By Mary Gahan BBC News Online business reporter

Both are descriptions of Sir Edward "steady Eddie" George, the man who has controlled the UK's interest rates for the past six years.

The bridge-playing governor of the Bank of England has just played his final hand as chairman of the Bank's monetary policy committee (MPC).

The Bank decided on Thursday to keep rates unchanged at 3.75% for the fourth month running.

Next month there will be a new man in the top seat, the current deputy, Mervyn King.

Although the structure was set by the Treasury lots of the decisions about how it operates, and its style, were made by Eddie DeAnne Julius, former MPC member

Even before the Labour government handed the job of setting interest rates to the Bank of England in 1997, Eddie George, as we knew him then, had achieved a higher profile than previous governors.

His regular meetings with Tory chancellor Ken Clarke to talk about interest rates became known as the Ken and Eddie show.

By the time he took on the task of leading a rate-setting committee without political interference, he was already well-known.

Guiding from the centre

"Most people don't realise how important Eddie George's role was during the early days of the MPC," says DeAnne Julius, a former committee member.

"Although the structure was set by the Treasury lots of the decisions about how it operates, and its style, were made by Eddie.

He was remarkably open and managed to not try to ram his particular view down anyone else's throats Willem Buiter, former MPC member

"One of his longest lasting legacies will be the transparent and informal way that the MPC works."

She says that instead of persuading the other eight committee members to support his view - in the style of US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan - Sir Edward wanted fully informed discussions.

"He always voted last, having listened to everyone's arguments.

"He would guide from the centre rather than leading from the front or pushing from the back."

A price worth paying

Another former committee member, Willem Buiter, agrees.

"He was remarkably open and managed to not try to ram his particular view down anyone else's throats.

This record is not one to be proud of Sir Roger Lyons, union leader

"He made it a very comfortable place to be and to think.

"He's the best chairman you could have had, I think he will be a very hard act to follow."

That is the view from inside the committee room. Outside Sir Edward has not always won favour.

Five years ago he provoked outrage when he seemed to suggest that unemployment in the north was a price worth paying to help the south.

There were calls for his resignation and Roger Lyons, leader of the Amicus union, accused him of being out of touch with events in the real world.

Sir Edward said his remarks had been misinterpreted and clarified his position.

"I made it clear that monetary policy can only target the economy as a whole, not particular regions or sectors, however uncomfortable that reality might be."

Hitting the goal

As far as Mr Lyons is concerned, interest rates have never fallen far enough.

"Amicus has campaigned right through Sir Edward's tenure and we have seen interest rates fairly stagnant with very few cuts which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of manufacturing job losses.

"This record is not one to be proud of."

Employers' organisations disagree.

Doug Godden, head of economic analysis at the CBI, says he's been pleased with the way the Bank has handled interest-rate decisions under Sir Edward.

"They've shown a good deal of flexibility and, by and large, they've achieved their goal of keeping inflation down without any noticeable adverse effect on output and jobs."

Major challenge

Martin Temple, director general of the Engineering Employers' Federation, also agrees.

"The bank has done an excellent job in managing the economy through some very difficult periods."

Sir Edward will now be able to devote more time to his two big passions, sailing and cricket.

But what of the man who will replace him, Mervyn King?

"He's a formidable intellect and has already made an enormous contribution," says Willem Buiter.

"The problem is that, unlike Eddie, he has a very strong view of what's right and what's wrong.

"To get the same amount of open discussion is going to be the major challenge for him.

"But I'm sure he can do it."