Bertha Conton

Bertha Yvonne 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