"Comrade" Richard Lynch, who stood up and spoke to the crowd at the 1959 theatre boycott and was a long time labour movement activiist, has died. He was 71.

Richard Alexander (Doc Comrade) Lynch was remembered last week for his contributions to the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) and the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU).

Members of the PLP and the BIU have extended their deepest sympathies to his family and to all who knew and loved him.

Mr. Lynch fearlessly danced in the face of the possibility of being economically ostracised and continued to fight for the civil rights that are now enshrined in Bermuda law, colleagues and friends said.

Mr. Lynch joined the PLP shortly after its inception and ran for the party several times in the United Bermuda Party stronghold of Devonshire South. He was a lifelong member of the BIU.

BIU president Derrick Burgess said Mr. Lynch was a proud and committed member of both organisations.

"He was a giant in the labour movement and certainly one of the leaders in the construction movement," said Mr. Burgess.

"His support and commitment was unconditional - even when he had worked for a non-union firm - he continued to give his dues to the union and workers admired him particularly during the 60's and 70's, when it was difficult. Doc was fearless."

Acting Premier Alex Scott said he found Mr. Lynch in the party when he joined in 1972.

"He was stalwart and gave very freely of his time, talent and effort," said Minister Scott."Mr. Lynch stood in the General Elections when there was little hope of winning and fought in a United Bermuda Party (UBP) safe district - he was always willing.

"He was a resource and a source of inspiration to party members and he is certainly going to be missed by the PLP family."

Mr. Scott said Mr. Lynch also sat on the Works and Engineering board, until his health made it impossible for him to attend.

Mr. Scott added that many people knew of Mr. Lynch and Kingsley Tweed's part in the integration of the theatres.

"He was not afraid to go up front, while many others kept themselves protected by anonymity. He was on the soapbox, making himself a target for retribution as the organiser of its success.

"He did not hesitate - he was fearless."

Mr. Scott said: "It was Doc Lynch who opened the political vanguard when it was unpopular to be a member of the PLP.

"He changed his name to Comrade in a statement of defiance, not as a move of communism."

"On behalf of the Government and the Premier we offer our deepest sympathies to his family - he was very much treasured by the party."

Long time journalist and ex-chairman of the PLP, Ira Phillips said: "Mr. Lynch was there when it was rebuilding itself after a split during its evolutionary process, although I remember him before the PLP was formed, as I reported on him during the theatre boycott in 1959."

"I credit him and Kingsley Tweed to giving the boycott the energy it needed to set the wheels in motion against Bermuda's very rigid system of racial segregation and discrimination.

"Mr. Lynch was very instrumental in getting the PLP in orbit in 1963 and more significantly he had similarly helped to give the BIU the foundation it now has during the growth and rebirth of the union following its decline after the death of its founding father Dr. E. F. Gordon.

"He has indelibly etched his name in the pages of Bermuda's social and political history to the benefit of (the documentary) When Voices Rise. He in his own colourful style described his involvement; he in a way gained a degree of immortality as a result of the production of that film.

"I'm sure that both the PLP the BIU are already feeling the effects of his untimely passing, because he was so quick in being first or among the first off the mark with his talent, time and very liberal financial resources in support of their programmes."

Mr. Philip said he also canvassed for May 1 as the true Labour Day of the Labour Movement.

"Each year he would take out a four page advertisement in The Royal Gazette saluting those who recognised it, instead of the compromised first Monday in September, which he protested as an absolutely unsatisfactory pandering to our American neighbours.

Former president of the BIU Ottiwell Simmons said Mr. Lynch was not only a colleague, but a good friend.

"He is a like a horizon that is to be admired and followed, and someone to feel safe and secure with, that was Doc Lynch," said Mr. Simmons.