From the Archives

Recently, the school received some interesting material about an Old Girl, Betty Black, who attended St Hilda’s in the 1920s, and later served as a pilot in Britain in the Second World War.

Air Transport Auxiliary Pilot, Third Officer Betty Black

”Betty Black was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 1 September 1913. Her father was George Black, Superintendent of Dalgety & Co. She was educated at St Hilda’s Collegiate School, Dunedin.

In common with other New Zealand women who served as pilots in Britain during the Second World War she was a member of the Otago Aero Club and had obtained her “A” licence in 1936. Betty served with the RNZAF in New Zealand as an equipment assistant until the end of 1941 when she went to Britain to join the ATA.

As was the case with other New Zealand women who wished to serve in the ATA in Britain, she had to pay her own fare to get to the United Kingdom and sit the flying exams, and pass the medical on arrival. There was no guarantee of being accepted. Betty was accepted in 1942 and served until 1946. She began work as a taxi pilot before training on Spitfires and other aircraft.

In 1946 she married Christopher Dalton Beaumont in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, and remained in the United Kingdom for the next twenty years, returning to New Zealand in 1966. She lived in Nelson where she died on 9 July 1977.”

Source: Air Force Museum of New Zealand. Photo colourised by Daniel Rarity

Betty Black at St Hilda’s

Betty Black enrolled at St Hilda’s in the early 1920s, at a time when St Hilda’s still had a Junior School. First reference to her is found in the 1922 “Chronicle” where she is listed as a member of Wellington House and also as the winner of the Skipping Race and the Egg and Spoon Race for the Preparatory Class at the Athletic Sports.

The1925 “Chronicle” records that she was in Standard 5 and is listed as “Head of Form”, and at Prize Giving is awarded the prize for History and Geography, and also a Navy League Essay Prize, a prize that she was to win for several years.

After completing her primary education, Betty moved into the senior school, leaving at the end of 1930. She was a very high achiever as can be seen by her regular appearance in prize lists and sporting results.

In 1927 she was Head of Fourth Form, a prize winner for French, History and Science, and another Navy League Essay Prize. In 1928 she added the Divinity Prize to her list of achievements.

1929 was a productive year. She won another Navy League Essay Prize, another Divinity Prize, plus a School Honour Award and the Lower Matriculation Form Prize.

Betty also won the Senior High Jump Cup two years on a row, was in the Swimming Team and was awarded the Royal Life Saving Society’s Bronze Medallion

1930 was Betty’s last year at St Hilda’s. She was a Prefect, member of the Games Committee, and won the Athenaeum Prize for English and History. She left with a Higher Leaving Certificate.