On Christmas Eve 1906 the first ever audio radio transmission was made by a man with ties to Bermuda, whose legacy continues on the Island today.

Yesterday, relatives of Reginald Fessenden gathered at his grave at St. Mark’s Church in Smith’s to mark the 100th anniversary of the radio transmission.

The Minister of Community Affairs, Wayne Perinchief, Principal of Whitney Institute, Freddie Evans, and members of the public also attended .

Reginald came to Bermuda in 1883 at the age of 17 to be the head master at Whitney Institute. While here he fell in love with Bermudian Helen May Zuill.

After two years working in Bermuda he left for the US to pursue his dream of working for Thomas Edison, the man credited with inventing the light bulb. Once he had established himself in Mr. Edison’s laboratory he asked Helen to marry him and join him the US.

Though he made numerous advancements in wireless communication many of his colleagues did not believe that voice transmission was possible.

Reginald persevered and proved them wrong in 1906.

After decades of experimenting with ways to transmit sound he made the first audio radio transmission on Christmas Eve.

That night Reginald played O Holy Night on his violin and read biblical passages to sailors off the coast of the US while he sat at his radio transmission station in Brant Rock, Massachusetts.

He went on to make many other discoveries before retiring to Bermuda and live in Flatts.

Ester Trott was at the ceremony yesterday and said she spent time with Reginald, who was her uncle, as a young girl.

She said: “He was a very interesting man. Even when he retired he continued to do experiments. He would do experiments with the tide off of his home in Flatts.”

Reginald died in 1932 but his legacy lives on through the The Fessenden-Trott Scholarship.

The scholarship was established in 1977 from proceeds of his various patents. A Bermudian student is awarded $10,000 annually to further their education.

Similar scholarships were established in the US and Canada in memory of Reginald and his wife Helen.

The wreath laying was organised by Imagine Bermuda. Organiser Glen Fubler said: “Mr Fessenden was able to overcome some tremendous challenges because he had a dream of what might be.

“His life offers an example to us today for overcoming adversity while staying true to our inner calling.”