Dame Lois Browne-Evans was remembered as a “trailblazer” and a “giant of history” last night as an audience of about 150 gathered to mark the 10th anniversary since her passing.

Dame Lois’s son, Donald Evans, was joined by Progressive Labour Party Leader David Burt and a host of party parliamentarians and members to recognise Dame Lois’s contribution to Bermuda. In a rousing speech Mr Evans spoke of his mother’s legacy before turning to the subject of the pending General Election saying: “The PLP of today can win this election the same way my mother repeatedly won Devonshire North back in the day.”

He reminded the crowd that the clock was ticking again to an election before adding: “Making David Burt premier is our goal”. Meanwhile Mr Burt ended his tribute to Dame Lois with the words “Let’s do it for the dame”.

He described Dame Lois as a “social justice leader” and a “personal hero”.

“She was a legend whom I looked at in awe when I joined the PLP,” Mr Burt said. “We would not be here without the sacrifices she made through her life, and we should also pay a debt to her children because the sacrifices she made were shared with her family.”

The PLP leader told the audience: “If we put Bermuda first we can create the Bermuda of Dame Lois’s dreams.”

Dame Lois was the island’s first female barrister and also the first black woman to be elected to Parliament in Bermuda.

She went on to become the first female Leader of the Opposition in the British Commonwealth as well as Bermuda’s first female Attorney-General in a long and distinguished career.

During last night’s memorial event PLP MP Kim Wilson and Wayne Caines also paid tribute to Dame Lois, while Toni Robinson sang songs.

Ms Wilson spoke of how Dame Lois had called her to the Bermuda Bar in 1995 and added: “She was a woman of her word and she practised what she preached.

“To her the law was a vehicle for social justice and change; and she was deeply committed to that. She saw politics as a means of working for people who are marginalised.”

Mr Caines said: “While we sit here and bask in her success let’s not forget the sacrifices she had to make. She realised that to whom much is given, much is required.”