At times, Governor Lord Waddington could almost have been propping up a House of Commons bar.

Sporting a blue jacket, he is chatty, convivial and full of anecdotes -- a million miles from the image of the bluff, no-nonsense Lancashireman he earned during years of mixing it in British politics.

Once or twice, however, hints of the political pugilist surface, albeit fleetingly.

For instance, a question about Bermuda's importance to Britain at the end of the millennium ruffles more than a few ceremonial feathers.

Shifting in his armchair at his modestly-adorned Government House office, he adopts a more aggressive pose and lets fly at a few politicians across the Atlantic.

"I get very cross when some people become so absorbed in the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Community that they almost shut out from their minds the great strength of the UK in the past.

"Britain has benefited from having voices in three different camps. As head of the Commonwealth we have influence in the Commonwealth.

"We also have our special relationship with America and our links with other countries in Europe. We have never believed that one relationship ought to be diminished in preference for another.'' Lord Waddington is now almost in his element, although clearly his years as Governor have taught him the wisdom of pulling punches.

It is now probably more the erstwhile lawyer in verbal flight, rather than the politician who once famously told Britain's beleaguered former Labour Party Leader Neil Kinnock to "grow up'', stirring the hearts of the Tory faithful.

"Some people almost allow other relationships to take second place. That, I hasten to add, is not a criticism of the present UK Government. I don't think they are guilty of that at all.'' Lord Waddington also spares most of his countrymen from his simmering ire.

"If you take the average Briton, he is extremely proud of our links across the Atlantic and our links with the Commonwealth.

"He can certainly see the importance of those links which still exist with places like Bermuda.

"At the same time he recognises that it's up to the people of Bermuda when they want to become Independent.'' He adds: "It was interesting to see the way the British Press reacted to the results of the Independence referendum.

"I think there was a swelling with pride that Bermudians wanted to retain links with the motherland.

"The Press weren't cynical or sneering about it. I think they were glad with the outcome.'' Lord Waddington is less accommodating with the American TV media on the stuff they beam into Bermuda; he fears it is eroding the Island's unique British character.

"Many people in Bermuda go to Canada and the US and that, complemented with the power of the media, means American culture is more predominant here.

"It's inevitable that as the years go by some of the links with the mother country become less potent. I think it's a pity.'' Ah yes, the media. It's a subject which almost inevitably crops up during a lengthy interview.

And it's another topic with enough thorns to disrupt Lord Waddington's composure.

His five years as Governor have yielded a reasonable harvest of titillating tales for Britain's ever-ravenous Press -- ridiculing stories about firing a black butler and an Opposition motion to slash his salary to $1, spring readily to mind.

The Sunday Times and The Observer -- two of Britain's heavyweight weekend papers -- have been particularly provocative, poking fun at the former British Home Secretary as he carried out his ceremonial duties in full gubernatorial dress.

"He looked really silly,'' reporter John Sweeney once wrote in the Observer Life Magazine, highlighting the Governor's "unjokey'' $126,000-a-year salary.

Sixty-seven-year-old Lord Waddington recalls the tales wryly and with a good dollop of distaste.

"I've been especially annoyed with the Sunday Times . I think that paper has been going down hill.

"Some of the stories in the Press have been complete inventions. There was one about me attending a beauty contest in my plumes and feathers. And there was another about me being at a black tie function wearing shorts. Absolutely ridiculous.

"Then, of course, there was the famous business of the motion to reduce my salary.

"There was no mention in the story that this was a procedural device to show the Opposition's disapproval at the recruitment of two British Police officers.

"There was no mention at all that the vote was split on party lines.'' He caps this painful rehashing of media bashing with a rueful shrug: "I suppose the fact I was a former British Cabinet Minister made me more interesting to the Press.'' Aside from the crude intrusions of the overseas Press, Lord Waddington -- who will return to his Lancashire roots in England in five months -- sees his time in Bermuda as one of virtual bliss in paradise. Not always peaceful, mind you, but hugely enjoyable, nevertheless.

Even the furore over his appointment of Police Commissioner Colin Coxall and Deputy Commissioner Michael Mylod -- the British officers whose recruitment triggered fury from the Opposition Progressive Labour Party -- is brushed aside as something inconsequential.

Anyone who has toughed it out in British politics should have a thick enough hide to withstand such flare-ups, he argues.

Lord Waddington, who delivered his final Throne Speech on November 8 at the reconvening of Parliament, admits time has passed quickly.

"It has actually been a more interesting time than I imagined it would be.

"When I was appointed Governor I thought it would be rather quiet, but it hasn't quite worked out that way.

"Both my wife and I have had a lot of things to keep us interested and on our toes, which is a good thing because we have never been bored. We have made some marvellous friends.'' What have been the highlights of the five years? "That's very difficult to say. I like getting out to the sea. I love walking on the beaches in the winter and going on the railway trail with my dog.

"In fact, I just love being outside in one of the most beautiful places in the whole world.

"There have been moments of interest and great excitement. Bermuda has gone through some very exciting and interesting times while I've been here.'' It is tempting -- but futile -- to ask Lord Waddington about the present state of Bermudian politics: Governors are simply not supposed to comment on such matters.

What, then, about the low points of his time here? "You mean the frustrations? Well, for somebody so active in political life it was a big question when I came here whether I would like being out of the swim of things and far from the action.

"Funnily enough, however, I got used to it very quickly and I soon became absorbed in the political life of Bermuda.

"I found it an extremely interesting place. It's small but very sophisticated and there are always interesting visitors here. I find the life here very varied and stimulating.'' Lord Waddington returns to his "great outdoors'' theme.

"I do love to walk around this place and don't stand on ceremony. I like going around St. George's and the railway trails -- most places really.

"I never feel insecure. People here have always treated me with the utmost courtesy.'' Unlike his predecessor Sir Desmond Langley, Lord Waddington doesn't hang out `back-of-town' in the Swinging Doors.

"I've never really been a pub man. It's not my style,'' he explains.

Suddenly, the image of a relaxed Lord Waddington propping up a bar is in furious retreat. But then he saves the day.

"Except, of course, the House of Commons bar. I would go there because it's a good place to congregate and catch up with things.'' GOVERNOR LORD WADDINGTON -- Bermuda "a more interesting place than I imagined it to be.''