Bermuda’s Governor George Fergusson has reflected on his four years on the island as he prepares to pack his bags and return to the UK.

The demonstration marches on Government House and having to accept the resignation of a Premier, he said, were among the most difficult times.

But there were also many memorable highlights.

Mr Fergusson’s appointment in May 2012 came shortly before a narrowly won election — followed by four acrimonious years in Parliament.

Some of his decisions were furiously challenged: the appointments of the Information Commissioner and Director of Public Prosecutions, for instance, and his rejection of a motion to establish a Commission of Inquiry on the history of Bermudians being dispossessed of their property.

Punched by a robber and blinded in one eye just a month before replacing Sir Richard Gozney, Mr Fergusson could have been forgiven for regarding his appointment as ill-fated.

However, as he prepared to wrap up his duties on August 2 and head to London with his wife Margaret, Mr Fergusson looked back on an intriguing time in a “spellbinding island” that has lived up to its reputation for hospitality.

“Get out and about,” is his suggestion for his successor — thus far still unknown.

“I find Bermudians extraordinarily approachable. Get out, meet people, get around the island, beyond things a Governor would conventionally be invited to. It’s more fun. It’s also useful for the job.”

Once in London, Mrs Fergusson will delve full-time into her work for the British Council. However, Mr Fergusson has not yet settled on his next calling, but expects his next role to be within the civil service.

“Our children have said it’s time to grow up, stop being nomads, come home, and be nearer them.”

Asked what he would take back from his four-and-a-half years in Bermuda, Mr Fergusson said: “A lot of memories of Bermuda. It’s a fascinating place: the layers of history, the amount of things going on whether culture or sports — we will have some quite personal memories. Four years seem to have gone by very quickly. My granddaughter was two months old when we arrived. She starts primary school this September. She took her first steps here. Another daughter got engaged here. We will be taking away those memories.”

There would be no suitcases of purloined sea glass, he said.

Mr Fergusson was notably relaxed in his role, and made a point of mingling — sometimes in moving ways: in August 2012, in need of a haircut, Mr Fergusson called on Jason’s Barber Shop, a North Shore establishment still reeling from the shooting of Joshua Robinson that June.

“As a new member of the community, in a small way, I wanted to show my support,” Mr Fergusson told this newspaper at the time.

Gratified and surprised, proprietor Dean Fox initially took the appointment booking for a prank call.

Grassroots activist Cleveland Simmons found the Governor approachable and keen to walk with him twice through North Hamilton, meeting residents and businessmen and hearing their concerns.

“It’s a fascinating job; the Governor gets involved in an enormous number of things, and it’s very satisfying being able to make a difference in things — I hope for good,” Mr Fergusson said.

It comes with faintly surreal side as well.

While Mr Fergusson maintained that with “anything you do politically, anything that involves other people, you have to be yourself”, he conceded there was “a bit of theatre” to it.

“When you’re doing parades or formal things, you need to try and play that formal role. Even if sometimes you would prefer to take the hat off and run back into the crowd and watch from there. But when you are not being formal, being yourself is much more rewarding.”

Being recognisable means that “you have to behave — but by and large that’s not very difficult”. Bermuda, he said, is safe, and its people friendly.

The Fergussons have enjoyed walking and cycling, falling in love with scenic and historic locales such as Clarence Cove by Admiralty House.

In the course of getting out and about, Mr Fergusson is often approached by people he knows. “The most interesting conversations, also the most moving conversations, have sometimes been with complete strangers,” he added.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Bermuda is fascinating, with a lot going for it.

It has more than its fair share of the good things in this world, as well as quite a share of challenges — most of which are solvable.”