stereotypical "wave nicely, snip the ribbon, pass a platitude and go home'' variety of Governor's wife.

As those who have come to know and work with her during the past three and a half years quickly discovered, Lady Langley is, first and foremost, a hands-on indiviual who cares passionately about people and worthy causes.

Behind the brilliant blue eyes, bright smile, and perfectly formed vowels beats a heart that is truly genuine.

She adores Bermuda, and has used her exalted social position to work positively and constructively -- and very often behind the scenes -- for the good of many charities.

Last Friday, for example, she sold tags in Hamilton for the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

"I never ask anyone to do anything for me that I'm not prepared to do myself,'' she explained.

She has personally and quietly raised in excess of $5,000 for the cancer charity, Patients' Assistance League and Service (PALS), through suggesting donations from grateful visiting groups who have toured Government House.

Most recently, Lady Langley and her husband, together with Government House staff, organised a Centenary Ball, from which she expects to hand over more than $30,000 to the Cathedral Restoration Fund.

"We did it all ourselves,'' she said proudly of the hugely successful event.

Yet any suggestion that Lady Langley has done anything out of the ordinary during her time here is quickly brushed aside.

"Being the daughter and wife of a soldier, one is used to growing up with the idea of service. That has been a way of life for me always,'' she explained.

"My mother was like that too. She was very outgoing.'' As the Governor's wife, Lady Langley automatically "inherited'' certain responsibilities -- for example, president of the Bermuda Girl Guides -- but to others her patronage has been new, and a new experience for her.

One such is PALS, on whose behalf she has worked tirelessly and in so many ways. Her regular visits to the homes of cancer patients have brought them immense pleasure, and taken her all over the Island. From the humblest to the grandest homes, she has always arrived and left as a friend.

In preparation for her departure, Lady Langley has been saying a personal goodbye to them all, leaving behind a personal memento of herself. She has been deeply touched by the response -- everything from cries of "Praise the Lord!'' to hugs and kisses.

She has also hosted teas for cancer patients and parties for PALS workers at Government House. In the local vernacular, which she genuinely enjoys using, fun-loving Lady Langley described these events as "dicty times''.

Both she and the Governor have always given special attention to juvenile patients and the children of adult patients. They have swum in the Government House pool, been given parties with Suzuki students providing the music, and crammed into the royal box at City Hall for the Christmas pantomimes.

With the unconditional love and candour that children express, Lady Langley has had them leap into her arms with joy, and ask in wonderment if "her house'' was expensive to buy! "Unfortunately, all our lives are touched by cancer in one way or another -- in my own family, and my best friend with whom I worked at No. 10 Downing Street. She died leaving two young children,'' she said of her devotion to PALS' work.

But was it ever depressing? "Cancer has two sides,'' she responded. "I have a very great faith, so I feel sure in my heart that (patients who don't survive) are going somewhere better. Also, PALS stresses living with the disease and using every day and every minute that you can to maximum benefit. You require an acceptance of it but don't allow the disease to change your personality. I have shared some very special times with the patients. One asked me to remember him for fighting the disease.'' Just how deeply PALS has touched her life is best summed up in her own words: "PALS is like a family. I feel about them like a family. I was just thinking about Christmas and sending cards. I intend to keep in touch.'' Arising out of her involvement with Project 100 -- a registered charity centred on the needs of mentally handicapped -- the Lady Langley Trust will live on as a permanent reminder of her efforts on its behalf.

Its aim, she said, was to broaden the scope of Project 100 and allow it to send abroad people who needed special attention and bring in consultants to teach those working with mentally handicapped modern attitudes and techniques.

Long-term, the Trust hopes to establish a respite care home for students of Orange Valley School.

"The parents of children living at home wish to do something. They are not getting any younger and are worried about what will happen to their children.

The alternative is St. Brendan's, so I am very keen on more community homes -- but not as a charge on Government. I believe we can, with the appropriate (groundwork), run our own show,'' she said.

As patron of the Bluebird Society, Lady Langley has been an enthusiastic caretaker of the boxes at Government House. She and Sir Desmond are also dedicated Rock Watchers, regularly cleaning up of an area of the North Shore near Ducking Stool.

A keen patron of the arts, one of her greatest rewards has been watching the development of young dancers under the auspices of the National Dance Theatre.

"Young children whom I saw dancing three and a half years ago are now dancing in the top group. I think giving encouragement to young people to go through that discipline is wonderful, and I am enormously impressed with the high standard. The teachers are absolutely marvellous, and Bermuda is unique in having such a beautiful choreographer as Conchita Ming,'' she enthused.

An avid gardener, Lady Langley's indelible mark on the spacious grounds of Government House includes the creation of formal border gardens along the northern terraces, and clearing and landscaping a wild area on the southern side.

A talented flower arranger, she delights in creating beautiful arrangements throughout Government House using material from the gardens. Home-grown fruit and vegetables are happily shared with others, including PALS patients.

As a hostess, Lady Langley has entertained everyone from heads of state to travel agents and secretaries. No stranger to royalty -- she has dined at Buckingham Palace and was a guest at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales -- she takes such visits in her stride.

"It is just like having any guest in your home -- you treat everyone as you would wish to be treated yourself,'' she explained. "You make them as comfortable as possible -- discover what they like to eat, drink and do -- whether it is President Bush, the Queen or your own son.'' During her tenure at Government House she has had to live through extensive renovations to the Victorian pile, but her joy has been in seeing the project completed.

"The Bermuda Government has done a wonderful job. People tell me this is the loveliest of all Government Houses,'' she said proudly.

She barely admits her significant contribution to the redecoration process, but freely admits having cleaned windows and the swimming pool herself.

In a few weeks' time the Langleys will end their idyllic stay in Bermuda and return to their charming mill house on the Sussex-Hampshire border, where a pond on the property allows the ducks to be fed right from the sitting room window.

Resigned to leaving the Island she has come to love so deeply, Lady Langley says of the move: "We knew it wasn't forever. It has been wonderful while it lasted but now it's time to move on and make room for new blood. We have had some lovely times here and really have felt a part of Bermuda.'' Of her work here she said: "I hope I have brought a new dimension to the role of Governor's wife. I am only me -- after all, (my husband) is the Governor.'' ALWAYS WILLING -- As patron and honorary head of many charitable organisations, Lady Langley believes in a hands-on approach. Last Friday she sold tags for the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Hamilton -- including this one to Mr. Brandon Rogers.

LOOKING BACK -- Lady Langley relaxes in the drawing room of Government House.