Page 44 - BLACK HISTORY IN BERMUDA red

Leonard Frederick Wade • (1939-1996)

L. Frederick Wade, known as “Freddie”, was an early and
dedicated member of the Progressive Labour Party
and remained loyal to his party through thick and thin.
Having become the leader of the party at one of its
courtesy bermuda biographies PLP finally came to power in 1998.
lowest points in 1985, he died just two years before the

Mr Wade was a teacher from 1960 until 1968, and during
that time gained a bachelor’s degree in economics and
geology from Queen’s University in Canada.

In those days, white and black children went to different schools in Bermuda, and Mr
Wade was angered by the difference between schools in Canada and Bermuda, and by
how schools with black students received fewer resources than white schools.

Eventually he became convinced this would only change through political action, and
he became an early member of the PLP, quickly rising through its ranks.

In 1968, he was elected to the House of Assembly for Devonshire North alongside Lois
Browne-Evans (later Dame Lois). When Mr Wade was elected, he had to give up his job
as a government teacher and he had difficulty finding work after that. In 1973, after
being re-elected, he decided to become a lawyer, and qualified in 1976.
A year later he and his wife, Norma Wade (now Norma Wade-Miller) were both called
to the Bermuda Bar, and became Bermuda’s first married couple to both be lawyers.

Through the 1970s, Mr Wade was known as a sometimes controversial politician who
often engaged in confrontations with the United Bermuda Party government inside
and outside the House of Assembly. Despite that, he enjoyed close friendships on both
sides of the House.

Although the PLP came close to winning the 1980 General Election, the election of
John Swan (later Sir John) as Leader of the United Bermuda Party in 1982 revitalised
the UBP and signaled a downturn in the PLP’s popularity.

An election defeat in 1983 led to divisions within the PLP and the expulsion of some
members, and a snap election in 1985 reduced the PLP to just seven seats out of 40.
At this point, Dame Lois resigned and was replaced by Mr Wade as Leader. Over the
next 11 years, he slowly rebuilt the PLP while making it more moderate and less
controversial. He also proved to be a clever strategist, and in 1995 he boycotted an
Independence Referendum called by Sir John Swan. The defeat of the referendum led
to Sir John’s resignation, clearing the way for the PLP to come to power.

As the PLP neared power, Mr Wade’s own health worsened, and he died at the age of
57 after a series of illnesses.
“Freddie” Wade brought the PLP to the brink of power and helped to make Bermuda a
fairer and more equal place. In 2007, his legacy was assured when the PLP government
renamed the airport the L. F. Wade International Airport in his honour.

44 | black history in bermuda | bermuda national trust