A quiet drink before dinner led to American tourist John T. Potter having an encounter with British Prime Minister Tony Blair he will never forget.

Mr. Potter and his family could not believe their eyes when Mr. Blair, his wife Cherie and children, sat down next to them on the veranda of The Reefs for drinks on Sunday night.

After dinner, Mr. Potter was able to have a quick chat with Mr. Blair, and the Prime Minister offered to pose for a picture with his family. The mood was so relaxed that Cherie was happy to take the treasured snap.

US President George W. Bush was in Mr. Potter?s hometown of Huntington, West Virginia, last week and he brought the place to a standstill.

Mr. Potter said last night he could not believe that after President Bush?s understandably huge security entourage closed the town just last week, he was able to sit and chat with Mr. Blair on Sunday evening.

?I was just totally overwhelmed by Prime Minister Blair?s warmth and openness,? Mr. Potter told .

?We had talked briefly and I said I appreciated Britain?s position in support of America?s war on terrorism and I thanked him for that because not many countries have made the same kind of commitment.

?I said it mattered a lot to me that he was participating in the war on terrorism. He thanked me for that and asked if we would like to have our picture taken with him, and his wife took the picture.

?What really impressed me was the comparison to when President Bush came to our town last week and they shut down the whole city and put up road blocks.

?I am not being disrespectful to my president, but here in Bermuda, no one had any idea Mr. Blair was here. There was no Press corps, no helicopters flying overhead and no one knew he was coming here for dinner.

?The Prime Minister of Britain is the second most powerful man in the world and he sat down beside me to have some drinks with his family. It just blew me away.

?It speaks well of how courteous and relaxed everyone is here in Bermuda. It?s very peaceful.?

Mr. Potter, a director of a textile company, revealed Mr. Blair cracked a joke at his own expense when asked a question by another tourist.

?This American said ?Hey Tony is that your grandson?? and the Prime Minister looked at him and said ?No it?s my son, but I obviously need to get to the gym?.

?It was one of the best comebacks I?ve heard in a long time. He took it like a champ and didn?t even blink?.

Mr. Blair, who has been in Bermuda on holiday since Thursday, was at Premier Alex Scott?s official residence Camden last night on courtesy call.

Government House, where the Blairs are staying, has consistently refused to give any details or comments about the Prime Minister?s movements.

The Prime Minister has had dinner with film star Michael Douglas on Saturday and spent time on the boat of Bermuda acting Assistant Justice and lawyer Justin Williams.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister and sons Euan and Nicky took part in a football match at Bernard Park between a Police team and a Dandy Town XI.

Mr. Blair is due to fly meet United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York on Thursday and President Bush in Washington on Friday to discuss the continued fighting in Iraq.