He was an unassuming man who, even as a chairman and president of several company boards, would be more likely found pedalling his bike from his Fairylands, Pembroke home then in a chauffeured car.

That is just who he was Jeff Conyers said of his father, Neville, who passed away over the long weekend.

Mr. Conyers, who was 79 when he died on Saturday from complications after surgery, leaves behind his wife Jean, four children Jeff, Tom, Adam and Barbara, and five grandchildren, Chris, Allison, Alexander, Caitlin and Gretchen.

But more than a family man, his son Jeff said Mr. Conyers touched the lives of many Bermudians in both his professional and sporting life.

He served as the chairman of Belco, Stevedoring Shipping, BAS, Bermuda Financial Centre Ltd., the Development Applications Board and was president of Bermuda Employers Council - to name a few positions.

His life was not all business as he was very involved in both the sailing and squash communities, helping to set-up the Squash Club and serving as the Commodore at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

Despite his community service, his son said he never would have understood people making a fuss over his death.

"I don't think there were many people who wouldn't have said thank you to him for something," Jeff said. "But he didn't want people to make a fuss about his life.

"I think, in my own way and this is from his son, I owe him a lot of thanks. Everyone who knew him would say thank you to Neville because that's the way he was.

"He was somebody who gave more than he took and if you end up dying giving more than you take, you have done a good job."

Jeff said he also wanted to thank all of the staff at the ICU department at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, who made his father's passing a manageable experience.

During his life, Mr. Con-yers also spent 21 years on the Corporation of Hamilton as a Councilman and then one year as a Alderman, before retiring.

Last night Mayor of Hamilton Sutherland Madeiros said he was abroad when he heard the news, but wanted to pay his condolences.

Mr. Madeiros said he had know Mr. Conyers for 30 years.

He said: "He set an example for other people. He used to ride his bike into town to work when he could've hired someone to drive him.

"He was a gentleman and highly respected by his peers."

Mr. Conyers was first appointed to the Board of Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (Belco) on May 10, 1972, and retired some 25 years later on January 23, 1997.

During his tenure on the Board of Belco, he served as vice president from 1975 until 1982, when he was appointed president, a position he held until 1989 when group titles changed and he became chairman of the board until his retirement in January 1997.

Yesterday J Michael Collier, chairman of BELCO Holdings Ltd., said: "Mr. Conyers was a truly dedicated member of the Belco Board and contributed in many ways to the successes of the company during his tenure.

"Not only was Mr. Conyers an active and successful member of the business community, he was a generous man and touched many people with his generosity.

"On behalf of the board of directors of Belco and all who worked with him during his association with the company, we extend to his wife and family our deepest sympathy at this time."

Alf Oughton, president of the Senate also paid his condolences last night to a "real character" and said he knew him for years through Belco.

Other senators sending their condolences to the family were UBP Senators Michael Dunkley and Charles Swan, and Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes.

The funeral will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday at St. John's Church in Pembroke.