The lives of three veteran sons of the soil were honoured yesterday in a celebration of desegregation.

Former premier Sir John Swan, union leader Ottiwell Simmons and activist Pauulu Kamarakafego- Brown were recognised at a ceremony of music and dance on the steps of City Hall marking the 1959 theatre boycott — a watershed moment in Bermuda’s history when segregation began to break down.

All three men were born in the 1930s in North Village, Pembroke, and were boyhood friends, attending primary and secondary schools together.

Sir John — who will celebrate his 88th birthday this week and is the only surviving member of the trio — spoke of his humble origins.

Describing his life as “a wonderful journey”, he said that the three grew up as brothers.

And although their lives took different paths, they shared “a common objective”.

He said: “We are born more equal than we think we are.

“I stand here today proud to be a Bermudian and a son of the soil.”

Referring to the theatre boycott, Sir John said that it was important that Bermudians knew about their history and culture.

“Unless we write our own story, we must be prepared to accept a biased account of our past,” he said.

Sir John said that he had visited more than 120 countries in his lifetime — but no other jurisdiction had a history as rich as Bermuda, which he described as a land of opportunity.

Urging his audience to “hold hands and minds and spirits”, Sir John said: “We must give our young people every possible chance.

“We are our brothers’ keepers and must not neglect anyone.

“We must make sure that everyone has food, housing, education — and peace of mind.”

Event organiser Glenn Fubler paid tribute to the trio, describing them as “icons” who had changed Bermuda for the better.

He said: “We are all connected.“

Singer Sheila Smith kicked off an afternoon of entertainment with the song We Shall Be Free, followed by We Are Family — the theme of the event.

Entertainment was also provided by the In Motion Dance School, Live Wires, and Gombeys.

Other organisations celebrating a “cultural buffet” of the island’s heritage included The Family Centre, Mirrors, artist Iuscnre, and renowned chef Fred Ming, who provided free samples of traditional Bermudian dishes.

Speaking after the event, Mr Fubler explained why it was important to remember the theatre boycott.

He said: “It represents a milestone in Bermuda’s history and we should celebrate that.

“It was probably the most transformative event of the 20th century in Bermuda’s history — we should never forget it or those who brought it about.”

Mr Fubler insisted that the event should be celebrated not only by the Black community but by all Bermudians.

He said: “The purpose of this event is to bring everyone together. This isn’t a Black thing — the theatre boycott liberated our people and that’s something that we should all celebrate, regardless of the colour of our skin.

“We are all family.”