The contrast was stark between the chipper, relaxed character who spoke with quiet confidence about both the short and longer-term prospects of his England team and the gloomy figure who wanted to resign from the captaincy after the Ashes had once again been conceded to Australia at Trent Bridge last summer.
The subsequent victory at the Oval; a change of heart and mind after much persuasion from his advisers; the chance to work diligently on his batting technique and now the assurance of financial security have all contributed to his present peace of mind, but so too has the long autumn break which has enabled all the England players to prepare so thoroughly for the winter's activities.
``I think this will be the fittest and best prepared England team to go on tour, although the gap we always get before a West Indies tour does give us the extra time,'' he said as he discussed the series after Christmas shortly before taking a holiday in a place believed to be not a million miles from the Caribbean.
Atherton was initially talked out of resigning the captaincy before the sixth Test in August by Lord MacLaurin, chairman of the England Cricket Board, but it was David Lloyd, the coach, who persuaded him to carry on for a longer term after England had won at the Oval and there is no doubt that Lloyd's enthusiasm and organisational skills have made life easier for his fellow Lancastrian.
``I don't think David has got the credit he deserves for the job he's done and especially the back-up he's put in place within the team,'' said Atherton yesterday.
The Test captain has opted out of the one-day tournament in Sharjah for which a specialist England party leaves next Monday under the leadership of Adam Hollioake, but he believes he still has a place in England's best one-day team.
He is pleased with his personal net sessions this autumn with Graham Gooch, working on his technique with an attention to detail which perhaps only Gooch himself and Geoff Boycott have equalled among England's post-war opening batsmen.
``I would have done it,'' Atherton said, ``even if I'd scored 800 Test runs last season because the West Indies tour is the only one which gives you a long enough winter break to take stock.''
After more than four years and a record-breaking 46 Tests in charge, he said he was looking forward to the tour, which starts on Jan 3, although touring the West Indies is still ``the biggest challenge of all for an opening batsman''. For obvious reasons he cautions against writing off the opposition, whether they are led by Courtney Walsh or Brian Lara.
Atherton's record Lancashire benefit beats the £209,000 declared by the county's then captain Mike Watkinson in 1996, and he said yesterday that he was more than delighted with the sum especially as he had not gone flat out to make the most of his testimonial season.
The chairman of his committee, businessman Bob Wilson, confirmed as much: ``Mike said from day one that any functions we arranged must not interfere with his cricket. It underlines just how popular he is.''
The amount is the more remarkable for the fact that for the last two seasons his county form has slumped badly. He scored 519 championship runs from eight games in 1996, and 596 from 10 matches last season.
This, however, is the last person one would expect to move to another county for some fancy offer a season or two after his bonanza. No doubt he will pay his dues when he really does decide that his Test days are done.
How much longer BBC television viewers will be watching Atherton and his team 'live' in home Tests is a matter which may take longer than expected to resolve.
The ECB have applied to the Government to take all but the Lord's Test off the list of the events which they are not allowed to sell to satellite television but the news that an advisory group, including Michael Parkinson, Steve Cram and Jack Charlton, might not report back until next Easter on which sports events should remain on the list puts negotiations between the ECB and television companies on hold.
Terry Blake, the ECB marketing director, said last night: ``We were hoping to complete negotiations for the new contracts by early next season but this possible delay will put some pressure on. The contracts are in place until the end of 1998, however, so the situation is not drastic.''
The ECB are due to have another meeting with the relevant minister, Chris Smith, shortly before Christmas.