Governor Sir Desmond Langley leaves the Island in another week after four years as the Queen's representative in one of Britain's last colonies.

In an interview yesterday at the mansion he will soon exchange for his converted Sussex mill house -- "it would fit in one of the towers of Government House'' -- Sir Desmond said he and Lady Langley had enjoyed their Bermuda sojourn.

Sir Desmond will be replaced by former UK Home Secretary Lord Waddington, who is expected to arrive in Bermuda in late August.

"What we have tried to do in Bermuda was to show interest in, and show appreciation for, Bermudians,'' he said. "That's been reciprocated in a way that's made our time here enormously rewarding.'' He declined to discuss his opinions, political affairs, or his relationship with Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, with whom he met at least once a week.

Sources have described personality clashes between Sir John and the retired British Army Lt. General who, as Governor, retained authority over external affairs and internal security, the Police and Regiment.

"It's a role that requires a common sense approach,'' Sir Desmond said.

"...I haven't found it difficult.'' Sir Desmond said he felt he had effectively kept British officials informed about Bermuda and vice versa.

"There are people in Whitehall who know Bermuda well, and it's up to us to make sure that more people do...there is enough information to understand what they are told.'' Examples of the sort of routine work of acting as a "conduit'' between Britain and Bermuda, he said, were a recent visit to the Ministry of Finance by an official from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the current visit by the British Inspector of Prisons to chair an investigation of the Island's criminal justice system.

In the realm of delegated affairs, Sir Desmond said he found the Regiment "enjoyable and something of professional interest, because I was a soldier all my working life...I have been able to make a contribution.

"With the Police, the relationship is perhaps not so detailed as it is with the Regiment, because Police operate day-to-day under the Commissioner.

"But I have been very interested in the Bermuda Police Force...it's a unique and outstanding Police Force for its size, and it does a very, very good job.'' One of the most important roles of the Governor, he said, was "to take an interest in, and encourage and support -- and where appropriate congratulate -- those who have made a contribution to the country.'' He said a Governor must strike a balance between being friendly and being dignified. "The best thing really is to go on being yourself,'' he said. "If you try to be anything other than yourself you very quickly get caught out.

"The reaction from all people that we have met and their response and sincerity of their response has been so obvious and so meaningful that we can't help feeling that we got it right.'' The call to come to Bermuda came "out of the blue'' in 1988, two years after he had retired from a career in the Army.

Educated at Eton and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, Sir Desmond was commissioned as an officer in the Life Guards, the Queen's official bodyguard.

He held a number of posts in Britain, Europe and the Far East, and his duties included commanding the ceremonial military for the 1981 wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

His last assignment before retirement was Administrator for the Sovereign Base area in Cyprus.

Bermuda, he said, has been "the most lovely place to live. There are few things we haven't done.

"...It's been a great adventure for my wife and I, and a very rewarding adventure. It came as a bonus because it wasn't part of my career but came after I retired.

"I don't think there's any further bonus I deserve or am likely to get. I don't believe there's any bonus that can compare with Bermuda.'' Sir Desmond said he had no specific plans for his return to England, which he has visited just once -- and just for a few days -- during his four years on the Island.

But among other things, he said, he will resume his duties as head of the Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade.

His title with that organisation: Governor.

MOVING OUT -- Governor Sir Desmond Langley talks to The Royal Gazette in a lounge at Government House.