HIST 3030: The Evolution of Social Policy -- A Biography of Dame Patricia Symmonds (1925-Present)

SYMMONDS, OLGA aka PATRICIA SYMMONDS, 1925- PRESENT

By Alvesia Weatherhead, Student, HIST 3030 The Evolution of Social Policy in Barbados, Department of History and Philosophy, The UWI Cave Hill Campus 

Dame Olga Patricia Symmonds, GCM, DBE, commonly known as Patricia Symmonds, educator, politician, and member of the senate, was born on 18 October 1925 to Alga Ianthe Symmonds and Algernon Symmonds. She is the elder sister of Barbadian diplomat, the late Algernon Washington Symmonds, and aunt of Donna Symmonds, a prominent lawyer. Symmonds lived in both Strathclyde and Bank Hall Road in St. Michael while growing up. Symmonds currently resides in Strathclyde and is 94 years old.

Dame Olga Patricia Symmonds

She was first educated at a private school ran by Mrs. Maude Haynes, widow of a Moravian Minister, at 5 years . At 10 years, Symmonds won a St. Michael’s Vestry Scholarship to Queen’s College (QC), which was a First Grade School for girls at that time. Symmonds attended Queen’s College up to sixth form and was appointed Head Girl. In 1945, Symmonds left QC and started teaching at the St. Michael school in September. She taught English and left The St. Michael School in July, 1951 after 6 years to attend the University of Reading and the Institute of Education in England where she completed a one-year postgraduate certificate course in English. Symmonds returned to Barbados in 1952 and went back to The St. Michael School. Symmonds was appointed Head of English Department and later Deputy Head-Principal of the school from 1963–1976. Symmonds was then appointed Principal of the school from 1976-1985.

Symmonds has contributed extensively to education and public service in Barbados. At The St. Michael School, Symmonds implemented the start of school at 8 am. She also implemented Weekly Assembly with prayer and said that this would aid in the ‘’strengthening of religious principles, develop self-confidence, and learn to assume responsibility’’. She also stressed the importance of honoring and respecting the school and its uniform. She oversaw the expansion of the school orchestra and developed a school diary. Symmonds also ensured that the school curriculum consisted of sports and extracurricular activities, noting that ‘’I was always of the view that sports should be a core curriculum subject for it develops a spirit of sportsmanship and qualities of leadership. It teaches humility in victory and grace in defeat. It provides enjoyment, fitness and relaxation’’.

Moreover, Symmonds has lectured part time at The UWI, Cave Hill Campus and delivered tutorials for free from 1963. She has also sat on many educational committees and non-government organizations. Symmonds was the founder member and President of the Barbados Association for the Teaching of English for 22 years. The committee was founded in 1967 and functioned as a voice for English teachers. Members of the committee sat on CXC sub-committees, where they asked for English Literature to be separated from English Language and graded independently and they were successful. The committee also evaluated external exams and looked at the English Curriculum and gave their opinions and recommendations for improvement. As President of the committee, Symmonds carried out lecturers in English at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to help journalists with their writing. She also conducted courses in English at the Government Training Division, Cable and Wireless (now Flow) to both staff and managers, Insurance Corporation of Barbados, Ltd. (ICBL), and Barbados Fire and General staff of the National Conservation Commission (NCC).

Symmonds was also a member of the International Federation for the teaching of English, Chairman of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Barbados Branch, Life member of the Barbados Cricket Association, Chairman of a Ladies Committee, member of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, President of the Friends of St. John Ambulance, Chairman of the National Committee on Ageing, Deputy Chair of the Commission on Social Justice, former Council Member, member of the Barbados National Trust, Chairman of the first National Advisory Council on Women, member of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, Patron of the Barbados Alzheimer’s Association, Chairman of the functional competencies survey committee, and served on Council of the Barbados Family Planning Association. Moreover, from 1976-1978 Symmonds was Deputy Chairman of the National Commission on the Status of Women. As a member of the International Federation for the Teaching of English, Symmonds promoted the work and voices of fellow English and literacy educators in Barbados. The International Federation for the Teaching of English is a global network of educators engaged in teaching, research, scholarship and advocacy in the fields of English and literacy education.

Symmonds was also involved in politics. From 1986 to 1994, she was the General Secretary of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). She also served in the Senate from 1994-2007, where she served as the first female Deputy President in the last four years. Symmonds was also a member of the Privy Council of Barbados from 1997 to 2000. Symmonds retired in 1991 and has been richly rewarded for her contribution to education and public service. She has been given awards from The St. Michael School and Queen’s College for her contribution to the development of education. She has been awarded the Barbados Secondary Teacher’s Union Award and Grantley Adams Award. In 1977, she was the recipient of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal. In 1985, she was awarded the Award of the Gold Crown of Merit. In 2000, Symmonds was appointed as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by her Majesty, the Queen, for public service and contribution to education.

SOURCES:

BOOKS AND ARTICLES:

1.     Brathwaite, J. (1999). Women and the Law: A Bibliographical Survey of Legal and Quasi-Legal Materials with Special Reference to Commonwealth Caribbean Jurisdictions and Including Relevant Commonwealth Caribbean Legislation and Case Material. Barbados. University of the West Indies Press.

2.     Mary Chamberlain. (2010). Empire and Nation-building in the Caribbean:1936-66. United Kingdom. Manchester University Press.

3.     Symmonds, O.P. (1993). Longer Lasting than Bronze. Barbados. PrintSource.

4.     Symmonds, O.P. (2009). Recalling These Things: Memoirs of Patricia Symmonds. Barbados. PrintSource.

5.     Academic Dictionaries and Encylopedias. (2019). Patricia Symmonds. Retrieved from https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/5084455. Accessed 11/15/2019.

6.     The Barbados Advocate. (2016). Barbados Labour Party Achievements on Display. Retrieved from https://www.barbadosadvocate.com/news/barbados-labour-party-achievements-display. Accessed 11/15/2019.   

7.     The Barbados Parliament. (2019). Order Paper of the Honourable Senate. Retrieved from https://www.barbadosparliament.com/past_order_papers/senate/view/21. Accessed 11/15/2019.

8.     Issuu. (2017). St. Michael’s School 85^th Anniversary. Retrieved from https://issuu.com/nationpublishing/docs/st._michael_s_school_85th_anniversary. Accessed 11/15/2019.

9.     Barbados St. Michael Alumni Toronto. History of the Principals. Retrieved from https://www.barbadosstmichaelalumnitoronto.com/history.html. Accessed 11/15/2019.

10.  Barbados Labour Party. (2016). Women’s League. Retrieved from https://www.blp.org.bb/womens-legue/. Accessed 11/15/2019.

11.  Revolvy. (2018). Patricia Symmonds. Retrieved from https://www.revolvy.com/page/Patricia-Symmonds. Accessed 11/15/2019.

Please note that some of the information in the Biography was provided by Donna Symmonds, niece of Dame Symmonds, her housekeeper, and a telephone conversation with Dame Patricia Symmonds herself in late 2019.