Abbotsleigh Website - HE (Betty) Archdale

Miss HE (Betty) Archdale (1958 - 1970)

Miss Helen Elizabeth (always called "Betty") Archdale, and known to her girls as "Archie" was Headmistress of Abbotsleigh 1958-70, just 12 years. She was born in London in 1907 the daughter of a suffragette and a professional soldier. Her father died when she was eleven, a casualty of WW1 and her mother supported the family on a widow's pension supplemented by her earnings as an editor.

Aged six Betty went to Bedales School in Hampshire where she learned to play cricket and thence to St Leonard's Girls' School at St Andrews. Sport was compulsory and the school had an excellent academic reputation. Betty achieved top marks in her final year leaving as Head Girl.

After school Betty went to McGill University in Montreal, graduating with a BA in Economics and Political Science. She studied Law in London, took the Bar exams and was called to the Bar at Grays Inn. She had many high profile accomplishments including touring Australia as the Captain of the first women's cricket team (1934/35), serving as an officer in the WRNS during WW2 and being awarded the MBE in 1944 for her part in getting nurses out of Singapore.

After the war Betty considered resuming her career in law, but instead accepted an invitation from Women's College at Sydney University to become the next Principal, a post which she held from 1946-1957.

In 1958 Betty Archdale was invited to be Headmistress of Abbotsleigh. At Foundation Day assembly in 1991 Annabel Baxter summed up Betty's tenure: "As far as she was concerned, the school was there for the girls. The whole reason for the existence of Abbotsleigh was to educate girls, not for teachers or parents or Old Girls or anyone else. We all had the feeling that she was on our side...".

Miss Archdale was credited with breaking down a rather rigid system of discipline at the school, with introducing sex education and abandoning the gloves and hat as part of the school uniform. The Assembly Hall (1963) and Chapel (1965) both date from this time.

She was a member of the Sydney University Senate (1959-84).

In March 1999 Miss Archdale received the great honour of being one of the first ten women to be granted Honorary Life Membership of Marylebone Cricket Club in England.

Miss Archdale died in Sydney on 11 January 2000. Three memorial services were held:
in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney on Monday 14 February. This special service of tribute was marked by an academic procession led by Sydney University Chancellor Dame Leonie Kramer and Vice Chancellor Gavin Brown.
in the Chapel at Abbotsleigh on Sunday 27 February. Abbotsleigh Old Girls and Staff of Miss Archdale's era participated at this service and
on Tuesday 29 February in St James' Church, King Street, Sydney at which her associates from the world of law celebrated her life and career.