His face bears an almost permanent look of worry, some might say even anguish.

And as he sat in his office this week, that expression was particularly graphic.

Could it have been Mr. Hume Martin was experiencing something akin to a personal nightmare -- an interview with the Press? If so, no one should wonder at the worry lines etched on his 47-year-old features.

For, as the Bermuda Hospitals Board's executive director, the likeable Mr.

Martin has spent a great deal of time parrying the lunges of demanding news hounds.

"I had no idea before I came here that the position of hospital administrator would attract such public attention,'' he muses.

A shade tongue in cheek, he adds: "I never knew I would experience the horror of almost becoming a public figure. I think I am inherently shy.'' He reckons about 40 Sunday evenings a year have been interrupted by a telephone call from the Press.

Such intrusions are something the golf-loving Mr. Martin is unlikely to miss after he quits his post today to become Chief Executive Officer of the Essex County District Health Council in Ontario.

His Bermudian predicament was not helped by the whirring rumour mills of a small community.

TV viewers would have become fairly familiar with Mr. Martin patiently seeking -- almost with a sigh -- to squash rumour, dampen speculation, and, dare we say it, engage in damage limitation following a controversy.

And there have undoubtedly been one or two controversies.

The inquests on Justin Fisher and Wendy Wilkinson spring to mind. Both found fault with the care at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Such heavyweight cases are certainly enough to plough a furrow across any administrator's brow.

So too all the stringent belt-tightening brought on by the recession.

And so, before he quit the hot seat, The Royal Gazette had a burning question for him: Had it all been worth it? His answer is surprisingly upbeat.

"It has been a wonderful experience. I have enjoyed my time tremendously.'' And to avoid any misunderstanding about his impending departure, the father-of-two stresses: "I came here knowing I was on a five-year contract.

"The Board and I were required to make every effort to Bermudianise the position.'' This has been successful. His successor is Bermudian Mrs. Sheila Manderson.

It means all the hospital directors are now Bermudian.

This is just one of a number triumphs Mr. Martin -- born and raised in Ottawa and a former teacher of Colonial History in West Africa -- can point to during his period at the helm of King Edward and St. Brendan's Hospital.

Typically, he is modest about his own role, preferring to doff a hat to others, such as the staff and hundreds of volunteers.

In his farewell article for the hospital publication, Pulse, he paid tribute to them: "It has been truly a privilege to work with so many dedicated individuals.'' He continues: "Some of your important accomplishments which come to mind are the restructuring of the medical staff, the new medical staff by-laws, successive three-year accreditation awards, a much higher standard of emergency, intensive, paediatric, and obstetrical care and the development of Agape House which provides superb care to terminally ill patients and their families.'' The quietly spoken Mr. Martin came to Bermuda in 1989 with his wife Sharon, and two daughters, Sarah and Stephanie, now aged eight and seven.

He says a key change during his time here was to boost accountability of medical staff to the Board.

This involved tinkering with legislation. And it led to appointments of a chief of staff and departmental heads.

All are accountable to the Board.

Mr. Martin says he also helped spearhead moves to "integrate'' doctors into Board management.

"We do this by involving physicians in physical planning, budgeting decisions, and programme changes.

"There are some physicians on the Board.'' His proud boast is that such integration -- and accountability -- puts Bermuda ahead of many North American hospitals.

"I think we have had some considerable success in this area.'' Despite the recession -- which saw subsidies frozen -- Mr. Martin oversaw "tremendous'' improvements at both hospitals.

He points to two major projects at St. Brendan's -- building Fairview Court for the mentally handicapped, and setting up the Community Service Team.

The Alzheimer's Unit was also developed.

"There have been some fairly major jobs, all of which caused disruption, although the staff coped magnificently.

"It was a difficult period for the staff, but we couldn't just close the hospital.

"Agape House was also a very exciting development. I think the whole way the community opened its hearts to people with AIDS was wonderful.

"I think it's very impressive what the community has done, such as forming AIDS care groups like STAR and the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation.

"It has been overwhelming to me to see how much support we get, notwithstanding the highly negative coverage from the media.'' It was a typical swipe at the media. He chides journalists for not being more balanced and thoughtful in their reporting.

Unsurprisingly, being thrust into the glare of publicity was not something such an unassuming man particularly enjoyed.

"The hospital needs to open itself up and to be understood by the public, but I found it very difficult to do that as so often I was put on the defensive.

"It was all part of the learning experience, however. The Board directed me to be much more pro-active in terms of giving positive stories to the media.'' There was little positive to report about the Fisher and Wilkinson tragedies, however.

Mr. Martin still feels a sense of responsibility over both of them.

And the flow of words dries up as he tries to articulate his thoughts.

"I am not sure I can find words to express that could be meaningful.'' He adds: "People here were tremendously shaken by what happened, and feel an enormous sense of compassion.'' But he is keen to dispel any doubts people might have about King Edward, displaying a fierce pride for the workplace he is leaving.

"I think it is a first class hospital. We are a community hospital, and don't pretend to be something we aren't.'' MR. HUME MARTIN -- "It has been a wonderful experience.''