The Government opened an online condolences book for Stanley Lowe, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, yesterday.

Mr Lowe, the first black Speaker and who served as an MP for 44 years, died on Sunday, aged 82.

Mr Lowe was a member of the Parliamentary “Class of ’68” and a Progressive Labour Party MP for a West End seat.

He was Opposition Whip for many years and became Deputy Speaker in 1995. He was appointed to the post full time after the PLP won power for the first time in 1998 and continued in the role until he retired from politics in 2012.

A government spokeswoman said: “Mr Lowe formed part of the anchor of Bermuda’s modern political history and served the people of his beloved Southampton East for 44 years.”

• The online memories and condolences page, which will be forwarded to Stanley Lowe’s family, is at www.remembr.com/stanleylowe.obe.jp