Caribbean Heroes: Antiguan Pioneer Dame Nellie Robinson
by Karen Rollins Jun 5, 2023
Dame Georgiana Ellen (Nellie) Robinson was born in St John’s on 8th December 1880. She is the only woman, to date, to have been awarded Antigua and Barbuda’s Order of the National Hero.
Dame Nellie was a groundbreaking educator and founded the pioneering TOR Memorial School in 1898 when she was just 18.
She was compelled to open her school, which she named after her late brother Thomas Oliver Robinson, because of the lack of educational opportunities available to black people at the time.
The TOR school was unique, not only because it offered people of African descent an education, but it was also open to boys and girls of all faiths, classes and races. Scholarships were also offered to students who couldn’t afford tuition fees.
The school soon developed a strong reputation and enrollment increased to reflect Antigua’s diverse population. It even attracted students from neighbouring islands such as St Kitts and Montserrat.
Dame Nellie also held various civil positions during her time as headmistress at the TOR Memorial School including a role on the Water Preservation Committee which worked to expand access to pipe-borne water in the country.
During WWI she was the only black woman to serve on the Antiguan Mobilisation Committee and recruited local men to join the war effort.
In 1931, she helped to establish the Girl Guides Association of Antigua and Barbuda. Ten years later she received the honour of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contribution to education on the island.
After serving 52 years as headmistress at the TOR school, Dame Nellie retired in 1950, although she continued to be active in public life and even supported the development of the Antigua Carnival as leader of the first Arts and Cultural Committee.
Dame Nellie died at the age of 91 on 29 April 1972 and is buried at the St John’s Public Cemetery.
During celebrations for Antigua’s 25th year of independence in 2006, Dame Nellie was posthumously named a Dame Companion of the Order of the National Heroes.
