manager, Mr. Caines has worked for the hotel for the past 41 years -- and he can usually be found on the job from seven in the morning until seven at night, often seven days a week. He is in charge of the hotel's pool, beach, tennis courts -- in short, he says, "all the fun stuff'' -- and manages a staff of 16.

"I have a fun job. The best part is meeting the people -- the new people you try and make their stay great so they'll come back to the hotel, and the repeat guests, who have been coming here for 30 or 40 years, and they look for us every year.'' Longtime friends include such celebrities as Miss world Pageant operators Eric and Julia Morley, who have been visiting the island for the past 25 years along with their family.

"Some of their kids are taller than me now,'' marvels Mr. Caines. At the moment, Mr. Caines can usually be found on duty at the beach, along with seven of his staff members, who tend to the needs of the guest for towels, umbrellas, chairs, lilos and canoes. He and beach attendant Renaldo Bean also do double duty as trained lifeguards, keeping a protective eye on everyone enjoying the beach.

Seventy percent of my time in season is spent in the beach area. If guests are here for five days they will probably be on the beach four out of those five days, because it's very popular. We do a lot of work to keep the beach really clean, and we rake it every morning. It's very important, because I think that 95 percent of the guests who come to Elbow come because of the beach facilities. It's such a beautiful spot to relax, during the day, and in the evenings after people have eaten dinner they can walk down the hill, sit out here and relax. There's nothing else like it in Bermuda, as far as I'm concerned.'' Hotel guests aren't the only ones who enjoy use of the beach. Locals often visit the beach, where they are asked to pay a $3 admission charge in return for use of a chair, towel and other beach equipment. The new Cafe Lido restaurant is expected to be an added draw for locals.

During the past four decades Mr. Caines has seen a lot of changes at the hotel.

"When I first started at Elbow there was no swimming pool, no balcony rooms, and only three cottages on the grounds. I've watched them build up everything else on the property.'' Among the most important additions to the hotel's recreational amenities were four tennis courts, which he says have a great deal of appeal for many of the guests.

"The tennis facilities are excellent. We have Hard-True courts, and some top players have come to practise on them over the years, from Ivan Lendl to Jimmy Connors. They're up to a good standard, but we're going to be doing more work to them soon, adding new lighting.

He is absolutely delighted with the latest renovations, which he describes as "a dream come true'' for him.

"In all these years, they've done so much each year, but to see all this done at one time is fantastic. They've really done a good job.'' There have been improvements made in every one of the areas he oversees, from new equipment in the exercise room, to new pool decking, to the new restaurant at the beach, and Mr. Caines couldn't be happier. He and his people are also looking forward to learning more about the new management style now being practised at the hotel.

"We're looking forward to the changes. The staff have got to be patient and Wyndham has got to be patient with us, and we will work together to make the change. I think that's happening, and it looks very positive.'' DELIGHTED -- Elbow Beach recreational director Mr. Mickey Caines is delighted by the hotel's sporty new look.

ANYONE FOR TENNIS? -- The Elbow Beach's activities programme features four top class tennis courts, alongside the hotel's spectacular South Shore beach.