A memorial bench has been installed at the Marjorie Jackson Nature Reserve to pay tribute to a “trendsetter” devoted to the West End. Somerset’s Eugene Brangman died last year at the age of 74.

The teacher and self-employed painter was outspoken on politics and ran as an independent election candidate.

He also caught attention for his green thumb and turned his property into a miniature farm.

The Bermuda National Trust organised the memorial.

Its head of heritage, Myles Darrell, said: “Eugene died last year and was well known. He was a good guy and I thought it would be nice to commemorate him.”

Speaking to The Royal Gazette, Mr Brangman’s son, Michael, said: “It was a few months ago. I bumped into Myles Darrell; I was at Dockyard working there.

“He said, ‘hey, I'm looking to do a tribute’. He wanted to run it by me. I said I thought it was cool, and I didn't see why not.”

Mr Brangman described his father as “a principled guy”.

He explained how he got banned from two supermarkets after telling them what he thought about their prices and the way they treated staff.

That was when he decided to turn his yard into a magnificent garden and subsequently get involved with the BNT.

Mr Brangman said: “He ran as an independent twice, probably before running as an independent was popular. Most people used to see it as a waste of time.

“It was crazy how much of a trendsetter he was. He was always ahead of the curve.”

Mr Brangman called his father an “independent thinker” and added that sometimes he was “too far ahead”.

On the plaque's message “Jesus, Santa, Rudolph — All made up”, which was an inscription painted on the wall surrounding the garden, Mr Brangman said: “Santa and Rudolph, we know they're made up.

“Growing up, we weren't really allowed to celebrate Christian holidays. He researched the letter J. His confusion was that the letter J did not exist, so the historical character did not exist at that time.”

Mr Brangman added: “Whatever he did, he did it to the best of his ability — almost to the level of obsession. He was like that with religion, science and everything.”