The mood, as expected, was subdued but relaxed as dozens of people streamed through Alaska Hall, the Court Street headquarters of the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party (PLP), yesterday evening to view the body of David Allen.

For a full two hours Senators, Parliamentarians, some members of the judiciary and ordinary people filed past the coffin, which was placed in a side room of the building with two Regiment soldiers standing guard, after offering their condolences to Mr. Allen's niece Lisa Windhorst.

Draped on a wall directly above the coffin was the PLP banner, which Mr. Allen designed 30 years ago.

Premier Jennifer Smith remained in the main hall for the whole of the two hour viewing period, along with Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans, Senator Michael Scott and a handful of others. Leading Civil Servants, former politicians, key players in the tourism industry and a number of Mr. Allen's constituents also showed up to offer their condolences, as did former PLP MP Reverend Trevor Woolridge who had flown onto the Island earlier and will be playing a formal role in Mr. Allen's funeral service.

Absent due to illness was Mr. Allen's sister, Laura Mc Cray, a Canadian resident.

Mourners lingered on outside the building for a few moments before heading home under showers that grew steadily stronger throughout the evening.

The viewing ended with prayers led by Canon James Francis.

Mr. Allen died last Thursday after a short battle with abdominal cancer. He will be given an official funeral service at 11 a.m. today at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity and will ne buried at Somerset's St. James Church shortly after an internment service there at 1.15 p.m.