From naval officer to BELCO boss and finally a Senator, Alf Oughton has completed at least three careers during his 80-year lifetime.

And now as he retires from his last one as the longest serving President of the Senate, he worries about keeping himself busy.

Speaking on his last day presiding over the upper chamber and asked what he has planned now that he can truly retire, the grandfather said: "Nothing."

But then there's hardly a chance of that from the man who upon retiring as CEO and president of BELCO after working there for 37 years – then continuing to act as a director of the board for another five – took on the role of Senator.

Never expecting to get involved in politics, he also said it was the only decision his wife of almost 60 years, Jean, was not impressed by.

But a phone call from then Governor Lord Waddington while he was in Europe introducing the next CEO of BELCO, Garry Madeiros to their clients, changed his mind.

He added: "Lord Waddington called and he wanted to put me in the Senate. It was a complete shock. When I got back we had a long chat about it.

"I was appointed in October 1993 and was sworn in at the first opening of Parliament in November, 1993.

"I was the last person who thought I would enter politics. I don't know how governors go about choosing and I asked him why me. He said 'why not?'."

During his time in politics, 15 years as a Senator, two of which were as vice president and ten as the President, he has managed to ruffle a few feathers.

Like in 2005 when there was an uproar about discussions on politicians' pay rises and on the eve of the debate in the Senate, Mr. Oughton, decided in accordance, he explained, with the Constitution that members in the upper house could not vote on the bill.

That decision allowed the then Premier Alex Scott to push through pay increases boosting the Premier's pay by 80 percent to $200,000 and putting full-time ministers on $150,000 a year.

Mr. Oughton said he tried to run a tight ship and was remembered by his fellow senators that way.

Perhaps that is why, he said, the Senate has a higher level of debate and as he leaves the upper house he feels like he's leaving on top.

"Most of my background was in labour relations." he said. "So I haven't been adversarial. I like the debate to flow but I am just as likely to jump on you if you are straying from the point.

"The standard of debate in this chamber is higher. I rarely find anyone missing 'down here' and 'up there' you always see empty chairs.

"On one side of the room and on the other side of the room and all around you everyone is chatting and doing their own thing, heckling and who knows what.

"I have never let that get out of hand. I have to keep it under control, but you have to do it in a way that they don't feel slighted."

His guidance certainly helped on last Wednesday as Senators appeared to take to their corners over the passing of the Park Hyatt bill, which will allow for the development of the former Club Med hotel in St. George's.

The opposition wanted amendments to the bill to allow them to see the entirety of the 131 and 262 year lease for the hotel and condominium land, respectively, with the chance to amend any problems.

In a last minute suggestion, the opposition conceded that as long as the lease was tabled in both houses for viewing, then they would pass the bill, rather than delaying it for a year by sending it back to Parliament.

Perhaps this is also why Mr. Oughton believes the Senate is still a beneficial part of Government with its chosen, rather than elected, candidates.

"It serves us well. I have to congratulate both parties on the calibre of people appointed. We have some very bright young people in here.

"As a result I have not been against youngsters coming into the Senate. It has started to be used as a training ground. We have had two people who have come out of here to become Premier.

"It does serve some purpose. Now we have a good team. I have yet to find any reason to see the Senate system change.

"It also gives both parties and the Governor the chance to switch people if they think one person could do better than another at the job. It allows them flexibility.

"I think it's a good sounding board. We know it's automatically going to get passed in the House (because Government has the majority) and it helps that it gets directed down here to make sure nothing gets slipped through.

"But my role here is to support the government."

And the man who worked his way up from a purchasing clerk for BELCO in 1956 to the CEO and President in 1993, has supported the government in an area he speaks passionately about — health care.

He was behind what became known as the Oughton Report on Bermuda's health care that was tabled in the House of Assembly in 1996.

For years in the Senate he has spoken strongly on health care bills, but that is who he is — an independent Senator who works for the best of Bermuda.

He said: "Being an independent Senator is an arduous job. You cannot go to civil servants, you have to do all the research yourself. We (the other independent senators) don't switch notes.

"We don't decide how we vote on a bill. I usually have a pretty good idea which way I am going to vote."

And like with the recent Dental Practitioner's Bill, he's not afraid to allow the Senate to reject one. As problems arose over restricting the number of hygienists that a dentist should be allowed to employ, the opposition and independent Senators voted down the bill and forced it to be delayed a year.

The reluctant politician says the next step in the development of Bermuda's Government is access to information.

"A good opposition is keeping this crowd on their toes and I think basically it happens. The UBP is gradually growing aware of what they did wrong. They are coming around now.

"But it's (Public Access to Information) the only way to go especially if you are government and you want to remain in power. We have to have the people behind you as much as possible.

"The only way to do that is be as open and transparent as possible. I am led to believe this government is going to go that way."

So who will fill his shoes? That is the decision of the Governor, however, Mr. Oughton believes that a strong contender for the position is independent Senator Walwyn Hughes.

"Hopefully yes. He was very well respected by all the other senators. In November there will be at least one new senator," he added.