Regiment soldiers and placed on a gun carriage as a long procession of cars headed to St. James?s Church in Somerset.

Well-wishers gathered by the side of the road to pay silent tribute.

numbers swelled as the funeral procession reached Somerset as a proud parish paid tribute to a native son who had served them so well.

Mourners packed the graveside as the Bermuda Regiment band played.

And then an eerie hush descended as mourners strained to hear the words spoken by the clergyman.

The body was lowered into the ground as an extremely sombre Premier looked on.

Earlier he had told of how Mr. Cox had given so much to the country.

On Saturday Bermuda took a small step in repaying that debt.