Residents turned out in sizeable numbers yesterday to take part in an annual event at Loyal Hill that originated during lockdown for the pandemic.

Tributes were paid to exceptional people from the Devonshire neighbourhood including the late motocross rider Marvin “Duke” Woolridge as residents gathered to celebrate Bermuda’s rich heritage.

Area MP Diallo Rabain, the Minister of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, was on hand to celebrate amid live music, food and drinks and multiple cultural presentations under good weather.

Mr Rabain said: “The significance of an event like this proves that these families who’ve lived up here for generations still get together and celebrate Bermuda Day in their own special way.

“This is one of the highlights of the year for me as the representative of the constituency, to come out here and actually just party with them during their own personal Bermuda Day festivities.

“It just brings together the community because these are generations of families.

“So you’ll see young all the way up to grandmothers, great-great-grandmothers in some cases, coming out.

“It just reinforces the family feeling that this community has and what I would like to see throughout the rest of Bermuda.”

The event kicked off with live music by the Somerset Brigade Band who had toes tapping with a rendition of My Girl by the Temptations.

Shawnette Easton, Ms Loyal Hill, and Dennis O’Brien, Mr Loyal Hill, then led the parade.

Sui Generis dancers, Carifta Games athletes, Warwick Gombeys, PHC Majorettes and Drum Corps, the Bermy Bouncers, and members of the Bermuda Special Olympics team were among others who took part in the parade.

Organisers recalled the impact of the late Mr Woolridge on the community.

Sergio Woolridge, his son, said he felt humbled that his father was honoured.

He said: “He really loved Loyal Hill. He was born and raised here and a lot of the people here are who he grew up with.

“Loyal Hill is like one great family. So it is a nice feeling to know that they’re recognising him and keeping his memory alive.

“He always wanted to be out in the community, so everybody around here knows Duke and they loved Duke.”

He said his father — who gave him the nickname “Manga” — was an exceptional motocross rider passionate about go-karts.

Special go-kart activities were held in the late resident’s honour.