Long time Progressive Labour Party (PLP) parliamentarian, Reginald Burrows, formally announced his retirement from the political scene Saturday night at a banquet held in his honour.

"It has been a pleasure to represent Southampton and the people of Southampton for 35 years. I've enjoyed serving them and I've always considered myself to be a servant of them. I have never considered myself to be above any of them. I feel that being Member of Parliament is a great honour and it's an honour to serve the community," he said at the end of the Bermuda Health Foundation's (BHF) annual banquet.

"Dame Lois Browne, I don't think I'll be running in the next election. At this particular time I think I'd like to say that I've served my country well and as my son said - he's 37 years old - he's never remembered me not being in politics. And I think that after 35 years I need to kick up my heels and spend time with my grandchildren and I think very shortly my great grandchildren."

Mr. Burrows has represented the old Southampton East with his running mate, Speaker of the House Stanley Lowe, since 1968. Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans, Premier Jennifer Smith and the United Bermuda Party's (UBP) Maxwell Burgess and John Barritt were among the 16 people who gave speeches paying tribute to his political and community service at Saturday's banquet held at the Fairmont Southampton Princess.

An avid sports enthusiast, Mr. Burrows served as president of the Southampton Rangers Sports Club for 20 years and has spent a lifetime on various other boards. Politically he was on the right wing of the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) and proved himself a loyal and dependable party man.

Party whip Ottiwell Simmons told the audience that Mr. Burrows had come to the rescue of the PLP with "many thousands of dollars" and saved Alaska Hall, the party headquarters, and was respected by parliamentarians on both sides of the political divide. "You stand tall and much taller than most of us," he said.

"He has earned the right to be regarded as a senior statesman in this country," said Mr. Barritt.

Dame Lois recalled how as party leader her husband, John Evans, had introduced Mr. Burrows and Stanley Lowe as potential candidates.

"Burrows came and he stayed. I treasure him and Mr. Lowe because... there was a time in history when the party came to a low ebb - people disagreed with me - people had to leave. But you can bet Burrows and Lowe stayed focused and I could always count on them to have my back. There would be no treachery there. There would be no negativeness there and they would be true to their party and to whoever would be the leader at that time. I owe them a debt of gratitude," Dame Lois said.

She was the first of the speakers to bring up recent "propaganda" spread by a recent Mid-Ocean News story that the ceremony was part of the PLP's "pre-election exit strategy" for Ms Smith and a platform from which to launch Mr. Burrows as her successor.

The story quoted sources close to Government and a UBP `insider'. "I too was subject to the propaganda," said the Opposition's Maxwell Burgess with a totally straight face. Mr. Burgess, who was sitting in for his party Leader Grant Gibbons said that people had questioned why he had agreed to attend the function.

"Reg had a deep-seated sense of community" that transcended his political allegiances and his commitment to Southampton Rangers, said Mr. Burgess. "He was an everyday man who had a sense of feeling, a sense of purpose, a sense of understanding of everyday people. And Reg would go into his very deep pockets and make sure that people who didn't have, find a way to live but yet another day."

In her tribute, Premier Jennifer Smith said that Mr. Burrows was a "rock of stability" in the PLP. "He has given his time, his talents, his ideas to the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) and to politics," she said.

"He brought distinctive insight to issues and a reasoned, calm presence to the House of Assembly debates. If there is no idea so uplifting as the idea of service to humanity, you have been deservedly uplifted for seeking to uplift others through your public service."

"First of all, I think someone should pinch me," Mr. Burrows said. "I don't know whether I'm living or dead. These are usually the kinds of tributes one receives at funerals. But it is so wonderful to be able to smell the roses while one is still alive."

The evening netted $90,000 to go towards scholarships for nursing students.