Highlight of the Week

Inspiration at the unveiling of the Betty Campbell monument

We were delighted to be invited to the unveiling ceremony of the monument for the inspirational Betty Campbell this week by Monumental Welsh Women.

Three members of DIRECT, our diversity and inclusion group attended – Year 6’s Mikaeel M, Sneha P and Bethany N - along with Year 13 students, Fflur H and Rose B. They all found it to be an incredibly powerful event which generated much discussion on the way back to school. The pupils wrote the following reports about the event:

"With little knowledge about the true impact Betty Campbell had on Welsh, British and European society, we attended the unveiling of her statue which was both an important educational and historical event. There are no statues of Welsh women to be found across the country, and so the Monumental Welsh Women campaign has dedicated its time, effort, money and creativity to bettering our society by erecting statues of deserving women who marked history. Betty, or Mrs Campbell, was one such woman: as the first black headmistress in Wales, she overcame social, cultural and gender barriers throughout her life. More than that, she took on important roles within Cardiff council and fought for equal opportunities for minority children.

"We heard from many speakers during the unveiling, including renowned historian of slavery Olivette Otele, Betty Campbell’s daughter and granddaughters and a recitation by Taylor Edmonds of her poem When I Speak of Bravery. We were both very impressed by Eve Shepherd’s sculpture: the design and attention to detail in the composition which not only figured Betty but also other people and objects that represent her life and work. Eve gave a fascinating description of the concepts behind the statue, the links with nature, culture and personality that run throughout the artwork. She described the influence of the mother tree - this is the tree that protects the saplings and ensures healthy growth, its roots running far and wide, tying the forest together. This personified Betty, whose ultimate passion was to help children develop their full potential, and who touched so many lives within her community and beyond". Fflur H and Rose B, Year 13

"Going to Central Square in Cardiff to see Betty Campbell’s statue and being able to listen to the people who were speaking about her life was just magnificient. This made me think we have come so far in equality in our times. It’s getting better and better. We saw her grandchildren and they were very nice. The statue was an amazing sight to see, I suggest you go and have a look. Seeing the statue of Wales’ first female black headteacher was awesome!" Bethany N, Year 6