Who Was Betty Campbell?
Educator. Community Champion. Campaigner. Pioneer.
Rachel (Betty) Elizabeth Campbell was born in Butetown in 1934 and raised in the poverty of Tiger Bay. A studious child who loved learning, she won a scholarship to Lady Margaret High School for Girls in Cardiff, but was told that a working-class black girl could never achieve the academic heights she aspired to.
Always near the top of the class, Betty Campbell told her headteacher she too would like to teach but the response was:
"Oh my dear, the problems would be insurmountable."
Those words devastated her - but they also made her even more resilient and focused.
She went on to prove her doubters wrong in the most inspirational way.
She overcame setbacks and racism to pursue her goal. In 1960 she was one of six female students at Cardiff Teacher Training College which was admitting women for the first time. Juggling a young family, she achieved her dream of becoming a teacher before going on to make history as Wales’ first black Headteacher.
Betty Campbell championed her nation’s multicultural heritage throughout her professional teaching career and in her community; she provided a sense of belonging and identity for young people and her wider community. Under her leadership, Mount Stuart Primary School in Butetown became a beacon for best practice in equality and multicultural education throughout the UK, a legacy that continues today.
She remained committed to the heritage of Butetown and the importance of its multiculturalism throughout her life
“In our own unique way we were establishing an area where religion, colour didn’t matter – we all respected each other as people.” - Betty Campbell
No-one fought harder to celebrate Wales’ diversity than Betty Campbell.
‘The family is extremely proud and privileged to have our mother remembered in such a wonderful and iconic way. Through her sculpture, Eve encapsulates Betty’s legacy of determination, aspiration and inspiration that reflected her passion for diversity and equality making her a truly positive role model for many in the community and beyond.’
- Elaine Clarke, Betty Campbell’s daughter.