Shock and sadness were expressed yesterday over the death of former Deputy Governor Peter Lloyd, described as "one of the finest men" to serve Bermuda.

Married to a Bermudian, Margaret Harvey after they met during a cruise off of Africa, it was Mr. Lloyd's work in the Foreign Service that brought him to Bermuda's shores in 1974.

He served under three Governors until 1981 when he left for the Cayman Islands to be Governor in his final post for the British Government.

And though he spent many years travelling for the Foreign Service, his son Charles said his parents never dreamed of retiring anywhere but Bermuda.

He said: "My mom is Bermudian and they had travelled our whole lives so when he retired it was to go back to Bermuda. My uncle lives in Bermuda and we have a lot of family so it was an obvious place to retire to."

Diagnosed only a month ago with a brain tumour, he was in London, England for treatment and, though his son said he was recovering well from his surgery on Friday, Sunday night he took a turn for the worse.

However, his death leaves a legacy that not only survives from his diplomacy days, but also for his time spent in retirement in Bermuda.

His first posting was as a District Officer in Kenya in 1951 until 1960. He became second in rank in the Colonial Service from 1960 to 1961 in Kenya before leaving to be the Colonial Secretary in the Seychelles until 1966.

Other appointments before Bermuda included Fiji from 1966 to 1970 and Hong Kong from 1971 to 1974.

And yesterday Michael Darling, who is a long-time friend and the Commander of the Regiment during Mr. Lloyd's tenure, described him as a very "well-rounded person."

Mr. Darling said: "I am so sorry to hear of the passing of a such a good friend. His wife grew up next door to me my whole life and I went to Cambridge with his younger brother.

"He was very knowledgeable man who was very keen on his plants and worked a lot for the Botanical Society and would give tours of the gardens. Of course this was after he retired.

"He was a very good athlete and while he was at Cambridge he was an Athletics Blue. He played chess and read a lot."

The Botanical Society was not the only organisation to benefit from the intelligence and capability of Mr. Lloyd, who was Chairman of the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts from 1987.

Nobody speaking about Mr. Lloyd could quite remember how long he had served as the chairman, however, each remembered it was for a very long time — a time he served the organisation with the sterling job he always did.

And yesterday, Founder of the Bermuda Festival, Richard Butterfield said: "He opened the Festival up quite a bit. We had been very fixed on classical music and he started to bring in attractions from the world and all sorts of entertainment.

"He was one of the finest gentlemen, intellectual, public servant and friend I ever had the privilege of knowing. He was a very disciplined man and served Bermuda during a very difficult time all with his presence of mind and intellect."

Someone who worked very closely with Mr. Lloyd during the tumultuous years in Bermuda was former Police Commissioner Fred Bean.

Mr. Bean was Police Commissioner from 1981 until 1990, but also remembers working with Mr. Lloyd as the Police superintendent from 1974.

He said: "I have known him for a number of years as my tenure from 1981 to 1990. I found him to be very professional and of tremendous assistance to the Police force generally. Even after leaving the deputy governor's office we remained in touch over the years and I certainly hold fond memories."

Mr. Lloyd's other great accomplishment during his retirement in Bermuda was to advise the National Trust.

Wayne Jackson, a former President of the National Trust, said: "I am aware that he was instrumental in researching a number of projects and helped to promote a number of projects for the Trust.

"I would like to express my deepest regrets at his passing. He related to people easily and was very sympathetic to the objectives of the National Trust."

Mr. Lloyd is survived by his wife Margaret, who lives in Bermuda, his two sons, David and Charles and his daughter Susan who all live in England.

His son, Charles, said the family are all currently in London and plan to have a memorial service in Bermuda at a later date.