Seven men and women who made landmark contributions to the creative life of the Island were honoured last night by Bermuda Arts Council.

Veteran journalist, writer, broadcaster, politician and trade unionist Ira Philip, and the late entertainer Hubert Smith Sr. were given lifetime achievement awards.

And founders awards - for those who laid "foundation stones" of Bermuda's artistic heritage - were presented on behalf of Patricia Gray for dance, Charles Tucker (art), Arthur and Gilbert Cooper (theatre), and George Trott (cedar art).

At the presentation ceremony in City Hall last night, Community Affairs and Sports Minister Randolph Horton, said of the awardees: "They were generous with their gifts and talents, often mentoring generations of young Bermudians. They were committed, wonderfully talented, disciplined and giving."

Mr. Philip, who worked for 50 years at the Bermuda Recorder newspaper before joining ZFB when it was launched in the 1960's, was described by his niece Michelle Gabisi as "prolific and fantastic".

Mr. Philip, a Royal Gazette editor who saw it thought it as so good it should play at the old Colonial Opera House in Hamilton, said Madeleine Smith.

The show was a major success and ran for 25 years and the brothers were "pioneers in theatre" she said.

Gilbert Cooper was instrumental in the design of City Hall, while Arthur Cooper was a "theatrical dynamo" who was an actor, producer, set designer and costume designer.

Craftsman George Trott, who died in 1988, started his own business in 1934 and went on to make more than 500,000 cedar handle bags.

He also built Evening Light Pentecostal Tabernacle on Parsons Road, Pembroke, which, with St. Peter's in St. George's, is the only all-cedar church on the Island, said his daughter Betty Trott.

He made antique style reproduction furniture, often as gifts for visiting dignitaries, including a cedar chest for Queen Elizabeth II.

He came out of retirement in 1977 to make two Chippendale style chairs for the wedding of Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales.