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Major Personalities

> The Importance of Their Deeds Then and Now

Nurse Alice Scott • (1887-1968)

Like many Bermudians of her era, Nurse Alice Scott was a ‘woman of all seasons’,
leaving her mark on nursing, education, politics and sports. Born and raised in Sandys,
she was one of ten children, six of whom survived to adulthood. In 1912, she became
the second Bermudian to graduate as a nurse from Lincoln Hospital in New York City.

At that time, black nurses were not allowed to work in Bermuda’s public hospital, so
Scott worked first as a private nurse and then established the Shady Rest Home at her
family homestead in Sandys which she ran for 40 years.

In the 1920s, she became “obsessed” with the idea of establishing a high school in the
west end. Although it took some time, in 1927 Sandys Secondary School opened with
six students and although it struggled for several years after that it continues today as
Sandys Secondary Middle School and has produced many fine graduates.

Scott was a sports enthusiast and especially loved tennis. Because many tennis courts
did not allow black players to use them, Scott built her own tennis courts at her home
and founded the Shady Rest Tennis Club. She was a founding member of Somers Isle
Lawn Tennis Club and played in overseas tennis tournaments. courtesy bermuda biographies

While black Bermudians in the first half of the 20th century were refused many of
the rights we take for granted today, women, black and white, were also denied
opportunities in politics, education and many other activities. Scott was one of the few
black members of the Bermuda Woman Suffrage Society led by Gladys Misick Morrell.
Perhaps because they both played tennis and lived in Sandys, Scott and Mrs Morrell
became friends.

After women were granted the vote in 1944, Scott became one of the first four women to
run for the House of Assembly and she was supported by Mrs Morrell. She was therefore
one of the first two black woman to run for Parliament, although she was unsuccessful.

Her contributions to the community were recognised in 1954 when she received the
British Empire Medal. She is also remembered at Sandys Secondary Middle School
where Scott House is named after her.
By breaking down barriers in education, sports and politics, Nurse Alice Scott is an
inspiration and role model for those who have followed her.

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