An enthusiastic audience packed the auditorium of the Berkeley Institute for the Annual Drum Major Awards ceremony of the Progressive Labour Party. The event ordinarily had been held in conjunction with the birthday of the late Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., the Civil Rights champion whose life story inspired the Drum Major theme. But this year the PLP factored the awards presentation as one of the highlights of the Gala Weekend honouring the Premier, Dr. the Hon. Ewart Brown. It enabled those not disposed towards dining with the Premier on Saturday night at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel ? at $25,000 a ticket ? to have an afternoon social and cultural feast, and all the delectable refreshments they could consume, free of charge at the Berkeley.The Saturday night black-tie gala went off as planned, attracting some 300 of Premier Brown's big spending friends, movers and shakers from the US, Canada the Caribbean and elsewhere ? and of course, Bermuda. It was a fundraiser for the ruling party. Security was absolutely tight and those who didn't have a ticket could not get near the place. PLP Chairman David Burt described the gala as simply incredible.

The Berkeley event got off precisely on time, pitched in high gear by broadcaster Thaao Dill, followed by a formal welcome by Sen. Davida Morris. The new pastor of Vernon Temple AME Church, Southampton, the Rev. Pedro Castro invoked a prayer. The programme that followed showcased some of the island's talented young people, involving the Civil Rights theme in song and dance. There were renditions by The Ensemble Singers, directed by Lloyd Matthews, accompanied by Jimmy Browne, baritone and Dr. Tatiana Dutoit, pianist. Their renditions included and .

A United Dance Productions troupe under artistic director Suzette Harvey brought the programme to a fitting climax for Premier Brown to come to centre stage and make the presentations.

The 2007 Drum Major Awards went to the team of trade unionist and former MP, Dr. Barbara Ball, M.D., and her medical receptionist Mrs. Ann Caines; trade unionist and political commentator Ms Laverne Furbert; Bill and Regina Peniston, a married couple who have a unique ministry personally helping people caught up in the dangerous drug culture.

Also honoured were the Somerset Brigade Band ? still going from strength to strength now in its 76th year ? and Young Men's Social Club of Hamilton for its youth development programme. Memories of an exciting chapter in Bermuda's labour history were quickened when the citation for the Drum Major Award for Dr. Barbara Ball was read by MC Thaao Dill at the Berkeley Institute. The loudest and most sustained applause given any of the awardees was reserved for the physician turned trade unionist, who was also an Opposition PLP MP, along with her caregiver and onetime medical receptionist, Mrs. Ann Caines.

Dr. Ball was born in the racially segregated Bermuda of 1924. She graduated with distinction from the all-white Bermuda High School for Girls in 1941. The Government awarded her its coveted Bermuda Scholarship that enabled her to attend Liverpool University in England where she gained her medical degree in 1954. Dr. Ball put the white community of Bermuda in a state of shock when in 1961 she became a member of the Bermuda Industrial Union, and within months she was elected its Secretary-General.

She was in fact the only white member of the BIU. She was ostracised by her kith and kin. Threats were made on her life, and the Medical Associates, a prominent group of white doctors kicked her out of their group. The 1960s and '70s were a turbulent period in the evolution of the BIU. The Belco strike and riot of February 1965 was yet to take place, and when it broke out, Dr. Ball was on the picket line.

The biggest challenge for Dr. Ball personally, came in 1980 when the BIU commenced negotiations with the Hospitals Board for 300 non-clinical workers at King Edward VII and St. Brendan's hospitals. Negotiations between Government and the Union dragged into the next year. Finally the Union, attempting to break the impasse served a 21-days strike notice on the Hospitals Board. At 12 midnight on April 11, 1981 the strike took place. Picket lines were set up outside. Public sympathy seemed to be generally in support of the workers and their top leadership in the hands of President Ottiwell Simmons and Dr. Ball, the Secretary-General. Dr. Ball's privileges as an attending physician at the hospital were withdrawn. Mrs. Ann Rewan Caines was one of the striking BIU members. She was pregnant at the time. Mrs. Caines went home to have her baby. After the successful delivery of her eldest son, Ann was told by the hospital administration that her services were no longer needed, when she attempted to return to work. According to Mr. Ottiwell Simmons, that was outright victimisation.

When Dr. Ball heard of Ann's plight, she hired and trained her as a medical receptionist to work in the medical office, which she continued to operate in conjunction with her union work. Meantime, Dr. Ball's health began to decline, and in 2004 she retired from her fulltime position at the BIU. It was at that point Ann decided to switch from medical receptionist to being a caregiver for Dr. Ball.

The audience at the Berkeley was informed that Ann still remains with Dr. Ball as a caregiver, and both are still active members and supporters of the BIU and the PLP. "Although 43 years have passed," the citation read, "it is amazing to witness that these twin helping hands are still reaching out for each other and expressing interest and concern for the community. They have proven that as a team they to see outside of themselves and constantly reach out to be of service to the community and to individual needs."

The audience was brought to its feet when the MC, Thaao Dill dramatised the citation, and the Premier left the stage to hand the awards to the two ladies.