diff --git a/src/DisplayTabs/_BackRefModel.py b/src/DisplayTabs/_BackRefModel.py
index d0ecc00ba..18039b406 100644
--- a/src/DisplayTabs/_BackRefModel.py
+++ b/src/DisplayTabs/_BackRefModel.py
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ import Utils
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 class BackRefModel(gtk.ListStore):
+    
+    dispstr = _('%(part1)s - %(part2)s')
 
     def __init__(self, sref_list, db):
         gtk.ListStore.__init__(self, str, str, str, str, str)
@@ -78,10 +80,17 @@ class BackRefModel(gtk.ListStore):
             elif dtype == 'Event':
                 p = self.db.get_event_from_handle(ref[1])
                 gid = p.gramps_id
-                name = p.get_description()
                 handle = p.handle
-                if not name:
+                name = p.get_description()
+                if name:
+                    name = self.dispstr % {'part1': str(p.get_type()),
+                                'part2': name}
+                else:
                     name = str(p.get_type())
+                part = Utils.get_participant_from_event(self.db, ref[1])
+                if part :
+                    name = self.dispstr % {'part1': name,
+                                'part2': part}
             elif dtype == 'Place':
                 p = self.db.get_place_from_handle(ref[1])
                 name = p.get_title()
diff --git a/src/Utils.py b/src/Utils.py
index c39fc092d..0d980a074 100644
--- a/src/Utils.py
+++ b/src/Utils.py
@@ -1002,4 +1002,43 @@ def update_constants():
     _MIN_GENERATION_YEARS = Config.get(Config.MIN_GENERATION_YEARS)
     _AVG_GENERATION_GAP   = Config.get(Config.AVG_GENERATION_GAP)
 
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# Function to return the name of the main participant of an event
+#
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+def get_participant_from_event(db, event_handle):
+    """
+    Obtain the first primary or family participant to an event we find in the 
+    database. Note that an event can have more than one primary or 
+    family participant, only one is returned. 
+    """
+    participant = ""
+    result_list = [i for i in db.find_backlink_handles(event_handle, 
+                             include_classes=['Person', 'Family'])]
+    people = [x[1] for x in result_list if x[0] == 'Person']
+    families =  [x[1] for x in result_list if x[0] == 'Family']
+    for personhandle in people: 
+        person = db.get_person_from_handle(personhandle)
+        for event_ref in person.get_event_ref_list():
+            if event_handle == event_ref.ref and \
+                    event_ref.get_role() == gen.lib.EventRoleType.PRIMARY:
+                participant =  name_displayer.display(person)
+                break
+        if participant:
+            break
+    if participant:
+        return participant
+    
+    for familyhandle in families:
+        family = db.get_family_from_handle(familyhandle)
+        for event_ref in family.get_event_ref_list():
+            if event_handle == event_ref.ref and \
+                    event_ref.get_role() == gen.lib.EventRoleType.FAMILY:
+                participant = family_name(family, db)
+                break
+        if participant:
+            break
+    
+    return participant