Ten "selfless and hard working" Bermudians were honoured on Saturday at the Progressive Labour Party Drum Major Awards.

The annual ceremony, which was held at the Bermuda Industrial Union and was inspired by the legendary civil rights activist Martin Luther King, is designed to recognise those "unsung heroes" who have made an invaluable contribution to the community through quiet, dedicated professionalism.

Members of the Caisey family, of Caisey Family Productions fame were the first awardees followed by veteran prison officer Vincent Minors, Southampton Parish councillor Lynette Harvey, Bishop Dr. Lloyd Eden Duncan of Greater Smith Hill New Testament Church of God and realtor Walter J. Seymour.

The Caisey Family have made a name for themselves in the local entertainment scene since beginning regular musical productions in 2000.

A family of musicians, the Caiseys have put on a total of six shows to raise money for a number of charitable organisations including The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Bermuda, The National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged and the Bermuda Autism Support and Education Society.

Those honoured included June, Phiemma, Albert, Zion, Taitu and cousin Mitchell Trott.

Vincent Minors has been a prison officer for 26 years and has been working with young male offenders for the last ten. A "remarkable" character according to Prisons Commissioner Hubert Dean, he has been responsible for helping improve the lives of many young people.

Popular Pastor Dr. Eden Duncan is also the Police and Prisons chaplain and has worked extensively with criminal offenders at the multi-purpose facility at Greater Smith Hill. A father of two and married to Shanda Duncan for 18 years, Bishop Duncan was described at the ceremony as "true maverick" of local religion, who has made "inroads into the very fabric and fibre of Bermuda".

Lynette Harvey is an active member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and retired as the senior accounts clerk at the Ministry of Health in 1996. Named the Secretary of the Year by the Professional Secretary International in the same year, Ms Harvey is currently the director of the Bermuda Conference of Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders while she was recently selected to sit on the Southampton Parish Council.

Walter Seymour, 84, is the CEO of Walter J. Seymour Real Estate and a member of the Vernon Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church. A staunch PLP supporter for his entire life, Mr. Seymour was very active in the Boy Scouts and attended the National Boy Scouts Jamboree in 1937. He has four children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Addressing a packed Dr. E.F. Gordon memorial hall, Premier Alex Scott, himself a drum major, said he was "truly honoured" to be presenting the awards to such "inspiring individuals".

"You have Premiers, you have Ministers, you have Commissioners, you have dignitaries," he said.

"But these people are what makes our country really work because, without ever seeking recognition or fame, they just do. And they do it well."