Bertha Conton
Bertha Yvonne Conton | |
|---|---|
 Bertha Yvonne Conton | |
| Born | Bertha Yvonne Conton 31 October 1923 Freetown, Sierra Leone |
| Occupation | Educationalist, principal, teacher, school proprietress |
| Nationality | British Subject, Sierra Leonean |
| Education | St. Joseph's Primary School, St. Joseph's Convent School, |
| Spouse | William Farquhar Conton |
| Children | Five children |
| Relatives | Thomas Josiah Thompson (father), Raymond Sarif Easmon (brother), Amy Manto Bondfield Wellesley-Cole, née Hotobah-During (sister), Robert Wellesley-Cole (brother-in-law) |
Bertha Yvonne Conton, GCOR (née Thompson; born 31 October 1923) is a Sierra Leonean educator who is the principal, founder, and proprietress of Leone Preparatory School.
Early life and education[]
Bertha Conton was born in French Guinea of Sierra Leonean provenance and was educated at St. Joseph's Primary School and subsequently at St. Joseph's Convent School in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She completed her post-secondary school education in Liverpool, England.
Early career and establishment of Leone Preparatory School[]
On her return to Freetown, Conton started her teaching career at St Joseph's Convent and the Freetown Secondary School for Girls. After a brief stay in Ghana where she taught at the International School of Accra, her family moved to Bo.
In 1961, Conton founded the Leone Preparatory School, also known as the Bertha Conton School in Bo, Sierra Leone when she started giving lessons to children on the veranda of her home in Bo. The school later transferred operations to Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1963.
Personal life[]
Bertha Conton was married to William Farquhar Conton, an educator, historian, and author, and has five children.
Awards and Recognition[]
- In 2012, Bertha Conton was invested as a Grand Commander of the Order of Rokel, the highest and most prestigious decoration in Sierra Leone, for her extensive contributions to education.
- In the House of Lords, Lord Paul Boateng paid tribute to Bertha Conton who taught him how to read.
Sources[]
- https://awokonewspaper.com/sierra-leone-news-leone-preparatory-school-accused-of-victimisation/
- http://awokonewspaper.com/sierra-leone-news-letter-to-the-editor-2/
- https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/lhan113.pdf
- https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2015-03-05/debates/15030536000284/WomenEconomicEmpowerment
- 1923 births
- Living people
- Sierra Leonean educators
- Sierra Leone Creole people
- People from Freetown
- Sierra Leonean Roman Catholics
- Sierra Leonean expatriates in Guinea
- Conton family (Sierra Leone)
- Sierra Leonean academics
- Sierra Leonean women academics
- Sierra Leonean expatriates in the United Kingdom