Hundreds of people turned up in Flatts Village yesterday on the 50th anniversary of the first secret meeting, which helped change black history.

Onlookers were guided through the town, learning its history, which concluded, with a tour of the home of Edourd and Roselyn Williams, two of the Progressive Group members who along with others influenced the Theatre Boycott and the breakdown of desegregation in Bermuda.

A highlight of the group's first meeting was given by one of its surviving members, Mr. Eugene Woods.

Flatts resident Sinclair Woolridge said of the event: "My interest in coming here today was because I wanted to listen and understand the history of Flatts. I live here but I never knew all of the history of how it came to be.

"I'm an expat who has been living here for two and a half years. I feel it is important to learn about Bermuda's history, especially the history of race relations and the history of my people," said the Pastor of the St. George's Seventh Day Adventist Church, Stefan Burton-Schnüll.

People from all over the Island flocked to the village to witness this day in history.

Venicia Warner from Hamilton Parish said: "I came here because I was really interested in learning about Flatts."

Also among the crowd was a grandchild of Mr. Clarence Darrell, Gilbert Darrell who said: "I came here to learn a little more about Clarence Darrell as he is my grandfather."

Other points of interest included in the tour was an information session held outside the home of Clarence Darrell, a noted 'Flattsonian' who owned businesses in Flatts and helped black people get ahead.

Mr. Darrell was also part of a group who built the Opera House in Hamilton, which was Bermuda's first purposed building.

The talk was given by Ms. Karen McPhee, his great-granddaughter.

Mr. William Zuill Sr. educated the crowd about Mr. Reginald Fessenden who taught at the Whitney Institute in the late 1800s.

Mr. Fessenden, who married a Bermudian, then went on to invent the radio among other things. Later on the tour the crowd was shown his home, which is near the Aquarium.

There was also an information session given by Ms Margie Lloyd, of the history of the original Flatts Bridge, which was one of the first bridges built in Bermuda.

Due to the tremendous attendance of the crowd, the event, which was intended to be a two hour tour, was held over for an extra hour with informative and inquisitive attendees engaging in absorbing as much knowledge as possible of this part of history.

Imagine Bermuda co-chairman Glenn Fubler said of the event: "It was successful beyond our expectation with the interaction of all of the people.

"We didn't anticipate this large crowd, which eventually had to be broken down into smaller groups to properly service them.

"We really have to thank Ptech for sponsoring the event and donating the sound system which proved very convenient."