top US hospital with heart trouble, it was revealed yesterday.

And it is understood that heart specialists at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore have decided Mr. Willis does not need major surgery.

Government House Registrar Paul Dryden said: "We have received very encouraging news -- we've been told that no heart surgery will be required.

"But he is still in the cardiac unit of Johns Hopkins being treated for the problem.'' Mr. Willis took ill in the early hours of Tuesday morning and was rushed to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Doctors there ordered up an air ambulance on Wednesday to transfer Mr. Willis, accompanied by wife Meg, to Johns Hopkins for further tests. Mr. Willis took ill only days before he was due to quit Bermuda for good and retire from the Foreign Office after a career spanning 35 years.

Several receptions and dinners planned to honour his contribution to the Island during his four years here all had to be cancelled. But Government House Registrar Paul Dryden repeated thanks to the many people who had called Government House to wish Mr. Willis well.

Mr. Dryden said: "On behalf of Goverment House, we would want to thank everybody who has telephoned asking about him.'' Career Foreign Office man Tim Gurney, 43, who will replace Mr. Willis, is expected to arrive in Bermuda today and be sworn in by Governor Thorold Masefield on Monday.

HEALTH HTH