occasions hosted by our present Governor, Sir Desmond Langley, and Lady Langley before they return to private life in England.

As they bid farewell to their official home they can rest assured that the hundred-year old building has never looked better. As a venue for top-level meetings of world leaders, Government House is now well equipped to withstand an increasingly international spotlight.

Renovations and redecorations that have been going on for the past two or three years are now complete, and Lady Langley, who is delighted with the results, says: "Bermudians can now be very, very proud of their Government House!'' This was not always the case -- and the evolution of the various residences set aside for the monarch's representative during the last 380 years or so, has reflected the fortunes -- and even the prevailing temper -- of the Island.

Bermuda's history began in St. George's and this is where a succession of Governors were housed for the first couple of hundred years.

Richard Moore, who arrived here as the fledgling Colony's first Governor in 1612, actually set up home on Smith's Island in St. George's Harbour, where he "fitted up some small Cabbens of Palmeta Leaves for his wife and family.'' This arrangement lasted only a few months, when Governor Moore moved to the main island of St. George's where he built a "substantial'' stone-based cedar house on the site of today's Bank of Bermuda building on King's Square.

A bitter complaint by Governor Richard Coney in 1685 to London about the now storm-battered house in which he was forced to live, was to be the first, but not the last time that the governor of the day would protest about the standard of his accommodation. And Bermuda's refusal to grant funds to build a new official residence for another 30 years shows that, from the start, there was a strong streak of independence amongst the early settlers.

When Governor Samuel Day built his own Government House (better known as the Globe Hotel and now the Confederate Museum) he was unsuccessful in his attempts to gain reimbursement from the Assembly.

In 1722, the new building erected just outside the town, was cursed as uninhabitable by a succession of governors, with new appointee Browne announcing in 1780 that it struck him "with horror''.

When the capital moved to Hamilton, the site of Government House also moved and in 1814 a 75-acre estate (now shrunk to 33), north of the new town was purchased from Mr.

Joseph Stowe for Pnds. 4,800.

The simple two-storey house already on the estate that had been christened Mount Langton, became the official residence for about the next 70 years. But by 1882 the House of Assembly was again informed that Bermuda's Government House was, once again, "a disgrace''.

So the Bermudian-style residence was demolished to make way for a building that would reflect the imposing, rather bleak brand of architecture that found favour during the latter half of Queen Victoria's reign.

Beset with financial and practical problems, which at one point found the building without a roof and consequently half ruined during a season of heavy rainstorms, construction dragged on for almost 10 years.

But by October, 1892, The Royal Gazette was able to report: "It is with a great deal of satisfaction that the Board can now report this building is nearly completed and will be ready for the occupancy of His Excellency the Governor on his arrival in the Colony.'' Since then, Government House has played host to most of the leaders of the Western world, a role that could well increase.

The Royal Suite, named for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 1953 when Bermuda became the first stop on the Coronation tour of the Commonwealth and the first occasion that a reigning monarch had ever visited its oldest colony, has also provided sanctuary for the Prince of Wales, Princess Margaret, Prince Edward, Princess Alexandra, and Prime Ministers Mrs. Thatcher, and John Major.

In the grounds are a unique collection of trees planted by other visitors to Government House, including a mango tree by the future King George V, a still-flourishing cedar tree planted by Sir Winston Churchill, and trees spaded in place by the Duke of Windsor, present members of the Royal Family, Emperor Haile Selassie, and Presidents Kennedy, Nixon and Bush.

The latest round of renovations and redecorations that have been going on for the past two or three years, are now complete.

"We are very grateful for the marvellous job done by the Department of Works and Engineering,'' says Lady Langley. "Government House was in a terrible state when we came here, parts of it just about ready to fall down and we even found mushrooms growing on some of the walls.'' As a keen gardener herself, she is also full of praise for the Parks Section of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries: "The gardens are now really outstanding. Everyone who comes here admires them.'' The looming stone edifice, mellower now and softened with trees and shrubs, still provides a rather austere shell for an interior that is surprisingly bright and cheerful.

Many pieces of beautiful period furniture provided by the National Trust adorn the elegant public rooms which have just been decorated in pinky corals and cool sea greens. Great bowls of fresh flowers, gathered from the gardens and personally arranged by Lady Langley, give these large rooms a relaxed and lived-in atmosphere.

The enclosed verandah off the main drawing and dining rooms has been transformed into a light and airy conservatory that also provides additional space for informal dining. Lady Langley sums up her feelings as their tenure draws to a close: "It's very much a home, as well as the official house of the Governor. We have loved living here and we shall miss the house and certainly all the people we have entertained during our years here.'' AERIAL VIEW of Government House shows the Italianate style of architecture adopted for the impressive structure that replaced Mount Langton in 1892.