of Bermuda's golden age of tourism, has died.

Mr. Williams, known as "Jimmy'', became Director of Tourism in 1957 and held the post for 20 years when the Island's holiday trade grew into its most successful era.

He was Secretary to the Cabinet from 1976 to 1984 and Vice President of the Senate from 1987 to 1988.

Mr. Williams, 81, also organised a series of international political conferences involving world leaders such as the big three conference of Second World War allies, the United States, Britain and France in 1953.

More than 500 foreign journalists came to the Mid Ocean Club for the conference which was attended by Sir Winston Churchill, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the French Prime Minister Joseph Laniel.

Over the next few decades, Mr. Williams was liaison officer for a series of high-profile diplomatic talks, including the 1961 summit between John F.

Kennedy and Harold MacMillan in 1961, and in 1972 involving Richard Nixon and Edward Heath.

Friends and former colleagues of Mr. Williams, who died in his sleep at his home in Queen's Cove, Pembroke, overnight on Wednesday, paid tribute to him yesterday.

Former Cabinet Minister Sir John Plowman said: "He was a gentleman and an outstanding civil servant dedicated to Bermuda.

"He and (the late Sir) Henry Vesey worked closely together in tourism where they were architects of the tourism policy that worked so successfully for Bermuda in those years, but in circumstances entirely different from those which prevail today.

"As Secretary to the Cabinet, again he was outstanding. As a member of Cabinet, I had an opportunity to work closely with him during this period and I had the utmost admiration for his efficiency and dedication.'' Colin Selley, who worked with Mr. Williams for decades and succeeded him as Director of Tourism in 1976, said: "After the war when tourism went from zero to the best years we have ever had, it was a very exciting time and he was at the helm.

"He made sure that things were done for the long-range rather than the short-term and he was a no-nonsense type of person.

"When decisions were made, they were agreed upon by the board and carried out. There were no twists or bends.

"Not only was Jimmy a colleague, he was a friend of mine. I was shocked to hear of his death.'' Mr. Williams, who has a son and two daughters, was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) during his distinguished career.

The former Warwick Academy and Bermuda Commercial School student was a passenger clerk with shipping agency Watlington & Conyers before the war and a member of the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps.

Mr. Williams ran the Government Information Service for many years, becoming acting manager in 1948. He was in charge of the press tours which were the precursors of the Bermuda Briefings of the 1960s when the Island's tourism charms were sold across the US, Canada and Europe.

He appeared before the US Senate and House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee to argue for duty-free allowances for US tourists.

On retirement in 1984, he was seconded to the Department of Tourism as a consultant for six months and helped co-ordinate the visit of Princess Margaret that year.

He later became corporate secretary of the Edmund Gibbons Ltd., and Independent Senator and did consulting work for the Bermuda Archives.