proper etiquette is followed at official functions, Government protocol officer Mrs. Joan Williams is retiring.

In recent years Mrs. Williams also took on a greater role in advising members of the public on the proper protocol for important functions and dinners for guest dignitaries, such as who sits at the head table.

Mrs. Williams says she is retiring early from the post to pursue leisure interests such as travel and to "catch her breath.'' She may also write a booklet on etiquette from the Bermuda perspective.

The hardest part of the job, she said, was people not following proper etiquette and failing to heed the words RSVP on the bottom of an invitation.

Luckily, she avoided really sticky situations by quick thinking.

"I've managed to avoid embarrassing moments by cutting them off at the path,'' she said. "You adjust accordingly. In this job you have to be adaptable and ever-vigilant.'' Mrs. Williams is the first protocol officer to be retained by Government.

Before, official Government functions were handled by a social organiser.

Carrying off visits by such important dignitaries as the Queen, Rajiv Gandhi, former US President George Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher required round-table meetings of the "ceremonial committee'' whose members include Police, the Regiment, Government Information Services.

And there's the Royal visits which are always heavy on protocol.

"It's been very exciting,'' she said. "I really enjoyed meeting Rajiv Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher. You meet so many people. But the type of people you meet are not necessarily always dignitaries.'' Mrs. Williams came to the job after being an administrator at Britain's Oxford University and with formal training in home economics, which helped her in arranging formal dinners.

One thing that would certainly make the job much easier was if people would reply to invitations.

"It is the bane of my life,'' she said. "For example, I've written 134 invitations and received only 50 replies. It makes it very difficult to know how to cater.'' Mrs. Williams says she ends up having to call those who haven't replied -- and they usually give an excuse such as `I though my wife did it'.

Mrs. Williams retires May 31. The post was advertised in the Official Gazette for $45,624-$48,669 a year.

Mrs. Joan Williams